I've been thinking about this quite a bit. Assuming Ming is our guy at #1, do we hang on to #15 and hope for a good (perhaps foreign) player at #15 or do we try to package the pick with Kenny Thomas or Norris or someone else to bring in a young small forward OR to move up in the draft? Would #15 plus Thomas and a future pick get us Odom or Miles, for example? Getting Ming would be tremendous but we still have a giant gaping hole at small forward. Announcer... <i>"At guard from Maryland, Steve Francis!!!...at guard from Rhode Island, Cuttino Mobley!!!...at forward from Michigan, Mo Taylor!!!...at center from Shanghai, Yao Ming!!!...and at forward from Maryland, er, um, Terrance Morris?"</i> As they sing on Sesame Street...one of these things does not go together; one of these things just doesn't belong.
It's pretty much a given that any deal involving Odom or Miles would have to include our #1 pick. Alvin Gentry likes both of those guys, apparently. So we're stuck with the 15th pick, where I guess we try to find the replacement for Langhi and Walt, neither of whom are returning next season. Assuming we use our #1 on Yao, there's several options here: 1. Bostjan Nachbar 2. Jared Jeffries 3. Chris Jeffries 4. Rod Grizzard All of these players sound promising, and have the potential to become above-average NBA players. Nachbar is supposedly "the most NBA ready player in the draft." Meaning he can come in and start for us right away. As to whether he'll be around at #15? We'll just have to see. Rudy already saw this guy in Europe, so I'm sure they're aware of him. There's not much risk with this pick either.
I really don't see why everyone is so fixed on somehow coming out with a SF out of this. Griffin, Taylor, and Thomas are all going to get playing time, and each will probably have to spend time at the 3. They will likely just rotate around whoever matches up to the opposing 3 better. After that, we've still got Rice, Morris, and possibly Walt if re-signed at a low price. The SF's we have are not <i>that</i> bad. Personally, now that we have the first choice, I'd like to give #15 to Memphis unless a trade is made for a marquee player involving that pick. Even if KT or Mo are dealt after the draft, Rice and Morris could easily fill in for 15 minutes a game and do alright. The Rockets don't have to come out of this draft with a new starting SF.
Maurice Taylor, Jason Collier, # 15 and our second-round pick next year for Rashard Lewis (sign-and-trade for the value of Taylor's and Collier's contracts combined - seems fair to me for what Rashard has to offer - not a max player).
If you think that's a good deal I have some Oceanfront Property in West Texas that I'd like to sell you. Seriously though, the Sonics already have one fat, overpaid loser in Vin Baker. Why would they want two more and a mediocre first rounder?
I think if ming is our 1st pick, then that would kill a lot of minutes at the 5 for Taylor or Griffin. Seeing we need to get Grffin more minutes and from past experiences knowing taylor will be in foul trouble, I would like to see the Rockets trade the 15 and thomas to a team around 8-12 position where Woods,Jeffries,or the russian would be availible. If the Rockets figure they can get their 3 man at 15 , then they might stay status quo, but as well as he played this yr, Thomas needs to be traded. Since Taylor can't be moved ,but he's in bad shape, maybe Griffin will work real hard and make it easy for Rudy to give him most of the minutes at the 4. If Ming turns out to be like Brad Daughtery and Griffin like Larry Nance along with Francis and Mobley, this could be a 5 or 6 seed next yr. I could live with Morris at the 3 or Glen Rice.
How about "Somebody Come and Play!"-- another Sesame Street standard..... Nachbar seems to fall to 15 in most mocks but individual workouts could change that. Grizzard-- don't know much about him. Jeffries-- looks like another Langhi-- needs time to grow at this level. I would gladly give up Moochie with the #15 pick to move up to the 8-12 range. Clips have #12, don't they?
Assuming Woods, Butler and Tskitishvili go beyond our trade up reach, I would rather trade up and grab Stoudemire or Hilario than pick a 3 that wont be effective for 2 or 3 years. WHEN we make the playoffs next year we will need as many big body's as we can get to foul Shaq. Dont forget we have an exception this year we still could get a 2/3 with it. Ming Cato Collier Taylor Griffin KT (Stoudemire) Rice T Mo (free agent) Mobley Torres Francis Mooch Brown
If you get Seattle to buy that load of crap, I'll hire you as a broker tomorrow to unload some Enron stock
We might be able to use KT to move up a liittle if a player slides, like Tsika or Woods, but we wont be able to get Odom without trading the number one. Nachbar and Jared Jeffries seem like pretty good options that will be around at the pick who may turn out to be decent sfs in the future.
Well, I am of the opinion that Rashard Lewis would take less money to come home to be closer to family and friends. I think if we trade the player we got at #15 and any combination of the following players: Kenny, Maurice, Rice, Cato, Moochie...AND a guaranteed future first round draft pick, we might be able to do something to acquire Rashard in a sign-and-trade. But this all depends on his willingness to leave Seattle. I think this is the season to go all out, and using a future first round draft pick as trade bait could come in handy. And yes, I realize we already have an obligation to Memphis for a first round draft pick, but if we have a starting lineup of Francis, Mobley, Lewis, Griffin, and Ming does anyone really think we're going to be picking very high over the next couple of seasons? And as far as all the Odom vs. Lewis talk, I think if we get Ming there is no question that Lewis is the small forward for the Rockets. Teams will have to double or triple Ming and Lewis will be one of the deadliest, if not THE deadliest 3-point shooter in all of basketball...catch my drift. However, if we're just talking about a player to draft and keep, I say Nachbar.
heypartner likes to point out that shooting is fun-damental. Or was that someone else. Anyway, a SF stud like Nachbar sounds interesting, but by draft time he'll probably go before that Tsick kid.
Exactly! I seriously think he would consider it. And to some of you saying Seattle wouldn't even look at these offers, you have to remember who is in the driver's seat. It's not Seattle, it's Rashard Lewis! He can threaten them by saying if you don't do a sign and trade with the Rockets, I'm going to sign with Houston for the midlevel exception and you're going to be left with nothing. He may be bluffing, he may not be, but that's why teams do sign and trades, because one of the team's wants to get something instead of nothing. And like I said, this all depends on how badly Rashard really wants to come home.
Chris Jeffries is also an interesting pick. He might not have the jumper that Nachbar does, but maybe he'll turn into a Stacey Augmon type of player, just what we need. Size is perfect at 6-8, 220. According to nbadraft.net Strengths: Tark basically throws Jefferies on the top scorer for the opposing team and it's welcome to 'lockdown'. A super defender, with great versatility. Very athletic, specializes in open court play and slashing to the basket. Weaknesses: Still refining the offensive side of his game. Ball handling must improve. Notes: Excels in many aspects of the game. Brings alot of energy, can score in a variety of ways. Has the ability to shut down the opposing players quickest player, regardless of size. Shot needs more consistency. Very athletic swingman.
I really don't think that the Grizz will accept the 15th pick, I think that they will roll the dice and hope we're in the lottery next year.
If Lewis signs for the exception anywhere, it will be San Antonio, the Lakers, or Mavericks. Imagine a Shaq/Lewis/Kobe trio. Oh my God. Even with Duncan, it's incredible. If Porter, Smith, and Ferry can be high percentage 3-pt shooters for them, then Lewis can probably hit 50% of his 3-pters for them! Still, that's not what WE need. We need Odom more than anything. About the 15th pick, I think we should trade it with Kenny Thomas for Milwaukee's pick. The talent drop off is huge from 13 to 15. Maybe even Miami or Washington will do this. If you want to go razy, make it #1, #15, KT, Rice for Glen Robinson and #13 or Ervin Johnson.
