...I'm worried that the Clipper deal will go through. Here's why: First, these last minute negotiations in China are going too long. I don't know if the Rockets will have the assurances they need. Second, why are we working out so many lotto picks so late in the game if Ming's release is such a sure thing? It seems like the Rockets are preparing to move down. Third, #1, #15, and Rice for #8, #12, Odom, and Maggette makes too much sense: (1)The Clippers don't need Odom and Maggette with Richardson, Miles, Piakowski, and Jaric - too many swing-men there. (2)The Clippers do need a point guard, and Jay Williams is the best in the draft. (3)The Clippers can't afford to extend Odom and Maggette with Olowokandi and Brand looking to get paid at the same time. (4)The Clippers could use a veteran like Rice on their young team (although we thought we'd be getting the same thing in Rice, but he promptly hit the IR). (1)The Rockets need a small forward and could really use a point-foward to give Francis more scoring opportunities - Odom is that guy. (2)Maggette would be an upgrade over Torres as a backup swing-man and his ability to backup at the 2 would mean no more small-ball (no more Moochie at point with Steve at 2). (3)Francis hasn't signed his extenstion yet and both he and Mobley have made it clear that they want Odom. (4)We could dump Rice's contract. (5)The Rockets want to win NOW after 3 lotto seasons, and Odom/Maggette would have a more immediate impact than Ming. (6)#8 and #12 could bring in a lot, A LOT, of size. Players available at those spots include Hilario, Borchardt, and Stoudemire. Now, imagine this lineup: PG: Francis, Norris SG: Mobley, Maggette SF: Odom, Griffin PF: Taylor, Griffin C: Cato, #8, #12 With Kenny Thomas left as trade bait. All of these factors together work against selecting Ming. If I had to bet on draft night, I would bet on this scenario.
I wouldn't... if this was the likely scenario, the Rockets wouldn't have spent the last month visiting China and negotiating to get Ming here. We're working out lotto picks just in case; even when you have the top pick, you'd be silly not to be prepared for the worst. (in this case, Ming can't come, or to go back a few years, someone pulls a Francis and won't play for you) A small forward would be nice, but that need is secondary. We need a big man, and we have the potential to gain a franchise center from this draft and still pick up a solid SF at pick 15. If we had to trade, I would be more intrigued by Battier and Vancouver's fourth for pick 1 and something rather than any of these Odom rumors.
Im holding out hope that we somehow end up with Ming and Odom. I dont know how it will get done, but if anyone can pull it off, its Rudy and CD.
I must respectfully disagree - I feel that Odom has a much higher (no pun intended) ceiling than Battier. Also, who would you take at #4? Wilcox, Gooden, and Tskitishvili will never develop into centers. If you have Battier, Griffin, and Taylor, where do you find minutes for these guys?
I'm imagine. . . I see .. . 3 . . no no. . WAIT. . 4 years of 1st round Exits . . . Sacremento, Lakers, Dallas, even Spurs are better than this squad. Rocket River
Exactly. There's no Shaq or Duncan in this draft, otherwise the #1 would be solid gold. But as it stands now, I think that Odom, Maggette, Hilario, and #12 would be a good catch for #1 and #15.
If anyone is ever gonna get close to Shaq or Duncan, it is Ming. It is definitely a risk worth taking.
To me, Ming would be slam dunk without all of these Chinese negotiations going on. All I'm saying is that, if draft night comes and Ming's status is still up in the air, I think the Rockets trigger a deal, probably with the Clippers.
Three letters - CYA Cover Your Ass That is exactly what the Rockets are doing by going to China to work out the details of getting Yao into the NBA as the first pick and by working out other players in case the first scenario doesn't pan out. It's simple business.
That's what I'm saying! The very fact that the Rockets are still covering at this late date indicates that something is wrong. The Rockets didn't even want to bring any of these other guys in for workouts - they wanted Ming to be a done deal a week ago, but they're not getting that. As each day goes by, Plan B becomes much closer to Plan A.
I got 100 posts now! Boo-Yah! I'd like to thank Yao Ming for my 100th post. Without this great controversy to speak on, I doubt I would've ever made it.
I concur. At the least we know that Ming's size will be beneficial in the long run. Whether it be defensively or offensively he will have the edge. Yeah he'll need some work on his upper body strength but considering this man could very well be Houston's answer to Tim Duncan and Shaquille O' Neal I think the obvious choice for the Rockets would be Mr. Ming.
Congratulations BDJ on your 100th posts... And I agree it seems like the Rockets are scrambling like madmen to prepare for plan b because for whatever reason they are losing confidence that plan a will not work... I have also heard that previous trade rumors with the clippers and other teams have been squelched. And suddenly they are making a scramble to workout players that might be there at the 8th slot... Makes me think that the Clippers and Rockets may be working on something... Of course I have to much free time on my hand. I need to take a breath and quit thinking so much...
No, it just means the Rockets are making sure nothing goes wrong. There could be last second things for any reason, maybe negotiations go wrong, injuries, a player not wanting to play for you. You can never be TO prepared.
I have said in many other threads that the best scenario would be the Rockets trading the 1 for 8 and 12. We could parlay 8 and 12 into Butler and Stoudemire. I have to say that given Amare growing a bit and bulking up his upper body he could end up being 7 feet and 320 pounds in a year or two. Sounds like the best answer to Shaq out there. Did I mention that he has skills to boot? Every commentator that I have heard has also mentioned that Butler fits the Rockets system as well if not better than every player in the draft. Also, it bothers me that we continue to negotiate with the Chinese government. Even if these negotiations are successful who is to say that they won't order him home right as we start a playoff run in 2 or 3 years? We may as well put the #1 pick up in a game of rock, paper, scissors.
the deal with the clips make soo much more sense. we can address our need at SF with a proven player in Odom and then we can still get atleast 1 maybe 2 centers with a lot of potential in hilario, amare, and borchardt. i know you can't teach size but these three could easily end up being better than ming and they dont come with all the extra baggage ming comes with. even though i think he'll prolly be the best player to come out of this draft i highly doubt butler will be still there at 8. why dont you guys think we could challenge the top 4 western conference team with this lineup? PG- Francis, Norris SG- Mobley, Maggette SF- Odom, Griffin PF- Taylor, Griffin C- Cato, #8, #12 With Kenny Thomas left as trade bait.
