Disagree. David Andersen is definitely a better player than Maarty Leunen. I know he didn’t have a good rookie season but Rockets misused him. He is a power forward and never played at center in his whole career even he is a 7 footer . I don’t really like Andersen because he is a below average defender and rebounder even in Europe and simply disappeared when opponents get physical. But I can understand why Morey brought him over. He is a legit big with skills, shooting range and some post moves. Playing him next to Yao, he could be quite a weapon. I doubt Morey will give up on him only after one season especially on a Yao-less team. For Maarty Leunun, he is unthletic too. But he knew his role. Unlike other American players in Europe, he didn’t really care about his stats and never forced anything. But on the offensive end, he can only catch and shoot. The reason I think Rockets should bring him over is that every year Rockets need some d-leaguers to fill their roster. Leunun could be that guy next season and has potential to become a rotation player.
I think it's a good idea to take whatever we could from the first and second tier FA pool before thinking of any rotational players. We're all set on rotation players.
Agree with you. But about Andersen, he played as center in Europe, sometimes. Plus he has a career reputation here for showing his best performances on the most important and crucial games of the season. That means he's a playoff player with important winning experience. So the player DaDakota is looking for is David Andersen. Don't throw out him that fast, give the guy some more time than a rookie season, his first NBA year has been very difficult for him, even not fair. I trust him.
I think Llull has a better chance of contributing as a Rocket than Leunen. I do hope Maarty turns out to be good some day.
Has there ever been a prospect that DD didn't think would turn out to be the next big thing? I swear he's covered every prospect ever went through the Rockets system. I guess if you hype up enough of these guys, you have to get at least some of them right.
I remember he thought Landry was crap and would get cut and Mike Harris making it instead in the 2007 preseason. Boy was he right on that one...
Is it more cruel that you slaughter his name in this thread or that you consider him your off season no. 1 priority.
Leunen would be in the Mike Harris role, good enough for some spot callups but too much a tweener to be a full time roster player. I remember him being way overmatched in the interior. Maybe he can be an offensive 3. He'd get worked at the 4. At least Matt Bullard had length. At the same time there's a dependability factor with him where he doesnt seem to stain the team with his on-court presense.
Really now? I guess he learned his lesson and decided to cover all his bases since then. I mean, Leunen? I thought the guy's distant memory by now.
Wow, I am talking about a guy that adds flexibility and is just a possibility as the 9th or 10th man, and some of you extrapolate that into "My number 1 priority" or the "next big thing", or some old discussion about previous summers is exaggerated to make an innane point. Newsflash: This is a Rockets team website, it has room for discussion on the ENTIRE ROSTER....not just some pipe dream that has little chance of coming to Houston, but actual basketball discussion about a player that the team controls. Sergio Llull, Brad Newley, Maarty Luenan, Lior Eliyaju(sp?), could all be discussed because there is a lot better chance of one of them coming to the Rockets than any of the top named free agents. I can understand everyone wanting one of those free agents, it is only natural, but if we do get one, the roster will have to be filled in with lower cost alternatives, like Maarty. So, broaden your horizens, and open your minds to the possibility of discussing the entire roster....not just a pipe dream like any of the current big named Free agents. And maybe you guys don't like Maarty, that is cool....but a catch and shoot 4 with 3pt range is something this team could really use... DD
That is a funny picture, but Cook offered little else, Maarty moves very well off the ball into open spaces, Cook just stood there like a lump. Either way......apparently he is my top priority....ROFLMAO....whatever. He is like an extra cheap option for the roster that would be a specialist called upon when needed. Last year's stats: FG% 52.7 2pt% 62 3pt% 43.8 ppg 12.4 rpg 5.7 mpg 33.8 Not bad....not bad at all. DD
In some respects, I can see the value of a 3 point shooting big at the end of the bench. A guy that can spark the offense when things get stale. However, I'd rather look for an offensive spark from a small then a big. With the lineup as it is right now, that'd be Bud, Lowry, or Taylor's job. I'd rather have a defensive specialist like Hayes at the end of the bench. Better yet, a shot blocking athletic big who can help lockup the paint and force the opposition to take some bad shots outside. I'm hoping that Hill can fill that role to some extent.
Well, I'm reserving one of the spots at the end of bench for the injured Yao, another for the 2nd round rookie we send down to the Vipers (does he count? I forget), a 3rd for the bad contract we'll end up taking, a 4th for the extra spot that Morey likes to leave open. Brooks, Lowry Martin, Bud Ariza, Battier, Hill, Hayes, Jeffries Scola, 1st round pick, Andersen, (Yao injured on the bench) Heck, we already have too many players.
Old, tired, lame and just wrong. I forget is AB white, or Von Wafer, or maybe Corey Maggette, don't be trying to stir the pot with garbage like this.... Anyway, Maarty may not be the best player available but he might be someone that could help the Rockets, which was what this thread was all about. Interesting, but we do not have a 2nd round pick this year.....still, you may be right, and Maarty may have to stay in Europe..... DD
