Well, I've heard a number of reports that work ethic is a question mark with him. I certainly wasn't basing it on anything I've seen since I've barely seen anything of him. I trust your opinions on him over mine but it's hard to just discount those reports. Why do you think that characteristic was attached to him? There must be some reason. Didn't he come into Knicks camp out of shape?
I was right about Chase, so take my word about this. J-Hill is good young man and a hard worker. He went from obscure, athleticically talented freshman to the focal point of the offense on a team with guys like Chase Budinger, Jerryd Bayless, and Nic Wise
Cool, I'm glad to get your input. I wasn't trying to slam him, just going off stuff I heard like most people who didn't have the privilege of watching him as closely as you. Remember, I started this thread because I thought he was an interesting player. If he is, in fact, a hard worker, that will certainly go a long way toward him realizing his potential and making up for his late introduction to the game.
Just saw Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger at Grand Lux cafe by the Galleria. Jordan Hill needs to add muscle big time.
Bulk is bad for an Athletic Fast breaking Big man. He can be strong without adding mass. example: Marcus Camby, Chis Bosh
The most important "x-factor" in terms of athleticism is flexibility. You can be an explosive quick twitched athlete but if you're stiff in the hips you're going to be limited somewhat. Big men still need flexibility too (I agree with what you're saying basically)
Nice bump. Either way, it was a coup getting the guy. If he's dealt this summer, it'll be because of that "potential." Hopefully, he shows us a lot during the remainder of the season and we turn out to have a nice talent locked up in that rookie contract.
The problem is not his work ethic, he practices hard enough and will play hard come game time. The issue with him is that he has the reputation for loving to party.
I hope your right about this kid. I want that so much to be true. But every bit of film I watched on this kid every offensive play and every defensive play just looks average. My assessment with only that film has me thinking in college his athleticism was far superior than most opponents and in the NBA that just isn't true. I am actually more impressed with Armstrong and he was bascally tossed for nothing to the Kings. Yeah he hasn't been given the big minutes but the minutes he has been given haven't shown a passion or desire. Maybe that is all it is about. Maybe he just didn't like New York or felt intimidated by the league and once he gets his confidence he will break out and play big. I hope so but I have my doubts. I think he will be a role player in this league at best. If he is our starting PF we better be super strong at every other position. If he is our backup we better have Yao in there.
Agreed. I sincerely hope that Jordan does well in his 28 remaining games this season and proves all those haters in New York wrong about him. That said, I honestly think that Jordan Hill was not included in this trade because Morey demanded him. He was included so that the Knicks could clear another $2.7M in salary cap room for next season. That amount is CRITICAL to being able to add two max players or just one. Seriously, it's the difference. That's why I called BS on all those reports out of New York saying the Donnie Walsh would not trade Hill. Well, then, who the hell else was he going to trade? Curry is untradable. Gallinari and Chandler are better players than Hill. And Toney Douglas didn't make enough money to make a difference to New York. There was literally NO ONE ELSE the Knicks could have traded to get the necessary amount of cap room. Morey did say in his press conference that Jordan Hill was a player they had ranked in the "10 to 20 range", meaning that they obviously didn't think as highly of him as most other teams. If I had to guess, I'd say that Morey had him ranked somewhere around 17 or 18. Otherwise, he could have said that the Rockets had Hill ranked in the "10 to 15 range" or something. To put this in perspective, if I had to guess, I'd say that Jordan Hill was no more than, say, 6 or 7 spots above Jermaine Taylor on the Rockets' draft board. Don't be surprised if Morey packages Hill with the Rockets' late lottery pick in order to move up into the top 7 or 8 picks of the draft. Between the benefit of being able to get a player ranked that high on the ROCKETS' draft board and the resulting decrease in 2010-11 payroll from such a trade (the Rockets WILL be in luxury tax territory next season), it just makes too much sense. Jordan, please play well for us this year. We'd like to either keep you long-term, be able to move up as high as possible in the draft, or use you in a sign-and-trade for a major player like Chris Bosh. Either way, here's wishing you much success as a Houston Rocket.
Kind of funny Morey said that about Hill... a strange comment and I don't know what his motivation is for saying that.
i don't know if there was any motivation. Hill has a ton of physcial tools but given his limited amount of skill taking him with a top 10 is very questionable and it is a high risk. Hill is the type of player that can be very productive after a few years. If you take someone top 10 than you should expect immediate impact. Ranking a guy 10-20 is not a bad thing by any means. I'd venture to guess that Morey ranks the top 10 players as immediate impact guys. The secondary tiers are more projects, which Hill is.
I disagree. If a guy is more of a project but with a significantly higher ceiling, there is no way that a team ranks that player lower than the more ready player with a much lower ceiling. You would have taken Dwight Howard outside the top 10? If a guy is expected to EVENTUALLY become one of the top players from the draft, he'll go in the top 10.
I couldn't agree more. Players with potential always get drafted early. Many times earlier than they should have gone. Hill doesn't show me alot of upside. I think Morey was being kind with the top 10 to 20 and if had the draft today wouldn't pick him as high. My biggest problem with Hill is his motivaion. New York reported he came in out of shape to Summer League. Most kids are working their asses off to earn some playing time. But Hill was just enjoying his new found wealth. You might ignore if you could see that he had been working hard since but when asked how he felt about getting little playing time Hill responded, ... Do'h, Mr. Hill okay do you get it. If he works harder things will happen. But as I witnessed on the sidelines is a man who is not happy with sitting on the bench. Okay so that's not something to be happy about but stop moping and do something about it.
