Ya he looks like his normal fit self in the interview. Like I doubt Cade is the type of guy who would just let himself go especially at his young age. Like that would be headline news that he turned into Zion.
Detroit is going to surprise a lot of people next season. Betcha they make 1-2 good free agent acquisitions and Cade comes back as a pretty good shooter.
I'm thinking the same thing. As much as we like our guys, if we traded our rosters with any of OKC, Detroit, Orlando or San Antonio I think everyone would be more excited about the future. Rockets really need to turn the corner this year to prove this rebuild is not a Sacramento V2.0.
When drafting young players, you're looking for high upside. Being "nba ready" should only be a factor if it's a byproduct of the current trajectory of a high upside player. The ROY title is basically a measure of the most nba ready rookie. LeBron won ROY in 2004 but he was barely scratching the surface of his talent. Michael Carter-Williams also won ROY in 2014 and was deemed the most "nba ready". But, that same year, guys like Giannis and Gobert weren't even consistent starters.
I'm tempted to say "none of the above", but if I have to pick one, probably Sengun....though he was not at all ready for the NBA when drafted, it's just that everyone else on the list was less NBA ready.
Based on the hype I thought Smith would have a more immediate impact especially since he was widely considered the #1 pick in the draft. I knew he had his limitations on creating his own shot and driving to the basket but with his height and length and ability to knock down the 3 along with his defensive prowess that was so heavily hyped I thought he would be a much more effective player out the gate. So much for that. I guess I wasn't putting Silas' coaching into the equation.
I would say the obvious answer to "most NBA ready" would be those who actually made their respective All-Rookie teams. Feel free to disagree if it doesn't fit your preferred narrative.
I'm on the opposite end of that spectrum. I think the Rockets' rebuild, aside from missing out on Wemby, has been an unmitigated success. 1) They've drafted exceedingly well, addressing needs along the way. Even in the Wemby draft they seem to have acquitted themselves quite nicely. 2) They had the foresight to avoid taking on mediocre players in trades in favor of draft capital. In the process avoiding becoming a middling treadmiller built around the likes of Ben Simmons and Jarret Allen. 3) They've put themselves in position to be players in free agency around the same time their first year draftees should be primed to make that 3rd year leap. 4) They've done a remarkable job on replenishing assets (draft picks, young prospects) after that wholly embarrassing Westbrook debacle. 5) Although Silas clearly got a raw deal, Fertitta didn't cheap out on the new coaching hire as many feared he would. OKC may be a skosh ahead of the Rockets, largely by virtue of having current All-Star SGA onboard their rebuild a full year ahead of Houston's. There is nothing I envy on Detroit, Orlando, or San Antonio's rosters over the Rockets, Wemby notwithstanding. Overall I think the Rockets have positioned themselves pretty well.
