Chad Ford's picks for the ROX in his newest mock draft. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draf...ory?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-110621 Pick 14: Jonas Valanciunas Position: C Height: 7-0 Weight: 245 Age: 19 Country: Lithuania Analysis: Could the Rockets really score Valanciunas this low in the draft? Maybe. If Valanciunas isn't able to come to the NBA, a number of teams will feel pressure to draft players who can help right away. There's a chance the Bobcats, Bucks or Warriors will take him. But it's just a chance. However, I doubt Valanciunas will slide any farther than this. The Rockets really need a center, and Valanciunas, in the long run, is worthy of a lottery pick. Nikola Vucevic also is a real possibility here. Pick 23: Donatas Motiejunas Position: PF Height: 7-0 Weight: 220 Age: 19 Country: Lithuania Analysis: Would the Rockets really take two Lithuanians? Sure they would. Both players are vastly underrated where the Rockets are getting them, and the Rockets have always been the sort of team that takes advantage of a bargain when it sees one. 38. Darius Morris | PG | Michigan The Rockets would like to add some size in the backcourt and have been fans of Morris for a while. At No. 38, he's worth the risk. He has a lot of Andre Miller to his game.
Well, Rockets actually know almost everything about both lithuanians because our scout in Eastern Europe is Arturas Karnisovas - one of the best and most respectful players in last era of lithuanian basketball and he became a valuable part of lithianian basketball community after his retirement Don't forget about the fact that Morey arrived to Lithuania couple of months ago to watch Valanciunas personally
If this happens the Rockets future will be very bright in 2 yrs I am really high on Donatas Motiejunas and while he has motivational issues, he can flat out play maybe even a little SF. Then you get potenially the best center in the draft in Jonas Valanciunas at a young age. I think Darius Morris can play as well, although would prefer a small forward with this pick. Also if the draft did go like this, I think Kyle Lowry would be traded. He and Darius are very similar and do not compliment each other like Darius would compliment Goron Dragic. I doubt this happens but we can always dream though.
Being reported by John Givony that if the Bucks prospect they covet is not there at #10, they will trade their pick to houston for #14 and #23.
Man if only this were the prediction on draft day. Being that it is just too perfect and 2 days early means it will never happen sadly.
"...IF the player the Rockets covet is there at #10". (I made that up, but the original source should have written that.) Who are the Rockets targeting in that #8-#12 range? (They've also supposedly talked with Detroit about that #8.) Chris Singleton? (Some mocks have Utah after him at #12.) Kawhi Leonard? (Probably won't fall that far.)
Have no clue to who'm the rockets have targeted from the 8 to 12 range. And I had absolutely no clue they had Patrick Patterson as their target in last years draft. Morey really plays it close to the vest. IMO its still unlikely they move up because its all based on specific scenarios playing out.
I think this is the guy Morey is after, Jonas V. He's likely to go in that 8-10 range. DE has him compared to a Biedrins/Noah combo and i think that sounds about right AND its what we need. Star centers that are out there don't seem likely to be available or to come here, and there's very few as it is, so this would be the best option to have and hope you score a star at another position instead.
Jonas V. sounds very intriguing. I have never seen the kid play outside of watching a few highlight videos.
There is a thread on the front page of Clutchfans about Jonas V with 200 replies. You know what that means? No way in hell Morey is targeting him. Morey's pick will cause the most amount of pain and make the least amount of sense to the most people possible. Only to be proven ingenious months down the road. If you want to read Morey's mind, you will have to go the opposite of everyone else. People want a shot blocking big. What's the opposite of that? A scoring wing. Marcus Morris HIYOOOOO
Valanciunas at 14, Motiejunas at 23 and Morris at 38. I'm going to guess Daryl Morey filled out that mock.
