So, to anybody who's been following this guy's career or managed to watch a decent amount of his games, any chance he can be serviceable? He's still young, pretty tall. I wouldn't mind playing him over Jeffries if he has a chance to develop.
Saw him play once or twice as a Rocket early on post-trade. He's useless and will only take minutes from Jordan Hill who actually has potential.
I've seen him play a few times on the Hornets. From what I had seen, I was disappointed that we had to end up with him in a trade. He contributes very little. I think he will need to work on his game quite a bit to have a chance to stay in the league. Specifically, effort and gaining a better feel for the game.
We will know whether Armstrong is useful at the end of season if Morey picks up his option. Until then, I'm sure Adelman will be watching him closely in practice. IMO it's not likely Adelman will give him anything other than spot minutes because Adelman wants to make the playoffs. He already knows what he has in Budinger, and he is seeing what Hill and Jeffries can do. Again, IMO, that's about all the experimenting he wants to do with new players.
I can say with 99.999% certainty that we won't be picking up Armstrong's $3.8M option in the year where we could potentially have a S&T for a superstar free agent and must re-sign free agents Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry. Oh, also we'll be over the cap already, and Armstrong (at $3.8M) puts us closer to the luxury tax.
If you look up his name on ESPN with his stats.. His birth name is actually Hilton Armstrong? The question mark is silent.
True, but that cap hold only applies until he is signed or released. The Rocks conceivably -- if they do indeed like him -- could offer him say $1.5M, i.e. a small contract for one year with a team option on years two and three.
Except that they'll renounce his rights to get rid of his cap hold and then offer him nothing because he sucks and our roster is rather full already.
Adelman's opinion of Armstrong's ability is the question, isn't it? There is no question he is gone if we draft/acquire a C or PF-C. If we draft/acquire a player at any other position, Jermaine Taylor IMO likely is the odd man out.
Adelman's opinion of his ability is obvious because of the zero playing time Armstrong is getting. He's obviously chosen Jordan Hill and even Jared Jeffries (who will be stuck on the roster due to contract) over Armstrong, and with Yao coming back there is zero reason to keep him. Jermaine Taylor will not be the odd man out because he is a rookie, and they can treat him like Joey Dorsey if they need to (D-League). They have options with him. They don't with Armstrong.
I disagree for the opinion I have already specified: IMO it's not likely Adelman will give Armstrong anything other than spot minutes because Adelman wants to make the playoffs. He already knows what he has in Budinger, and he is seeing what Hill and Jeffries can do. Again, IMO, that's about all the experimenting he wants to do with new players.
He needs to get better at basketball before he plays more. Maybe he could buy Better Basketball.. Even Chauncey Billups learned a few things.
All I've seen of him is the little time he's been on the court for the Rockets... They guy doesn't even seem to care. He has no energy and puts forth ZERO effort. When you are playing with guys like Scola, Battier, and Lowry especially who leave it all out on the floor every game, that kinda stands out. He will probably play somewhere next year because of his size, but I seriously doubt it will be the Rockets. He's a 7 footer(6'11?) on a team needing a 7 footer badly and he's stuck behind 5 other players. That should tell you all you need to know.
