Now that Carter is out for the rest of the season, it looks highly improbable for us to get their pick this summer, since they'll be in the lottery. But... According to the <a href="http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/rox/1305259">Rockets Summary section in today's Houston Chronicle</a>, <i>March 22, 2002, 11:07PM</i> <b>Rockets summary</b> <i>Draft tweaking</i> The Raptors placed Vince Carter on the injured list on Friday, severely hurting Toronto's chance to make a late run to a playoff spot and the Rockets' chance to pick up an extra first-round draft pick. The Raptors owe the Rockets a first-rounder in the first of the next seven drafts in which they are not in the lottery as part of the sign-and-trade deal that sent Hakeem Olajuwon to Toronto. But the Rockets could still have a second first-round pick in next June's draft. The SuperSonics owe the Raptors a first-round pick through New York as part of the deal that sent Patrick Ewing to Seattle. The Raptors would not be compelled to send the Rockets the SuperSonics' pick and the Rockets would not have to take it. But it could offer another option. "We have to wait and see how things develop," Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said of the Rockets' interest in another pick. "It's premature right now. It's just too early to speculate. But it's something we have talked about. It would be up to us. We'll have to see about a lot of things." ---------------------------------------- So, right now, I think if Seattle goes in where they are right now in the standings, they'd be about the 19th pick, which could either be used to trade up one or two spots, be used in a trade, or pick up someone like Dan Gadzurik, Frank Williams, Tayshaun Prince, Tito Mattux, or someone who slips out of the lottery (like last year with Loren Woods, Brendan Haywood, Zach Randalph, Jamaal Tinsley, Tony Parker, Gerald Wallace, Terrence Morris ...) Would we want to take that pick if it was offered to us? Next year, Toronto's pick probably won't be any better... we were lucking out this year that they were so close to the lottery, but next year it might not be that way... But, will there be someone there worth picking at #19, or would we just rather get a pick next year, since our own pick will probably be heading to Memphis?
great find Sherlock. I think it'll depend on what our pick does-suppose we land top 3-if we're looking to trade out, a top 3 pick has a high enough value that it'd probably be worth waiting. It'll also matter what we see our draft needs being, and what we could get in alternative matters. Also, the underclassmen that declare could factor in.
Yeah, I'd wait to see how deep the draft is. Of course that is if Toronto would be willing to give it to us no? But they'd be stupid not to, as even if they make the playoffs next season I doubt they'll have as good of a record as Seattle does this year.
