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

My prediction is the Rockets move up in the draft and get Sean May. I wish JVG didn't keep all the draft workouts on the DL tho. It sucks to not know anything about even who they've been working out or who they like or anything. It drives me nuts, I can't wait til Tuesday.

 

With a glut of power forwards coming out in this draft, I would be really suprised to see the Rockets pick any other position. The Rockets IMHO need an up-tempo PG, a slashing-type scorer and defender (SG or SF) and an athletic, rebounding PF.

While I do like Jarret Jack, there is just something about his game I don't like, I just can't pinpoint it (but thats why CD makes the picks and I do not). I think Antoine Wright or Francisco Garcia would be perfect as another scorer and a player who could be a really good defender (but both will most likely be long gone by the 24th pick). I do like Wayne Simien as I saw quite a few Jayhawks games, but the he doesn't leap very high, nor does he play great defense. His rebounding in college was nothing to scoff at but I don't think it will translate over to the NBA and on top of that he's never really been durable. I am not sold on Charles Villanueva at all, and I actually like UConn, I just don't buy into the hype surrounding him.

If the Rockets go international, I could see the them picking Johan Petro who like Badiane is tall, long and athletic and fits the new mold for the PF. The Rockets could also take Roko Ukic (sp?) the guard that CD and Ainge were scouting a few weeks back.

The player I did like before he pulled out was Tiago Splitter, that guy plays hard, can score, rebounds and has great attitude. In case anyone is wondering, yes I've seen him play in person, and I've followed him since my trip back from Europe.

My fearless prediction is that the Rockets will end up taking Chris Taft. The guy has great upside and when he plays with effort he can absolutely change the game. There is a reason why he was touted so well early in the season. I think this pick will be a high risk/ high reward pick. Despite all the knocks on Taft, his talent and (here's that dreaded word) potential are too good to pass up at #24. If he is indeed picked by the Rockets he'll either blossom under JVG's tutelage or snap under the pressure, and either way, it would be the same for whatever rookie or rookies who come into the fold.

 

I agree. If Taft is available, we draft him.

 

Is it within the realm of possibility that a player, oh say like Chris Taft, would 'take it easy' his last season in school in order to fall to the bottom of the first round so that he may join a contending team rather than be drafted by a lottery team.

I know it is risky and makes a difference in money the first few years, but the big payday is year 5 and because of the new pay scale for 1st rounders the difference is not as great as it used to be. I know its a crazy idea. How else do you you explain a guy tagged to be a lottery pick his junior year falling to a bottom 1st rounder his senior year because he appears to be lazy? He didn't all-of-a-sudden become lazy, that is a character trait so he must have been lazy his junior year also.

Am I just a conspiracy theorist or does anyone else think it is peculiar?

 

You're probably right, but I still don't understand Taft's fall from grace. I don't know much about TM.

 

if Charlie Villanueva falls i hope we take him. how can you passed the next lamar odom.
i like hakim warrick but he doesn't really have a position. its cliche now but injuries and being undersized really affect me on drafting wanye simien.

 

You hit the nail on the head. He's an on court motivator, a great trait that you can't measure in height, strength testing, or any other stat that these kids are being evaluated on. You can't measure heart. Jack's got it.

I'd like to see us get either Hodge or Jack because of the 'heart' factor. Precisely the same reason is why I do not want to see us get Taft, Villanueva, or McCants. After watching MoT for all these years, I want no more part of that type of player that won't expend themselves on court. Championship teams are built with players that play with passion. Bring on Jarrett Jack.

 

Taft was a sophmore this year not a senior

 

Exactly...he is the anti-Mo Taylor....Another thing I forgot to mention...Coach Hewitt is a very very strict displinarian...extremely serious about basketball...it is his life and when he loses you can see it on his face pretty much like Van Gundy. Whenever a player missed a class, he would make them run a mile...if they missed a defensive assignment...5 miles...Also, watching the Rockets last season, we already have 2 good sources of points (Tmac and Yao). A strong proven rebounder would help this season but don't expect some HS or college kid to be able to provide us with that. Need to pick that up from free agency. If Jack works on his turnovers he could be the missing piece and a good edition to Tmac and Yao for a 2009 championship run. We are lacking a good young pg. He has great experience for a college player getting the ball inside to a tall lanky center too. Yao would be a lot better if someone could get the ball to him.

 

Uhh... exactly why do you think McCants doesn't have heart? Have you ever seen him play?

 

I know its not his fault that he got sick at end of last year. It's not his fault that his playing off a little after his mom was diagonsed with cancer. He can play and if he falls to 24, Rockets would get an A+ draft from me.

 

After the Mavs series, the Rockets major weakness was exposed. They need to get younger and more athletic at the wing postion. They should draft a 2 or 3 like Sisco Garcia, Winston, or Hodge. They PF's in free agency is pretty deep so I hope the Rockets don't get a 4. They also have Badiene who would be a soild role player. Jarrett Jack is a good pg but he can't shoot. I think he is another Bob Sura. Spaniolus seems to be the real deal so why draft a PG. Barry is FA and Wesley is in his last year of his contract, so draft a SG or SF. I would love to have Joey Graham but they would have to trade up. I think Rockets have a lot of holes so they need to trade their first Round pick for maybe 2 second rounders considering this is a very deep draft. In second round, we maybe can get 2 of Brandon Bass, Ronny Turaif, Nate Robertson, Filiberto Rivera, Kennedy Winston. I have a feeling the Rockets will draft David Lee. Just my feeling.

 

From his bio:


Led Tech in scoring (15.5 points per game), assists (4.53 per game), three-point percentage (44.2 pct.), free throw percentage (86.6 pct.) and steals (1.81 per game) ... ACC rankings for those categories were 12th, sixth, first (fell two FG shy of ACC minimum, but his percentage was better than the ACC leader, Raymond Felton), third and seventh, respectively ... His field goal percentage of 51.4 topped ACC perimeter players and ranked fourth overall in the NCAA ... Scored in double figures in 28 of 32 games, and scored 20 or more on nine occasions.

FG percentage by year:
45.5% 2001-2002
45.6% 2002-2003
51.4% 2003-2004
47.8% <---career

Not too shabby a shooter...

 

I've seen McCants play in person during the ACC tournament semi final where he missed the final 3 pointer for UNC and lost to Jarrett Jack and GT...He has heart too...but, don't know about his ability to pump up his team and didn't seem like much of a team player.

 

We went through this back when we drafted TMo and Griffin. Any team that relies on their rookie PG to "pump them up" isn't going very far. I

And what about 2006, 2007, and 2008? Turnover prone point guards rarely fix their problems without sacrificing the rest of their game. I would've thought the Steve Francis Experience would've proven that well enough.

 

Three-point percentage in college really doesn't mean a lot. Centers in college shot like 40% from beyond the arc. Jarrett Jack shot has improved but he still has limited range. Rockets need a PG who can shoot 3's like Damon Stoudamire not Bob Sura.

 

I think that PG at 24 may not be the wisest decision. If Spanoulis is as good as they say, then I would prefer the Rockets go after a PF, SF, or SG. Even Cassel took a couple of years to get his act together. Remeber Hakeem wanting to strangle him for shooting the ball too much and not giving it to him. I don't think Yao or McGrady would go after a ball hogging point guard the same way Dream did.

PG and Center are usually the toughest positions to fill. Spanoulis is appearing to have been a nice pickup in the 2nd round last year.

I would like the PG to be addressed in a trade or via free agency.

 

http://probasketball.about.com/od/nbadraftplayerprofiles/a/playerranking05_4.htm

I would be shocked if JVG gave his stamp of approval over drafting any player who wouldn't be able to contribute meaningfully this year, no matter how high his upside was. I think that Simien in Rocket red is a very likely possibility.

 

We won our two titles in Sam I Am's first two years. Define "get his act together".