True, but Washington isn't exactly heads and shoulders above Memphis marketwise. Bottomline, nobody would play for Memphis if they had a choice. More then likely a deal doesn't take place, but some people have to put themselves in Memphis's shoes. A deal with the Rockets is gonna take a lot more than Dorsey, Barry, Hayes, etc.
I watched the ESPN draft, and someone gave the view about Rubio. That kid started to play the ball around five, and his father is a former coach, and he learned lots from his father. All information suggested that he will be very good or great.
I'd love to see a Thabeet/Yao rotation, would give Yao plenty of rest and we don't miss a beat on the defensive end at least. I really like Harden but if we wanted him that bad, we would (assuming we trade FOR the second overall pick) trade down and pick him unless we feel the Thunder are taking him. Rubio would be the pick here, sorry Brooks but you just can't pass up on a guy like him.
Rubio's ceiling is a lot higher than Brooks. I don't mind if the Rockets can aquire him. Brooks IMO would be better served off the bench, as a scoring threat. He's not that good as a facillitator, running the pick and roll, dumping it to Yao.
How many players in the nba didn't start at that age and had fathers who coached? It's not that rare. the other spanish guards can shoot well, which helps make up for the lack of speed or a quick first step...rubio has to imrpove his shot or otherwise he's going to be contained by quicker NBA players. Some of the passes he makes in Europe would be snatched by the quicker guards here. He also doens't have the size/strength to be a great finisher. He could improve all that, but he's got more to work on that people realize and it's not a sure thing he'll be able to improve them.
On a team like the Rockets, with a Yao Ming though, sure he has his faults, but, his main objective would be to run the offense. He can do that. IMO better than Brooks can, rookie year and all.
...which is good for a long term prospect but i'm sure we are looking for more than that. If you factor in what we'll have to give up to get the 2nd pick and Yao's injury history Rubio will need to be very good immediately.
Good post but it's important to note that Tmac's expiring deal has more value than Jaric's both in terms of financial value and in terms of timing(2010 expiring deal vs 2011). No one is talking about the 2011 free agent class for a reason - among unrestricted players it's loaded more with aging vets(Duncan, Garnett, Billups, Vince Carter) than younger players to build around. Memphis has to be looking at building a team for the future so having an expiring 7 mil deal in 2011 is not something of as much value. If they trade for Tmac they get that 7 mil to apply to 2010 when they want to spend it(maybe on a guy like Bosh). The other advantage for Memphis is they don't have to pay Tmac's deal if they find someone else willing to take it on before the trade deadline next year which means they have options to either sit on Tmac's deal until it expires at the end of the season and play with that much more money in 2010 OR they can possibly try and work a trade and take back some talent from a team looking to get under the cap - like maybe Washington who is losing money big time yet has 3 good players with big contracts on their roster(Butler, Arenas, and Jamison). ...the problem with only building from high draft picks is eventually the rookie deals are over and then you have to pay someone big funds and you risk losing good players you grew. If Rubio is as good as people say, would Memphis be able to afford to keep him, Mayo, Gasol, Conley, and Gay? Look at Portland - they are only able to keep that young core because Paul Allen has been spending BIG money(and project to spend even more with the salary cap heading south). Memphis' pockets aren't as deep as they are a struggling franchise with considerably less extra capitol to spend from a billionaire owner(see Allen and Cuban). ....as for Rubio - he looks really good and would be a good fit in Houston. We have needed a play maker for some time and that's exactly what he is. For those who saw him in the Olympics remember he was 17(?!?!?!) at the time playing against the US' best PGs. Could you imagine ANY 17 year old point guard in the US right now trying to hold Chris Paul? Plus he has been playing pro ball since he was 14. Tough to imagine this kid being anything less than a star given how good he is at such a young age. I would love it if Houston could swing a trade to get him. Considering LA is the main competitor in the West and Rubio excels at one of the main LA weaknesses(pick n roll), I think he could be of real value to Houston.
Somehow I see us turning that #2 pick (and other pieces of course) into Blake Griffin and Marcus Camby.....
Sam,you are one of the most experienced posters and I really value your opinion very much,I don't think that Rubio is going to be a bust and I like DM's aggressiveness if this is true. However,I would be reluctant to go for him even if Memphis wants salary cap relief in the form of McGrady. I'm no McGrady fan,but Ricky is an inexperienced Euro. He lacks athleticism and strength. I do admit that he is a natural PG with a lot of smarts. I wouldn't mind taking a Tony Parker like chance with him,if he was fast,laterally quick and fairly strong. He will get pushed around a lot and will have a hard time keeping up with many of them. I would rather like us to get established players for McGrady,I know that might be harder but that's what should be done IMO.
? Another pipe dream. If that's the case, Memphis can cut the middle man, and get Griffin and whoever themselves, if LA is interested in moving the pick. Memphis has the caproom to take on some of the bad contracts LA has
He's alittle more experienced then you may think. He's not a finished product, but he's already got a tremendous skill set to start with.
I'm just saying, how is it the Rockets are going to parlay the #2 pick for Griffin. Why wouldn't Memphis do that themselves? Griffin is a better fit for them than Rubio
exactly. memphis don't want to take on a baron davis, a chris kaman, or a zac randolph whereas we can absorb a contract like davis or camby because they can actually be good pieces for our team (in some way i haven't determined yet) And judging by everything I've read, the Clips want Rubio more than they do Griffin for various reasons and this could be their chance to 1. get who they want 2. drop some big contracts. but hey, i didn't say it was possible but i wouldn't put past Morey to pull off something like that
The Clips aren't going to trade a #1 for a #2 without Memphis giving up something else in return and they have nothing they can give up. The only thing the Clippers can do or hope for is if the Memphis decides to be generous and tells them "okay, we'll take Baron Davis and his albatross of a contract off of your hands" Of course, if the Clippers decides to be ballsy and picks Rubio 1st this is all a moot point.