From: ://nbadraftreport.rivals.com/default.asp?sId=633&StId=231382&p=2 Darius Miles He talked highly of Leon Smith, the number one pick of Dallas. He thinks Leon can still play in the NBA and if he has his mother, then Leon would still be in the league. They are good friends. He thinks Leon is a great person and Leon knows his mother well. He does not think Leon's situation will affect him. If the Rockets draft Darius Miles, maybe we can give Leon Smith a chance to demonstrate what he can do. In the future this team will kick a**. They will be young, athletic, and depth on bench. How many of you will consider giving Smith an opportunity to play in wih the Rocks., or is a cancer type player? ------------------
I sure I hope Miles drops to #9 but I doubt it. Leon Smith is bad news. Let some other team gamble on him. ------------------
Great point No Worries. I guess it depends on your organizations ability to re-sign it's players. Here the Rockets reputation can only help. DaDakota ------------------
Regardless of Miles, I'd be happy to see us sign Leon Smith. I don't think he's a cancer, he's just a little lost. I think Dallas was the wrong place for him to go, but of all the organizations out there, I think Houston is probably the best for giving him the support he needs to be productive and out of trouble. ------------------ http://www.gaffordstudios.cjb.net/
Juan said it right, us or the Pacers are his best hope to make it with the understanding he needs. Unless Nelson ruined it for everyone. ------------------
I agree also. I'm not an expert on this subject by any means, but I think Houston has a rare quality of team unity, which would provide the kind of support system Leon Smith needs. For example, this is from Kenny Thomas' internet journal: "One thing about the Rockets was we were all pretty cool with each other. If we went out, the whole team went out together. "
Don't be too surprised to see Miles drop. Look how MacGrady is burining Toronto, who had to wait to the last year of his contract before he produced and even then not at an allstar level (close but no cigar.) MacGrady and his still latent potential are going for the brass ring in the FA market this summer and he may very well get it. Would Toronto draft MacGrady again if they knew this is the way it was going to turn out? Someone like Orlando or Chicago might take a chance on Miles, since both teams have two lottery picks. Both of these teams may also try to unload their extra picks too, which means that Miles might not even be a lottery pick. ------------------
I believe that rookies are now restricted FAs after three years instead of unrestricted like McGrady, so I don't think that too many teams would pass on Miles, because of worries about re-signing him. Four years is a long time in the NBA. ------------------
You probably should delete it after you test. Just a thought. ------------------ Just shut up and post
Those of you saying Leon will be alright may be right, but I wouldn't count on it. He obviously has a mental illness and you just don't "get better" by hanging around good people. Many times it's a chemical imbalance within the brain that nothing but drugs can cure. Other times even that doesn't help. I used to work as a pharmacy tech and took medication to psychiatric patients in our hospital. I quickly learned that suicidal tendencies and depression are a lot more than a situation you can cure by "getting your head screwed on right" and "hanging around with the right people". It's far worse. I hope Leon is getting good help. My guess is he's far from being out of the woods. ------------------ Just shut up and post
