Joe Alexander-Pure Athlete, Good Skills w upside, Perfect fit

^ I'm not saying you're wrong, but you've got to wonder what kind of athleticism test ranks Monta Ellis so low....can only assume one that underrates speed and overrates strength. Fortunately, Joe seems to be super quick, which is the athleticism that matters these days. But the analysis thus far seems right...for all he has in the athleticism department, he is lacking in the skills department.

The flip side is that he does have amazing athleticism on that 6'8 frame, and there's nothing that says he can't get better in the skills department. He improved every year in college.

Just one item to point out, he took 3 times as many free throws last season as the prior and raised his FT% from 64% to 81%. Aside from the fact this shows he can improve in the skills area, 81%, to me, also says he can shoot. He's clearly not a "shooter" but I think he could get better.

The Rockets also sorely need athleticism, even at the expense of skills. If I was the Rockets I wouldn't trade any major pieces for him, but I would offer something like an AB + Chucky + 1st Round Pick + 2nd Round Pick to Portland for Channing Frye + #13 pick...or something along those lines...no major shake-up.

 

No the rockets did not get a better player in Battier!!! Battier is no starter and we would be better off with a more offensive minded player! What would it be like to finally have a true blue 3rd option hmmmmm?????

 

If only Chase Budinger could have the aggressiveness and work ethic of Joe Alexander (I'm not saying that he doesn't work hard enough, but he certainly doesn't work as hard as Joe). Because if he did, he would be projected much higher right now, and probably in the top 10. But right now , Joe is a pipe dream for us, while Chase, Rush, CDR , or Hibbert seems more logical and viable.

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draf...ry?columnist=ford_chad&page=DraftNotes-080610

 

Comes off as being a very self assured individual in this Portland workout video:
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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/ian_thomsen/06/20/weekly.countdown/?cnn=yes

http://www.southtownstar.com/sports/1019004,062308sptnbadraft.article

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Word-on-the-Street-The-Home-Stretch-2939/

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06212008/sports/nets/nets_wonder_how_low_joe_can_go_116541.htm

It's a shame the Rockets don't have any assets outside of Yao & Tracy to get lottery pick to land a Westbrook, Rush, or Alexander.

 

Exactly...As I've posted before: you can't outrun bad drafts because eventually they will catch up with you.

 

As far as I know, we need a guy that can shoot and rebound the ball. Thats what a wingman does. I would kill to trade with atlanta to get a guy like Marvin Williams

 

The description of Alexander's work ethic and drive sounds like Yao's in this article.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...lug=aw-joealexander062308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

looks like the bucks are going to grab him at 8, no way he falls below 14

 

No we did'nt! That's why we are still complaining about that.

 

There was a poll a few days ago. Majority of the people didn't mind the trade.

 

that's just not true.

 

No?

Then how come Novak is on a roster and Badiane isn't?

You obviously don't watch this game we call NBA is you think athleticism is MORE important than skills.

 

It doesn't matter if most of the fans approved or disapproved of the trade,the bottom line is we need more scoring.No one disputes the need for defense but if we didn't get our rookies this year and had to play without Yao we would have been flattened on offense.Battier,Rafer and Hayes couldn't have carried us. Tracy would have been all ALONE. I admit I liked the Juwan for Mike James trade and I'm not denying that I had to eat crow,but we can't get better on relying on just defense alone. I have already said I don't want to see Battier/Hayes get traded but we need a lot more to improve. I don't know if Battier for Brewer would have changed anything though,but we didn't get enough for the 8th pick.

DM himself admitted that he thought the best he could have done was to get Joe Smith if the Spurs decided not to trade Luis to us. I will give credit to Les for buying the 31st pick and getting Landry but he wouldn't have been able to man the 4 by himself.