This has probablly already been an issue at the forum for some time, but I am very curious about this scenario. This thread is about a position change inquiry that I'll back up with a draft possibility that could set the Rockets up proper for the future. I think Griffin should get a real look at the SF position next year. When we traded our three picks to the Nets for him last year, the ESPN annoncers kept labeling him as a small foward. Since then, I have always seen him as a 3. Think about it. Glenn Rice could be the starter next year, if healthy. Since it's probablly going to be his final year, it would give Grif. the opportunity to learn the position before he becomes the full time starter in '03-'04. EG could get the majority of his minutes at the SF spot as a 6th or 7th man. We could still use him sparingly at the 4 and 5 spots, however. Look at it this way: EG already has the body of a small foward. At 6'10" 220lbs, he could be a force in the post , and guard the bigger trendy 3's like Dirk and Rashard, which would not make he and his talent feel inferior in any way to this team. And let's get realistic, he is only 19 yrs. old, and still has some growing, physically, to do. Everyone wants him to hit the weights and gain 15 to 20 lbs of solid muscle this summer, which could happen, but is probablly out of the question. Eventually, we could see a ripped up, solid Grif., but more like 3 or 4 years down the line, in time wasted that we could have a threatening & scary team with him at the 3 spot. Oh yeah, and he's already above average at 3-point shooting, which we all know Rudy loves, and will be great at running the court once he gets his conditioning. So let him practice his jumpers and passing in the offseason to help such a transition. So put EG at the SF spot and with a draft pick in the 4 to 6 range, draft the best available, stud, power foward. In the subject line, I have that as possibly being Gooden, if we draft 4th or 5th b/c Ming, Williams, Wagner, and Woods will go before him. Wilcox is also a possibility and we might benefit better from him down the lines, however it's safe to say that either would be a great addition to the Rocks, and both have superstar potential. Then all we'd have to do is use the Toronto pick on a big center or a back-up slasher (sg) for Mobley, such as Borchardt, Marcus, or a Roger Mason, if available. A scheme to get Butler, nonetheless, in addition to Gooden or Wilcox, and the Rocks will be in prime position to mop up the REST OF THE WEST!!! Let me know if this is ridiculus or not?
Phat Line-up!!!! PG: Francis / Norris / Butler or Mason SG: Mobley / Butler or Mason / Rice SF: Rice / Griffin / Morris / Langhi PF: Gooden or Wilcox / Taylor / Thomas C: Cato / Taylor / Griffin
Russ, I agree that EG will not be a POWER forward for a while. So we should draft with power in mind. Personally I would take Stoudamire and Marcus and leave KT at SF next year and bring Rice off the bench for Mobley. Once again no one should average more than 35mins per game and the rotation should be no shorter than 10.
Who do you see us giving up to get Butler? Because to get another pick that high somebody would have to be shipped out... Also I think Butler's too good to waste as our backup 2 guard. As Torres can tell you Mobley and Francis dominate those minutes pretty soundly. Mason would be an interesting pick, but I don't see him as any better than Torres. We'd be better off resigning Oscar and trying to pick up an athletic center we can work on developing. If the goal is to play Griffin at the 3, then Wilcox is the much better pick to play Power Forward. He's got more size than gooden and a much greater athletic upside. Plus Wilcox is developing inside-out which is what we'll need for a solid post player. I'm not so sure I buy off on playing Griffin at the 3. I think him playing there is an undertutilization of his skills. I think it takes him away from the basket on D, which hinders weak-side shot blocking. I think it'd make him less interested in developing a good inside game on offense. As good as he was shooting 3's earlier in the season, he's capable of much more than just that.
Jaybird, I didn't really have a scenario, or really think we could obtain Butler via the draft, it was just wishful thinking. I am a firm believer that a team should covet the best available player it can through free agency or mainly in the draft. In my eyes the team that does the most with its talent has the best shot at a championship ala the '94 Rocks. Reallistically, we're going to be picking around the 4 to 6 range, and there are a number of quality 4's out there, including, Gooden, Wilcox, and Stoudamire. They will be available with our pick, so I say nab one of them b/c they will be the most talented players on the board, and the Rockets need more injections of talent at evry single position. this being said, with the addition of another PF to our squad, we should take advantage of all of our best players and get them all on the court at the same time. Griffin has upside potential at just about any postion (not literally), so he should be the one that makes a transition. Plus, a Gooden or a Wilcox will be able to clean the boards and block shots down low like EG in good time, so why not put Griff. at the 3 and Gooden or Cox at the 4 and have a dynamic duo of defenders, and potential all-star talents on offense? This would give us a very athletic, and powerful line-up for several years including Francis, Cat, Griffin, and either Gooden or Wilcox. There is no center in this draft that's worth above the tenth pick.......except of course Ming, but we don't have the #1 overall pick.
I don't think Eddie has the lateral quickness to play defense on most quick small forwards and lacks ball handling skills to play the position effectively. The small forward should be able to break down the defense occasionally by driving not just settling for jumpshots. Once in a blue moon when Walt is clicking on all cylinders is when the Rockets play their best. We need a more athletic version of Walt. Odom would fit the bill.
