I say we take him. 6'6 215lbs. Here's my scouting report on him from his yahoo video. Picture perfect mechanics on his jumper. High release. Fairly quick release. Get's pretty good elevation. Can take defenders off the dribble and either hit the pullup jumper or drive to the hoop with a reliable one handed floater. Works off screens well and moves without the ball. Good array of offensive moves and isn't a one dimensional scorer. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/prospects?rank_type=1 Why trade for Rashard Lewis when we can just take Morris Almond?
I guess I should add some negatives. Ball handling isn't great. Lacks an explosive first step which limits the amount of separation he gets on defenders. Is not a playmaker or a passer.
I don't think he will be available at our pick. If we trade up in the draft, we might as well try to get acie law.
have to remember that being the focus of the offense also brings added pressure from the defense. i dont see why the weak conference argument gets thrown around so much. he's a shooter/scorer. those tools should translate to the NBA. heck, if highschool kids can go in the 1st round, why cant Almond? pretty sure highschool competition is alot weaker than the CUSA. also...memphis is a pretty damn good team. pretty hard to step up when your team sucks and you're up against a team of their caliber. acie law went 5-17 against memphis in the tourny. 1 assist. guess he didnt step up either.
pretty much every mock draft has him going after us. nbadraft, draftexpress, hoopshype all have him going after our pick.
also, remember he declared last year and attended the predraft camp and impressed scouts with his scoring ability. if everyone believed in the small conference argument, why is he still supposed to go in the 1st round? wouldnt he just be undrafted like every other small conference player?
I've heard people from Rice say that he won't do anything in the NBA coming from a conference like CUSA. But then again he could be the steal of the draft. (2007-2008 version of Daniel Gibson)
You never know, he could very well be the next Kevin Martin. We're picking at #26. Martin was the 26th overall pick in the 2004 Draft. They're saying many of the same things about Almond that they said about Martin. Both are phenomenal scorers and shooters. Similar size and frame. Maybe it's a sign?
Remember those Yahoo videos use highlights multiple times but from different angles, so he really only hit maybe 2 floaters but it showed about 7. One thing I noticed (having never seen him play) is that he never went left. You've gotta be able to go both directions off the dribble and pull up into your shot comfortably. NBA defenses will shut down a guy that can only go one way. Anyway, while we're looking at those Yahoo videos, check out Sean Williams. It's incredible...I think the game they show against the light blue team was his 13 block game. If he can keep his off the court issues in check, he could be a huge steal and just what the doctor ordered for us at PF. Basically a better shot blocking, quicker, more athletic Kelvin Cato next to Yao for a lot less money.
Ehhh i'm a bit skeptical. Everything I read about him reminds me of our old pal Eddie Griffin. I suppose it's worth the risk though since afterall it wouldn't exactly cost us three first rounders again. Still probably not my first choice though.
really? did his stock drop or something because i remember hearing discussions about the rockets having to probably trade up to get almond
no, he's always been in the mid-late 20's someone said he never goes left? his draftexpress profile says he struggles going right and that he's better going to the left. so maybe he's even better than what you saw in the video when taking defenders off the dribble to his left!! anyhoo, memphis plays in the CUSA and they had 2 guys go 16-17.
Some mocks have Sean Williams going to Golden State who need someone to counter the Carlos Boozers of the world. Yes, Williams does pot which was not acceptable to Boston College. However, if I can forgive him (hear that, AndyMoon?), the Rockets probably can. Former thieves like Luther Head and Marcus Williams are doing well in the NBA. There have been a number of other troubled youths who reformed. Big money for playing a game often bends a crooked twig straight. Anyway, I hope the Rockets can buy/trade for Boston's second rounder or one of Seattle's second rounders to acquire Williams and Almond. That's the hometown karma at work. Other players that are IMO desirable and possible are Kaponen and A-Tomic. Players like Rudy Fernandez would be better but they will be long gone by the time we choose.
HAHA ooohhh man...it always cracks me up when someone says they "do" pot. thanks for that thumbs... I would have to admit I have a bit of a man crush on williams right now...unfortunately he is so up and down on boards that its hard to get a good gauge of where he falls. fords draft has him going early to NY while some other have him ranked somewhere in the middle pack of the 2nd round. if he falls to us...you have to take him...he's just what the doctor ordered along side yao. and as far as the comparisons to eddie griffin go....unless you can dig up some articles where he has repeatedly started fights with teammates and rear-ends cars while masturbating I would hold off on those comparisons...eddie was definitely a unique headcase that only comes by once in a decade. regardless...whether it be williams, almond, byars or belinelli...one of the above will fall into our laps...and all of them fill a need on this team.
You have some good points htownbball. But I am still not convinced. If you have any current draft camp article links on Almond please post them. I'd love to read.
he didnt participate in this year's camp, but if he was impressive last year, then he should be even better this year. another year of college was very beneficial for him. http://draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=1026
i think he can be a productive nba player, and for the rockets purposes they need all they can get, especially at guard. what i like is that he is obviously a smart player who is dedicated to getting better and playing the game well. reasonable athletic and can shoot. thats a good start for a rookie.
