clutch: source says rockets want 1 of 4-5 PG's expected to go lottery

Man, if we can get Jennings from this draft, I'D BE ECSTATIC!!!

its my birthday today and acquiring a pick to drafting jennings would be an awesome birthday present for me!!! (although a bit delayed hehe)...but man I am counting on the Rockets to get us Jennings!!! He will be the Rondo to the championship team, trust me!

Jennings along with Griffin and Rubio and Evans are the only few players in this draft with superstar potential. And it takes alot to be mentioned in the same sentence as those 3 other prospects. (although its from me)

Jennings FTW!

Morey get it done!!!

 

Jennings is a great player but in the cancerous mold of Stephon Marbury and Allen Iverson. I don't think Jennings will ever fit into any team concepts that doesn't revolve around him, and he won't win any championships at the helm of a team -- ever. You could expect a few phenomenal seasons and a plethora of highlight reels turned into entertaining youtube videos from Jennings, but that's it. So I think it's in the best interest of the Rockets to steer clear of him.

 

The type of point guard that could get the ball to Yao against fronting defenses IS a penetrating, explosive point guard. As long as Yao is inept at sealing his man off, and he shows no signs of improving at that, we ill only be able to counter with penetration and ball movement. What you're describing sounds closer to Matt Maloney.

 

This is what drives me crazy about the people ragging on Aaron Brooks.....

The funny thing is.....in Yao's ENTIRE career everyone has had trouble passing him the ball.

First it was CNT guards, then Sura, then it was Rafer, now it is Brooks....

More than half of the problem is on Yao, he doesn't move, he roots himself into one place and the defense fronts him and he doesn't MOVE....

If Yao would move to the top, or seal his man he would make an easier target.

Yao is not a good receiver of the ball, he just isn't.....the window to get him the ball is probably the smallest for a big man I have ever seen.....

Yao is at least half the problem I wish people would stop blaming the guards, and start noticing the truth.

DD

 

From the magic games, I think Rafer was unable to pass the ball to Howard consistently either. Howard didn't touch the ball enough in playoffs, and I think Rafer needs to take some responsibilities for that. btw, Nelson passed the ball to Howard very well.

p.s. Tmac passed the ball to Yao well.

 

because he could penetrate AND had court vision

reminds me of brandon jennings

 

Without question.

Any coach will tell you that it is the guards responsibility to make a good pass to the post ONLY AFTER he has established his position in the post and put his target (hand) up. Yao struggles mightily at both aspects, yet people blame the gaurds in some sophmoric idolatry of Yao and need to never attach any blame to their hero. Truth is, Yao is the most easily neutralized DOMINANT big man i have ever seen. Then again, doesn't that preclude him from being described as such? Hmm...

 

We need to give Tmac some credits. In fact, when he was healthy, Yao was not that easily neutralized! We need a great passer like Tmac, if he wouldn't be in rockets jersey anymore.

 

vince carter would do the same job if he was a Rocket

 

You're correct.Yao has his limitations and it's not entirely upto the guards,but on the other hand most of them haven't been very good at running the team even when he isn't on the floor.
We need a backup C/F who can spell Yao and play along with him as well as better passers.There is no other way out,although if would help if Yao could shoot the pick and pop with some regularity to decrease the fronting problems.McGrady brings a lot of baggage but he was the only player who had some success in running the pick and roll with Yao.

 

http://www.thehoopsreport.com/article.aspx?id=282

Ricky Rubio Meets With Oklahoma City Thunder
By Ryan Feldman
rfeldman@thehoopsreport.com
Saturday, June 20, 2009

According to sources, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who currently own the No. 3 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, met with Ricky Rubio on Saturday in Los Angeles to discuss Rubio's buyout situation and their interest in the Spanish point guard, among other things.

The Thunder reportedly had a positive meeting with him and it seems at this point that they are leaning towards drafting Rubio. Whether or not they will keep Rubio is still up in the air, but at this point there is a very strong chance that Rubio will go No. 3 on Thursday.

The Thunder could keep Rubio and team him up with fellow young point guard Russell Westbrook. The Thunder are worried about this scenario because neither player is a particularly good shooter. Both are pass-first point guards. Defensively, they would be okay because both players are around 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4 and Westbrook is capable of guarding bigger players.

There is no doubt that the Thunder will continue exploring trade options for Rubio or the No. 3 pick. The Knicks seem the most interested at this point, but the problem is that the Knicks don't have much to offer the Thunder. They want young talent or quality players that will help them now or in the future, not expiring contracts, washed up veterans or mediocre role players.

Apparently, Rubio would be fine with playing in Oklahoma City. There is a strong Spanish population in that area and the team has a young nucleus including Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Rubio said that he wants to play on a young team so that he can have young friends.

Other than the Knicks, the Kings are expected to be involved in trade talks. But the Kings are still trying to figure out who they want if they can't get Rubio. Jonny Flynn, Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday are all still strongly being considered in Sacramento. If they decide that one of those players will be just as good as Rubio, they may stay put. But chances are that they at least explore trade possibilities with the Thunder and/or the Grizzlies. It won't take too much to move up a spot or two - probably just one player like Jason Thompson or Spencer Hawes, or an additional draft pick or two.

The Rockets have also shown interest in moving up to get Rubio, but the Grizzlies and Thunder likely don't have much interest in Tracy McGrady. The Celtics would like to get into the top five, but they won't trade Rajon Rondo and a young team like the Grizzlies or Thunder probably won't want an aging Ray Allen.

Rubio met with the Kings in Sacramento earlier this week. While the meeting reportedly went well, Rubio came down with an illness while he was in Sacramento and thus had to cancel his workout with the Kings. He left Sacramento and it's unclear whether or not he will have a chance to return and work out for them before Thursday. He still hasn't worked out for any team yet.

 

i'm starting to think that ty lawson would be a great fit followed by rubio and flynn and curry.

 

The Ricky Rubio $6.6 million buyout situation can be solved by a Reebok shoe deal. If Reebok don't want him, he can sign up with the Chinese shoe companies.

 

It's pretty crazing seeing so many rotation players with a chinese shoe deal. Adelman has an Anta shoe deal, too.

The only reason that Wafer and Brooks don't have shoe does, is they are considered ball hogs that keep shots from Yao by Chinese. Lowry is new and only has a year left on his contract. Yao and T-mac are too expensive for Anta.

Starting Line Up
Yao
Luis Scola(Anta)
Ron Artest(Peak)
McGrady
Brooks

Bench:
Chuck Hayes ($5 for 1 yr deal with Li Ning)($5 mil was over double his salary)
Shane Battier(Peak)
Mutombo(Peak)
Francis(Anta)
Wafer
Lowry

Coach
Rick Adelman(Anta)

Former Rockets
Bonzi Wells(Anta)(plays in China)

 

Yesterday I spoke to someone "within" and we talked about Rubio. I told them that I was very impressed with his game and that I thought that he'd be Jason Kidd at best and a rookie Brent Barry at worst. He agreed with the Kidd part and said he was "special" and an excellent defender. He said he had "Rondo-like" defense and a "7 foot wingspan" ... I didn't ask about any rumors because I knew he wouldn't go there. I just wanted to know his opinion on Rubio. And if anyone would know about Rubio, it would be this guy. Rubio is the real deal.

 

We need a True PG and with size. Kyle Lowry makes up for it b/c he plays excellent Defense on bigger Guards. Example, Tony Parker was abusing AB consistently in the post. We put Lowry on him who has 40 lbs on AB and just as quick as Parker and he becomes ineffective almost on offense. Evans, Rubio would be great..personally I take Rubio

 

brandon jennings should be the selection. rubio will be way to pricey for us and it would almost cost us ALL our trade assets just to obtain him. sure he can be a jason kidd...but he wont be good enough to win a championship yao is still good.

it seems like the new jersey and charlotte pick is very much available. as new jersey wants terrence williams badly and charlotte doesnt have a clear player they like much.

carl landry for trenton hassell and pick no.11?

 

I believe you. I have been convinced for a while that if the Rox could figure out how to acquire Rubio, they would do it.

 

except carter dosent get injured