(Chron) Rockets planning to draft for Talent not Position...

the magic phrase - "waste of a draft pick."

it would be a waste if morey believes that thier pick will not contribute next season. doesn't matter if they draft size or BPA. it's a waste.

they are better off trading the pick in a package with some of the guys in the back of the depth chart (luther, snyder, billy, or sura). if they can move up in the draft and pick a guy who will contribute, fine. if not, then move out of the draft and bring in a known commodity with those assets.

 

I think Big baby is a terrible first round pick but a Great second rounder. If they can buy him it could fill a void at low risk

 

I would too. What i am saying is those are the kinds of players the Rockets would trade up to get potentially. Especially if they feel all they would have to do to obtain them is swap picks and add in Luther Head, a player that probably won't get minutes (or limited) for them this season. Those two players are players the Rockets would be interested in investing in, players whose skillsets would fit this team better.

 

smoothie, they could do that, and I wouldn't have a problem with that. BUT, with the addition of James and Wells, plus what they can get with the MLE, I wouldn't be surprised if Morey feels those guys are the key additions this offseason and that if they can find a "hidden gem" in the draft, maybe they take that person, even if they get limited minutes. Example, what if someone like a Thaddeus Young drops. He has lottery talent and is very young. The Rockets could try to trade up for a guy like that (like they tried to do a couple of years ago with Gerald Green). He might not get minutes on this roster next year, but maybe in year 2 could move his way in. Is that a waste of a pick? Depends, on who else is on the board and if that said person could be a huge factor in cracking the lineup. Depends on the long term goals of the team. Maybe Morey looks at the draft as adding to the long term goals and FA/trade in accomplishing the short term goals.

 

draft for talent means trade

 

I agree with the hung rocket. If the kid from rice is there wheen we pick it will be hard to pass him up.

 

I also like McRoberts given how much we need a solid high-post PF. I think it's interesting that his name hasn't come up in any of the recent rumors or quotes by Morey (as teams usually try to keep their real intentions from getting out). But maybe this is just wishful thinking on my part.

Is it me or are there no real prospects at PF in free agency this year who are both available for the MLE and good fits for us? At this point, the only person I can see worth trying to sign is McDyess. I'm skeptical that we could get Varejao without being willing to overpay.

 

Why is it a waste? Is it so bad to have a couple of young promising guys on the roster that they can develop? T-Mac and Yao are not going to play forever. While they are looking to win now, it can't hurt to take the future into consideration a little. I'm sure Morey would like this #26 pick to contribute next year, but he's not counting on it. That doesn't mean he's going to select a lesser player.

 

i'm fine with trading up for a guy who will be productive in a few years. i'm not ok with taking a risk on a late first rounder who might crack the rotation in a few years, or might not be in the nba by then. that, IMO, would be a wasted pick.

mirsad turkans, roderick rhodes, and serge zwikkers happen all the time in the late first round. for a team that's low on talent, it would be a waste to hope #26 pans out. use it to move up in the draft, or out of the draft.

 

Now, where are the cons about his game?

 

He can't defend a fire hydrant.

 

Here ya go:

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=198

Weaknesses
Even if Belinelli's body has vastly improved over the past few years, he will still need to add some bulk to play in the NBA. Particularly, he needs some more upper body strength.

Offensively, right now the main concern about him is his slashing ability. Although he theoretically has all the tools to be a great slasher (at the European level at least), being quick with a nice first step, possessing good ball-handling skills and improved body strength, he prefers to rely almost strictly on his perimeter shot instead of mixing up his game by taking his opponent off the dribble and going strong to the hoop. He seems to rely too much on his jumper, and does not get to the free throw nearly as much as he could considering his athletic gifts. He could use some improvements in his shot too, as he sometimes tends to unnecessarily go off balance when shooting off the dribble or off screens.

Even though his ball handling and passing skills look decent, right now they don't seem to be enough for him to consistently play the point as he was projected earlier in his career, especially in the NBA. He doesn't protect the ball well enough and still has difficulties against full court pressure. Plus, it seems that this project has been momentarily dropped, as his team is developing him primarily as a shooting guard.

Defensively, he's good but probably won’t be able to guard NBA point guards, because he already suffers when a quicker opponent takes him off the dribble. His defense on pick & rolls could use some improvement as well.

Although he generally puts in a good effort, sometimes he seems to lose a bit of focus, either committing foolish fouls, trying a spectacular pass over a simple one, or being a little late rotating on defense. However, these things are not uncommon for a 20 year old player competing with grown men in one of the most competitive leagues in the world outside the NBA.

I'd love to get him, but I don't think he gets past Phoenix at #24.

 

I don't think Morey is not valuing the 26th pick. If we indeed do go with a SG like Almond, there is the distinct possibility that there isn't minutes in the rotation for him this year, but it could be an investment for next year in case Bonzi flakes out or blows up and doesn't re-sign with us. We could have a cheap option to eat those minutes up. So, we aren't necessarily going to depend on the draft pick to step in and play major minutes this year. And even if we draft a PF, we aren't gonna go to training camp next year depending on that player to play 20 some odd minutes in the rotation, even if it is Sean Williams. That's not smart. Obviously we're gonna make a trade for a PF involving some of our backcourt talent and contracts (Head, Snyder, Sura, possibly Rafer as a throw in if we can get somebody to take him) and/or add a PF with the MLE.

So, either way, no matter who we draft if we keep the pick, we are not going to depend on them for rotation minutes. Now, if we go to camp and we find out we got something, like Utah last year with that kid Millsap (that's 2 PFs now that they've picked up who were 2nd round picks, and I was salivating over both of them when they were drafted, Boozer and Millsap), then we can give them minutes. But the idea is draft the most talented player available, even if we are already deep at the position he plays, that way we have options in dealing with players like Bonzi next offseason, and we have more tradable assets. I think it is smart thinking. It's not about not valuing the pick, it's about making the pick as valuable as possible.

 

Yes it does.

 

it's a waste because the team has holes to fill in the rotation. you can't take care of the 3rd string before you take care of the starting lineup.

 

The future is now, Tmac is going into season 11 and Yao into season 5 or 6. Also they need a PF now.

* Use any combination of Luther, Rafer, Jake, Vspan, #26 pick and next years (20 to 25 range) to move up during the draft (not before) to draft a top flight power forward.

 

If Splitter falls because of his contract position it might be possible for the Rockets to move up a few places to get him.I'm not suggesting he is a top flight PF but he could be a realistic option.Other teams with better trading assets might find it easier to move up than the Rockets.

 

If the #26 pick is starting, we're probably in bad shape to begin with. If it comes down to a 2 guard, maybe Byars, Belinelli or Almond, who you're scouts and other personnel are absolutely in love with and Glen Davis who they are just warm on, would you suggest they take Glen Davis? (completely hypothetical)

 

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2134

Looks like if they really wanted to, they could buy a pick to move up.