Just confirmed this with Morey... most likely looking to move into the "25-45" range because that is "usually the only place teams are willing to sell and we would still have a chance of finding a decent player (even though the odds are long)."
Patty Mills, potential Jazz killer. Deron Williams could only foul him in the two games they played in China (USA v Australia).
Thats pretty much what i said earlier. I would also look at phoenix who might sell as well as okc,portland, and denver. If you want a pick in the middle, you can get a pick.
Are you part of the front office personnel or something? This only makes sense if they already have some guys in mind, can they even communicate with potential candidates during the playoffs? What about scout them?
I think Phoenix would be a high target as far as buying a pick goes. If I remember correctly, the pick they sold to Portland that landed Fernandez was right before our pick which we used to draft Brooks. From what I remember, Fernandez was the guy we targeted. Phoenix liked Brooks and felt they could draft him with another pick they had later in the first round. So when they sold Portland the pick and Fernandez was drafted, we picked up Brooks which killed them since they ended up with Alando Tucker and three million bucks for their two first round picks. All in all it worked out pretty good. Its crazy to think though, if Portland hadnt messed up our plans we could have Roy and Fernandez instead of Brooks and Battier.
Just confirmed? Do you have the inside information or just joking around here? I like to know. I hope that we can get the 20-25 range too because we have a better chance to find a better player, plus that the team would win the first round, and Les is willing to spend more since he is going to earn more from the playoff run in this year.
I'm a reporter (see signature); I asked him. My personal belief is that Morey's "25-45" range might be expanded closer to 15 or 20 this year, given the economic situation, but I don't have anything to back that up. I asked if the economy and rumors of certain franchises needing firesales could make it easier to get a pick (and likely a higher one), but he said he didn't know yet. Obviously the economy is a fluid situation and it's hard to nail down the specifics of teams' situations two months in advance. Still, my guess is that it's much easier this year than any other year, especially with a perceived mediocre draft class on top of all the economic stuff.
Whatever Morey says goes. I'm thinking that a young athletic 7 footer that can defend would be nice, and maybe a lanky 215 pound 6 ft 8in guy so we can battle the Lakers' tall lineup. Like a T-Mac, but with heart, grit, defensive mindset, and everyday intensity. With Bynum Gasol, Odom, Ariza, Kobe, etc, the Lakers are very tall and tough to match up with. Even Mt. Mutumbo may retire one day.
Even though the draft is weak this year, there are some decent players who could turn out to be great between 15 and 25: 15-DeJuan Blair(though he might be undersized is a baby shaq) 17-Jeff Teague(he had some great games this year and shoots 44% from beyond the arc)(lol at how he is predicted to become on draftexpress; Best Case: Better shooting Monta Ellis, Worst Case: Aaron Brooks - great to know Teague's worst case scenario is a starting PG job on a contending team!) 21-Jrue Holiday(he didn't turn out to be the great college player my friends at UCLA predicted, but I think that with some time and work he can be solid) 25-Sam Young(my personal favourite, he is long and I think can become great) Of course it all depends on what the team is looking for, and I don't think we will find anything that can make us contenders in this draft. Best case scenario for the Rockets: Draft and Trade after Camp a la Donte Greene.
Lee I agree. Its looking like the rockets could move just about anywhere in this draft depending on how much the rockets value a certain player and what team is hurting from a financial standpoint.
Maybe we can snag Minnesota's 18th pick. They have three 1st round picks, including a likely top 5. How much more youth do they need? They're a small market team, so they could use all the financial relief they can get.
Sounds good, if we can get somewhere from the 20-25th pick, that would be awesome, and any early second round picks are also great. Though, with the money we have, I don't know if we will be able to get one of those picks.
Exactly. Les is perfectly willing to spend money out of pocket (buy a pick), but the luxury tax, in addition to paying double the amount you are over, deprives you of all of the money from the teams who do pay it.
Looking at how much a premium their is on having an elite pg in the NBA... I would go for bust for Ricky Rubio. Smart defender and a magician on the offensive end... I would try to package something big. I would try Tmac, Brooks and a future pick for the Clipper's pick, Zack Randolph, and DeAndre Jordan. They would get out of Z-Bo's contract in time for 2010. They get a speedy pg to be groomed under Davis. They probably shouldn't but that doesn't mean they won't. Yao/Jordan Scola/Landry/Randolph Battier/MLE Artest/Wafer Rubio/Lowry -V
les is never cheap. he's never been shy of signing big guns. he just has his own principle of not getting over the lux tax line.
