What if.... Now I love the acquisition of Battier (although I think we should have gotten a second piece -- even a pick). But what if the Grizzlies hadn't been willing to do the deal? Reports have them not being interested in the least in Rudy Gay. There were all of those trade down scenarios as well. Who would the Rockets have picked at #8 to keep? JJ Redick? Thabo Safelosha? Hilton Armstrong? Others?
Hard to say, but I think they still would have gone with Gay. He was by far the best talent available at #8.
i wonder if gay kept the rockets draft hat. i wouldve burned it, then again i wouldve burned all the hats of all the teams who passes on me. gay is gonna be the lienert of the nba.
Yeah, but the Rockets really didn't like him, at all. This has been well established. I think they would have traded down with NO/OKC for their two first rounders, or something like that. Basically they'd trade it to someone who wants Gay (which is what they ended up doing).
As badly as I would have begged them (from my living room) to pick Patrick O'Bryant, they would have picked Rudy Gay. They would have then offered him to the Bulls for Sefolosha or the Jazz for Ronnie Brewer and possibly another pick. One of those would have bitten (my money on the Bulls). They would have gotten who they wanted at a lower salary.
Draft best talent available, then shop him around. Too many mistakes in the past based on drafting by need.
The better question, IMO, is what would the summer have looked like for the Rox if the Roy deal had gone down. The next better question, IMO, is what would the summer have looked like for the Rox if the mj deal had gone down. Dominoes would have fallen in what direction if either/both scenaria had evolved?
Redick and Novak = no defense. One is enough. How about moving down for Hilton Armstrong? 6'10", 240, athletic, long, great shotblocker, can hit midrange shot. That would've made sense.
I guess most people on this message board don't listen to Houston sports radio. Jeff Van Gundy stated ON THE AIR that the Rockets would have taken Thabo Selalosha at #8 if the Battier trade was not available. Plan A: Brandon Roy Plan B: Shane Battier trade Plan C: Thabo Sefalosha Plans D-Z: ???
My guess is they trade down to 11th with Orlando and draft Sefolosha, the guy management said they were intersted in if the Roy and Battier options did not materialize. They would have still been able to get their guy at 11th, but probably also pick up something else as well... maybe Dooling as a defensive guard.
Brewer, Reddick, Vspan, and Novak would have been an interesting group of rookies, but no way we get out of the first round for another year with them.
