How long are you willing to tank to get a superstar?

Thats not half bad, but OJ Mayo backing up Lowry? Why not just keep Ish. As for the center. I haven't seen Cole play all season so I don't know what type of player he is. And for Thabeet, why not have Miller start with Hill. They work great together. Miller runs the offense from the high post and Hill down low with slashers and shooters! I'm getting excited just thinking about that line up :grin:

 

I didn't even respond. Evereyone said amare needed nash and he only plays well with nash. Nevermind as a rookie he made it to the playoffs. I also remember when they said once he has knee problems his career is over. The guy had micofracture and is still balling. I also remember people saying he was 2nd tier, yet look where the knicks are right now. It really amazes me at times.

 

Moron. No Scola isn't going to be an All-Star nor get any better. But he's our version of Manu. Pair him with another super, ala Yao Ming, and you have the makings are REAL winner. Unfortunately that did not pan out this year. But Scola also is not going to decrease much in value for the value of his contract. Leave Scola out of this.

 

Here is a very simple summary of my perspective on the issue:

How many other teams have had bad records and top 5 picks in those ten years and NOT gotten these 8 guys?

Exactly.

 

I believe in building through the draft...particularly when Daryl Morey makes the selections

 

Actually let's look at last year's All-NBA 1st, 2nd & 3rd Team

Kevin Durant^ Oklahoma City Thunder (Drafted by OKC in lotto)
Carmelo Anthony^ (4) Denver Nuggets (Drafted by Den in lotto)
Pau Gasol^ (2) Los Angeles Lakers (acquired by trade)
LeBron James^ (6) Cleveland Cavaliers (Drafted by Cle in lotto)
Dirk Nowitzki^ (10) Dallas Mavericks (Acquired in Draft Day trade by DAL for lotto pick)
Tim Duncan^ (13) San Antonio Spurs (Drafted by SA in lotto)
Dwight Howard^ (4) Orlando Magic (drafted by ORL in lotto)
Amar'e Stoudemire^ (4) Phoenix Suns (Drafted by PHX in lotto)
Andrew Bogut^ Milwaukee Bucks (Drafted by Mil in lotto)
Kobe Bryant^ (12) Los Angeles Lakers (Acquired in draft day trade)
Deron Williams^ (2) Utah Jazz (Drafted by Utah in lotto)
Joe Johnson^ Atlanta Hawks (Acquired by trade)
Dwyane Wade^ (5) Miami Heat (Drafted by Heat in lotto)
Steve Nash^ (7) Phoenix Suns (Acquired by trade)
Brandon Roy^ (2) Portland Trail Blazers (Acquired by POr in Draft day trade for lotto pick)

15 players, 11 all with the team that either picked them on draft day or were acquired in exchange for another lotto pick that same draft day, and only 3 of them have ever played for more than 1 team. That number will change this year after the FA class of 2010, but not that much.

 

I agree, that we have players that can hit the big shots, and that's what great teams need; however, i still think we need someone that will make it easier for these guys to play the Horry/Fisher roles.

Ultimately, I'm questioning if a team with Brooks in last season form and a additional center win the title...That's the ultimate goal after-all. The playoffs are much more physical than the regular season and sometimes, your offense will break down. That's why I think we need a superstar despite Rick's offense. The old Kings had Webber and the old Blazers still had Clyde. As long as we don't have a best player, we'll always be the underdogs.

 

We already have our superstar and he is The Beast. Once he's unleashed everyone will see

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/nba1011.htm

Rockets are 5-12(0.294) against the top 16 teams, which makes them 11-6(0.647) against the bottom 14 teams.

Rockets are doing plenty of losing against the top teams. I don't see them turning that around. They have a decent record against losing teams.

The Rockets can keep being mediocre against the league and missing the playoffs for another 13th pick.

I rather have them bench Battier, and start Twill, play Miller less and Hill more. Then, their record against all teams will be worse and they get a better draft position.

 

Absolutely true, but at the same time that has extended the 'field' that mythically gets you franchise players to the entire lottery for thirteen years, meaning there were another ~154 guys who were drafted by bad teams who HAVEN'T become Tim Duncan or Steve Nash.

My argument has never been that Tim Duncan didn't save the Spurs, but that for every Duncan there's a Kwame Brown AND a Kenyon Martin.

 

Michael Jordan isn't known for his draft skills. He would be a horrible drafter, whether it was the 1st pick or a pick in 20s like the Rockets.


Wizards draft history with Jordan
2001 1st Kwame Brown(Pau Gasol went 3rd)
2002 11th Jared Jeffries, 17th Juan Dixon,

 

Sure there are, and there's a lot more players in between - I'd rather have any of them or a rookie Kenyon Martin in 4 years than a 35 year old Luis Scola.

 

I agree with SamFisher. I would rather have the high draft pick than 13th pick.

If Morey's draft projections doesn't show a star available, he could trade the pick for a star that wants to leave his current team.

The Celtcis trade the #5 pick to Seattle/OKC for Ray Allen. There were no all-stars drafted after the 5th pick in 2007. It wasn't a big loss for them. Jeff Green is a nice young player, but he wasn't going to be an all-star. Seattle was going in a different direction with Durant.

 

Or an Eddie Griffin or a Shane Battier......

There are NO GUARANTEES in the lottery...None...nada, zip, zilch...

DD