Notwithstanding the fact that either of these guys could turn out to be solid NBA players, the excuses being thrown out in this thread are stupid. It was a game of one-on-one... something pretty much every basketball player has done countless times and which requires no special preparation or familiarity. And it was Hilton Armstrong, an NBA scrub. The idea that, well, Hilton is an NBA player and these guys aren't yet, so it's to be expected is moronic. Um, the idea here is to see how NBA ready these guys are, to see if they could become an NBA player. You do that partially by putting them in competition against other NBA players, and then assessing the results, not dismissing the results because they were going against an actual NBA player - it's some kind of odd circular logic that for some reason a number have clung to. The fact that it was Hilton Armstrong doesn't speak volumes for these guys' readiness. So, can they become solid NBA contributors in a few years? Sure. One-on-one isn't the only measuring stick. But with Orton, certainly, things are looking worse and worse. Couldn't get PT in college, not the best interviewee, didn't measure well, not the most athletic and doesn't perform well in workouts. I mean, should this guy be drafted at all? I think Whiteside has more upside. In either case, these results should be taken at face value. Which is, they got freaking dominated by Hilton Armstrong!
DD is right, Morey tends to look for proven college players who have stayed in school and performed consistently. Henry is still not a Morey pick, IMO. James Anderson out of OSU would be.
It's just an example. He's just the most recognizable name that was projected to be a top 5 pick when he came out of high school and now he's being pushed down by a ton of early entry Big men. I also think It's best to take BPA because of trade possibilities.
His confidence back? http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/armsthi01.html when did he ever have it? He's never been even close to a solid NBA player. He's always been a scrub. The best thing about him is that he's a decent enough per minute rebounder...but then, he is tall, and should be.
Morey has not had much of an oppotunity of drafting young and skilled so I would no rule out Henry. Other GMs have over-valued young tall projects leaving shorter productive players. I see no reason why a young, tall, and productive player doesn't fit Morey's MO.
This. I'm sure he would jump at the chance to draft Derrick Favors, for example. Henry could be on our radar as well, as could many other young guys who are tall for their position. I don't think he particularly likes Whiteside at 14, though. If Whiteside falls to the 2nd round and we have a pick there, then hell yeah I think Morey would view him as good value.
You always go small in the draft. Never draft big guys like Jordan Hill. You trade to get him as a throw-in.
I don't see how anyone can take the results of a one-on-one game as a serious barometer of where these guys are as basketball players. Let's check back in a year or two and if these guys are the 12th on an NBA bench or in the D League we can talk.
The "Donte Greene Draft" is a great example of Morey's philosophy: Value, value, value. He doesn't take "older more proven" guys because he doesn't like underclassmen, he has taken them because he thinks they have been the best value available.
If you want big men; David West, Carlos Boozer, Al Jefferson, and Andrew Bynum fell in their respective drafts as well. Point is you need to find the best player available with the potential and skill set showing they can take it to the next level in the league. Not just because they're the most hyped player on the board, Greg Oden would be an example of one.
Did u make the call or did you see before hand Morey drafting Aaron Brooks several years and was Brooks on your potential list of draftees that Morey was going to take at the time? Personally I did not see it coming when he drafted Brooks, this guy has surprised me in everything he's done. Right now I have no clue who would be a Morey pick.
I'd love to trade up to get Favors. He's going to be a perennial All-Star. Cousins will be a bust just like Whiteside
News refresh: In summer of 2002, Yao had a double-double with 6 block shots against World Championship Team with Jamaine Oneal and Antonio Davis as centers, who were all-stars at that moment. He scored easily over those guys when he was fresh.
Lucky for us, the Rockets play team ball not isolation basketball. Maybe thats why Armstrong looked like a scrub, he's playing in the wrong system.
