In a trade for Carmelo Anthony, which PF on their rookie deal would you rather give up, Jordan Hill (2009 #8 pick) or Patrick Patterson (2010 #14 pick)? Jordan Hill Strengths: length, athletic finisher, potential shot-blocker, plus-rebounder, developing low-post game, can play PF and C, if he figures things out he could be a break-out player Weaknesses: lack of intensity, poor hands, questionable IQ, range is limited to about 15 feet Patrick Patterson Strengths: range shooting at PF, efficient around the basket, prototypical PF body, busts his tail, intelligent / good locker-room guy Weaknesses: upside is limited, undersized as a C
Pat can be an instant contributor. I think we should keep him, plus he is a high character guy who will fit right in with this team.
Either one is ok with me....giving up either is not really a big risk if you are getting Melo. It does leave us thin going forward, but maybe we can get Landry back after this season. DD
I doubt Landry would join a team where he'd likely be coming off the bench. But maybe he breaks out this season, and the season after the Rockets would be willing to start him over Scola.
Naw, Mandry reached his peak prior to the knee injury. He's not a starter, he's a bench player. But a superb one.
Send out both and keep Brooks. Brooks will be handy if CP3 becomes available. This isn't a bad rotation: Scola, Hayes/Jeffries Miller, Yao
No strong preference really. Whichever one Denver wants to make a Melo trade work is fine with me. Both have the potential to be useful, or to be busts. Too early to tell in either player's case. I would even trade both if that's really what takes since I am pretty comfortable with Yao/Miller/Scola/Hayes as a 4-man bigs rotation. Melo can probably pitch in some PF minutes, too. Rockets might get another big back, too (like the older Chris Andersen, salary eaten with TPE). Kind of curious to see what a Melo trade will cost the Rockets (or any other team). On one hand, Melo is very valuable. On the other hand, there's presumably some point at which such a trade becomes a bad deal for the Rockets (or for Melo... if the Rockets trade all of their decent parts for Melo, why would Melo want to play with only leftover scrubs?). I just don't think the inclusion of either Patterson or Hill is where you draw the line.
Keep Hill. We have a good, crafty PF that scores well in Scola. Hill gives you more length, rebounding and has the higher upside.
If anything, he has shown to be a poor shot-blocker, and can't play C. Those two experiments proved to be monumental failures against summerleague competition. I shudder at what that would look like against NBA Cs. Does he have limited upside because he is already a polished player, as opposed to Hill who at times looks clueless? I would much rather bet on the guy who has already showed the ability to play intelligent basketball, who you know will work hard to improve than the athletic guy who is dumb as rocks with a low motor, banking on "potential". How many times are those "potentials" actually realized? Stromile Swift, Eddie Griffin, Kwame Brown, Tyrus Thomas anyone?
I'd trade Patterson. As stated in the OP, he's short and the upside's limited. While he'll probably turn out an efficient player, he won't be as hard to replace. On the other hand, height is very difficult to get and Hill's got plenty. I wouldn't attach even one of those to him. Lack of intensity - The guy's a rebounding machine. Poor hands - Yao used to have poor hands. Questionable IQ - Quite the opposite. The guy's very smart. Knows how to run on a break, especially. 15' range - Who cares? He's a center. 15' is plenty, as is.
And to add: I would rather have the one Morey actually targeted in the draft, than the one that was thrown in just for added value in a bigger trade. The one that Morey has said was 6th on his draft board, than the one that is in the teens due to external reasons(character, motivation, professionalism?).
True. He did not look good at all as a defensive anchor in summer league. I think the physical attribute are there, so there is potential for him to develop in that area. But the lack of intensity and awareness on the defensive end makes him below-average as a help defender at center.
Don't think he will play the Center role in Houston. But agree that he has great potential. He does need to work on his hands though. Needs glue like that black kid from "Little Giants."
