ClutchFans Rockets Draft Thread (Rockets select Luther Head at 24)

1. I'm glad to hear they tried to move up to get Green, but as a front office, you have to get it done. That would have made the draft, even if we had to give up a ton.
2. If they were going to stay at 24, I would rather have had Simien, but if they get a free agent PF, I guess that Head makes sense.
3. But if they couldn't move up, I would rather have dropped back a few spots and taken Stoudamire because he's such an incredible shooter.

So nothing against Luther Head, but you need the creativity and boldness to make the deal for Green happen if you're the Rockets.

 

Head is also quite a good long range shooter...

adn you cant control what other teams do or dont do...check the major changes thread...derrick talks about what they tried to do..

the impact of this choice will not be felt for a few more weeks at least.

 

Here's the Highlight video by Yahoo on Luther Head:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/prospects (around mid of page)

One thing i like about his game is how he is constantly moving, like a Rip Hamilton or Reggie Miller. But playing PG probably wont be doing that as much.

 

i'm starting to like this pick the more i imagine what the rox will do through the rest of the offseason. everyone's complaining about not picking up a taft or simien, but there's gotta be a reason those guys dropped like they did, whether it be concerns about work ethic or being prone toward injuries.

a couple FA signings here and there to fill the 4 spot and a trade to unload contracts and excessive guards (wesley, james, WARD -pleaaaaase) to upgrade our lack of athleticism at the swingman spots and we'll have a real shot at a championship run.

 

I made that statement during the second round. - thinking he might pick the rights to a player, or trade a future second rounder for one now

I was trying to make the people who are gripping feel a little better

 

he is known as a "defender" no wonder why JVG picked him

 

Good stuff - tenacious defender and slasher to the basket who can shoot lights out from the arc - sounds like a pretty good fit for JVG's system, and a solid pick at #24. Never hurts to have another guy who can run the pick 'n roll with Yao and be a legitimate threat to shoot from afar or drive the lane.

Why was he suspended twice as a junior?

 

I was pretty upset at first too -- but now I'm starting to come around to this pick. Dallas exposed our weakness on the perimeter -- athleticism. Unfortunately, Wesley/Sura/Barry aren't getting any more athletic as time passes, no matter how hard they work. We needed a quick, tough-minded perimeter player who could also knock down the big shots from downtown -- see Luther Head.

Another thing that sticks out about the Dallas series was Tmac and how much energy he expended on the defensive end. For Christs sake, the man was guarding Dirk -- then had to guard Finley and Stackhouse when they started burning our other guys. We needed another guy on the perimeter to help him stop those guys, and I think Head gives us that option now.

And probably the most encouraging thing was Dennis Lindsay's comments afterwards of the Rockets making a "major change" via FA. To me, this means a big time PF (SAR, Swift) and possibly another athletic swingman. He went on to say that the Luther Head pick will make more sense after everythings finished -- which leads me to believe that we will be getting the PF everyone wanted via FA, and that's why we passed on Softie Simien.

 

Traffic violations and involvement in burglury, and he asked to quit the team after those suspensions. Thanks to coach Webber he wasnt allowed to quit and became a "changed man".

 

On NBATV, they mentioned he's a poor man Gilbert Arenas. That might be a good thing...or a bad thing.

 

AHHHHHHHHHHH YEAAAAAAAAA!

 

I thought it was traffic violations and driving with a suspended license? I haven't read anything about burgluries??? Afterwards he was extremely embarrased about it all and showed alot of remorse, and yes, did "offer" to quit the team, but he had the full support of the coach (Webster or Weber, can't remember his name) and served his suspension and stayed with the team. At the time the coach made the comment that it showed he was a good kid (to own up to his mistakes and show humility) and showed some maturity in doing so.

Looking at some of the action shots on the previous pages, damn. The guy has got some seriously big arms and in one of the shots (where he is going for the ball as it's going out of bounds) he has got really long arms. If he is as athletic and as motivated as some are saying this is a really good pick. I can't wait to see how it all shakes down in the FA period as the Rockets keep adding pieces around TMac, Yao, and now it seems around Head as well (or Head was added around the anticipation of the pieces that will be added in FA)

 

This should end up being a pretty good pick for the Rockets. Imagine a combination of James/Sura, Head, and McGrady at the 1,2 and 3. None except for James may be a true pg but all can bring the ball up the court and it has always been McGrady who was the catalyst for our offense. Also, on the defensive side of the ball we just became a much more athletic team. I don't see too many teams beating us off dribble penetration. Even though Head may not be the tallest player, I dont think JVG would've allowed this pick if he weren't confident of Head's defense.

 

We could have traded down and gotten Kennedy Winston or Matt Walsh or some other scrub.

We could have roled the dice with CJ Miles. Luther Head will not do much for us - he will NOT help much this upcoming season. That is the stark reality and it sucks we have to deal will it all summer.

GM's like to say they draft quality first first before need and based on quality Luther is a waste in my books. I hope I wake up tomorrow and feel better but I doubt it. I guess maybe I feel this way because I saw a lot of Luther at Illini.

I am definitely not happy. But for the sake of goodwill I hope he turns out better than Mirsad Tucsan and Bryce Drew.

CD has done it again.

 

lets go through your points one by one...

1. That is the most idiotic thing I have ever read and I THANK GOD you are not GM. Green is not a sure thing.. Im wondering why 17 teams passed on him well 15 really considering the top 2 were a lock.

2. Here you actually make a good point.. Good job.

3. Stoudamire can shoot yes but what else??? He cant guard anybody (Head can) , hes not gonna go by anybody to go the basket (Head can) and Stoudamire has had his attitude and work ethic question (Head hasnt)

Im not saying Head is the perfect player for us, only time will answer that. Im just tired of reading dumb posts.

 

There ya go, we were both kind of right?

 

If it makes you feel any better, we still have a shot at both of those guys. I don't see why wouldn't invite them for our summer league, if it worked out, it would be like getting a free 2nd Round Pick.

I won't dismiss Head so fast (I haven't see a lot of him). But I would have been happier with Miles as well. Head isn't going to be a big impact player, Miles has the chance to develop really nicely and become a good player.

 

For all those claiming that Simien will leave us with egg on our faces.

1. Simien can't create. One of our problems is the offense bogs down at times when Tmac and/or Yao are out of the game. Having Head and James means we have two guys that can come and light it up.

2. Head is a winner. He played and thrived in a high pressure situation for Illinois all last year and nearly single-handedly brought them back to win a national title against a LOADED team from UNC. Simien looked lost as KU got upset. Gimme a proven winner with some fire any day.

3. Injuries. I don't think people appreciate just how injury prone Simien is. From the KU website.

Freshman season (2001-02)
Played in 32 of KU's 37 games, as he missed the Jayhawks' first five contests after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in November.

Sophomore season (2002-03)
Played in 16 games — missed 22 contests due to a dislocated right shoulder suffered on Jan. 4 against UMKC...

Junior Season (2003-04)
Only managed to play in 32 games with 31 starting assignments and according to the school paper played most of the year with a strained groin.

If he can't take the short and relatively light pounding of the Big 12, I don't know how he'll handle the NBA's grind.

To all the nay-sayers, c'mon, give head a chance. You might like it.

 

1. Who the hell are you?
2. Being condescending is a nice touch, but you're still a jerk.
3. Head has had off-the-court problems too.

 

duh. Delete.