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

If Simien's available at 24, we should take him. But we really should try to move up to get Diogu, IMO.

I think Simien can certainly be molded into a Charles Oakley type. But while Diogu may not be quite on the level of Elton Brand, at the very least he should be Kenny Thomas with shotblocking ability. And for us, that's as close to ideal as we can get in this draft (though Bogut would complement Yao perfectly, that ain't gonna happen)

 

If we possibly can trade up . . . how high can we reasonably trade up to? I have seen the 19 mentioned, can we get higher than that? I guess its just a waiting game to see what other teams further up are doing on draft night. We gave up a lot to move to take eddie griff (hindsight). Anyway, here's hoping that some team wants to trade out of the lottery.

 

So you watched him one game where he missed an off-balanced three and thats proof enough that he can't "pump up his team"?

I guess you missed the game where UNC beat #1 UCONN and McCants hit the three to win at the buzzer?

I've seen all of McCants games the last 2 years, not just 1 tourny game He's a big-time player, and he likes taking the big shots. I don't think he'll be a true superstar, but he will be a huge asset to any team he goes to.

 

I'd keep our 24th pick, and trade a player for another late round pick. I know CD said that he'd be happy if our pick just made the team, but this is truely a special draft, and I hope we can find 2 roster spots for badly needed youth. This draft can basically save us from caring about the next couple.

With that said here are my two:
Ike
Hodge

I doubt Ike will be around by 24, but Hodge might be. If McCants or Taft are still on the board at 24, we have to take the risk. I also think Luther Head will turn out to be a very good pg in this league, but better talent will probably be available at 24.

 

I say Luther Head. It's a bit of a reach but I think the Rockets will play it safe and take the lockdown off-gaurd. He'd be a nice complement to T-Mac and since JVG doesnt play rookies much, he won't have any pressure to make a measurable impact any time soon.

 

Frankly, I think we are going to trade the pick to Memphis along with Wesley or Sura for Bonzi and the cooperation of Memphis in doing a sign and trade for Stromile. We may take their #19 and make the pick for them or whatever but Memphis needs to dump salary and we can accomodate them with some expirings for Bonzi plus some good, young talent.

I am just saying that players in the Jack mold are the kinds of players that we want. Jack and Hodge are scrappers who will fight you for 48 minutes, no matter how bad things look, and they will do anything to win. McCants is a great talent, no question. But he is selfish and is more interested in a payday right now than winning basketball games. Besides that, he's 6-3, on the short side for the off guard position in this league. He won't be able to defend the bigger 2s on the post up. We may take him and then try to trade down or something like that but I don't see him being a part of the rotation here. I could see Hodge and Jack fitting in here easily.

 

I have a question.

I may have missed the info at some point, but have the Rockets even worked out Simien, Jack, Taft, or any of the others names being thrown around here?

I'm pretty positive I read they worked out Diogu but haven't seen they worked out any of the other PFs or PGs, other than that brief mention CD was overseas watching Ukic (who oddly enough looks like will be drafted at 18 a pick before the Grizzlies' 19).

Maybe the writing is on the wall in that they will trade up to get Diogu with Memphis' pick. Just a guess.

 

I don't think Memphis need' to dump salary, though they likely aren't going to add salary either. If they were looking to dump salary, they don't really have a reason to trade Bonzi. They have a team option after next season, so technically he has an expiring contract.

Also, I'm not sure if we can actually trade for "the cooperation of Memphis in doing a sign and trade for Stromile."

If we do trade up, I wouldn't be surprised if it was with Toronto for #16 and Jalen Rose.

 

Not working out players is just a smokescreen a lot of times. The Rockets are as good as it gets at keeping their cards hidden and playing the poker face until the money is on the table.

 

Taft got worse from his freshman to sophomore year, that is why his stock has slipped. He's just a lazy player that pouts. He also never runs the floor and let Troutman get all the hustle plays.

Regarding McCants and Villanueva: You're crazy if you think they are cancers. McCants was jacked up for every game and gave all out effort when the team needed it. He hit more big shots than I can remember.

Villanueva always stepped up big in crunchtime and started dominating the second half of the season. His stats are pretty good for the minutes he played(mainly because he shared time with Josh Boone, Hilton Armstrong, and Ed Nelson, all NBA prospects). I don't know why he gets the "lazy" label. A little reserved and too unselfish, yes, but certainly no cancer. By the way, they both won National Championships. They'd both be great picks for the Rockets.

 

isn't he supposed to be eddie griffin the second coming or am i thinking of someone else?

 

He could be the next Eddie Griffin or the next Lamar Odom. I wouldn't put too much into draft comparisons on websites. There's no telling how players will pan out, Taft could turn out to be the best player in the draft.

 

with all this talk about simien i just can't see him still availble by the time the rockets get to pick. there a whole lot of unkown euros being projected as high/mid 1st round picks. i expect a whole glut of them to drop down to the 2nd round on draft night.

 

Ya, I have the feeling someone is going to take Simien suprisingly early or at least before we do.

If Simien and Diogu are off the boards, I definitely see the Rockets picking up a guy like Garcia or Jack. I also wouldn't be suprised if they picked up Blatche either, if he is still there.

 

This is killing me!

I've heard so many things about our options in the offseason and I can't wait to see things happen. Tomorrow and the few hours I'm awake before the draft will be grueling.

I know many of you feel the same. Just wanted vent. a ;lkfj;laskdjf;lask fj;lsadjf ;lasjdf

 

I do this every year the rockets have a first round pick. I'm so sleep deprived its not even funny. My girlfriend is getting upset with me cause everytime she asks me whats on my mind I tell her the rockets or the Nba draft.

 

Warick only has range out to 10 Ft and he can't dribble. All he did in college was dunk the ball. This would be absolutely no help in making space for YAO. I know this 'cause I'm in Big East country and 'Cuse games are on all the time so I've seen him enough. Freakish athlete with no ball skills or size. As I said. A power forward in a shooting guards body

 

I still think there is a 50% chance this pick gets traded before training camp. So who we pick is not so important.

 

If the pick is not traded on draft day, then that player will be here for training camp.

Once a rookie is signed, you can't trade him for 3 months anyway.

 

I have a funny feeling that the Rockets will draft Luther Head. He's worked out twice for them, most recently yesterday. I really think this kid will turn out to be a solid pg. He's a senior, and tested off the charts at the combine, he has a sweet 3pt shot, and he is a nasty defender. Sounds like a CD and JVG guy. Apparently he has done well in workouts, and teams think he can run the point. This could be Houston's sleeper pick. ...or not, who the hell knows.