With that being the case, the Rockets should steer clear of giving up value to move up. We need to win NOW
Doesn't mean anything. The Rockets scout everybody so they're prepared for the unforeseen. The more notable thing might be that Smart agreed to workout for the Rockets than that the Rockets asked him to workout. Sometimes, lotto picks won't entertain teams with low picks.
Very true. Just spitballing here, but Smart could be more interested in working out for/talking with the Rockets because of the quality of team combined with the potential opportunity at his position.
Wait, can someone clarify what he was saying? Is this a hypothetical or are you saying he has agreed to workout with us??
Not so sure in this case given what the Rockets are probably trying to give up and their end goal in this situation. With lottery projected picks they try to move up for, the Rockets are usually pretty spot on (rumored that they tried to move up for Rubio, Cousins, Valanciunas, Lillard). Given the lack of talent the Rockets have at the PG position right now, they could very well feel strongly about a player like Smart being able to produce now, in the future, and be of more value in the long run than what they are trying to give up in the deal. (which is sort of the lynch pin and the reason why a deal like this is highly unlikely) With a high upside project like say a Nerlens Noel vs. staying with a sure thing in Jrue Holiday.... obviously a team like the Rockets in this position would be smart to stay with a player like Holiday over a high upside prospect that might never become a rotational player. However in the Rockets position where they are with the PG position moving up to take Smart vs. sticking with Beverley & Lin might very well be the smart (no pun intended) move to make depending on what they are giving up. Even if the end goal is to get say Rondo later in trade, in taking a prospect like Marcus Smart might actually make their position in getting a trade for the end prize that much more attainable anyways. Anyways... I'm speculating obviously, but you can hopefully catch my drift. Teams just have to do their homework, and be open to exploring every possibility. If the Spurs had thought this way about the draft, they would have been stuck with an overpaid George Hill at backup PG, and lost out on Kawhi Leonard.
Smart is talking to the media today at the combine so this info is public, but your instincts are right about Kennedy... A. Sherrod Blakely put the exact same thing out there 32 minutes before his tweet. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Marcus Smart has interviewed with Houston, Toronto, Lakers, Phoenix and Denver.</p>— A. Sherrod Blakely (@SherrodbCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/SherrodbCSN/statuses/466963009982976002">May 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Morey explained that they scout & interview everybody. Couple of years those players will be FA's and its good to have already broked the ice. Same was done with Thabeet when he came out.
I don't think he will be a lottery pick, and if he is it will be past 10... He really fell off this year. But I wouldn't mind us getting him.
Phoenix interviewed Exum so I don't think this should mean too much. But Smart as Rocket would be amazing!
Lol at any one saying it would take trading Harden for us to trade up, Harden alone is more than worth the first overall pick. Even then it would be a risk on our part. Example, Anthony Bennett.
No surprise. Getting a contributing rookie is perfect to maintain cap flexibility. I bet Morey would easily trade Parsons to move up.
There's no downside in covering your bases. Projected lottery picks, especially at this point before the workouts and everything, are never set. I'll give you one good example and one bad example of doing your due diligence. Good example: The Spurs set up a trade for projected lottery pick Kwahi Leonard despite having a low pick. When Leonard dropped to 15, the Spurs traded Hill for him. Bad example: The Rockets never scouted Eddie Griffin because he was considered a potential #1 pick and the Rockets only had the 11th pick. When Griffin dropped to #6, they eagerly picked him up more on draft stock than personal scouting reports. Who's to say that Smart can't drop to, say #14 to Atlanta. And then we ship Asik+#25 to Atlanta for #14 to draft Smart because Atlanta already has Teague and need a center?
DM with due diligence. preparing for anything. smart likes the opportunity of starting for a playoff team. still low chances of trading up enough to get him even if he slips.
The beauty of Lin & Asik is their 1 year deals. 2015/16 free agency is where the bigger fish are. I feel with Kobe's extension they are about competing now. Unlike most other franchises they have a 3.6 billion dollar tv deal. They can't afford to rebuild for a few years. Under pressure to put something worth watching on TV to keep the Time Warner execs happy. Asik, Jones, Lin and the 25th pick for the Lakers drafted player?
Interesting. It means we are open to moving Lin and also Canaan. Detroit seem like a team we could trade with. They have all this money in Jennings and Morey seems close with SVG who just got the basketball operations and coaching gig. A 3 team deal of some kind could come out of it.
