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NBA Draft: Top 5 Picks (Who Do The Rockets Choose?)

Discussion in 'NBA Draft' started by Deuce, Mar 20, 2002.

  1. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    Ok NBA draft gurus, as I type this the Rockets have the 5th worst record in the NBA and will most likley end up somewhere between 5th or 9th. Lets assume the positive here (for draft position) and say they finish up the regular season with the 5th worst record. It would obviously be great if the Rockets could crack the top 3 with the draft lottery but assuming they don't and have the 5th pick, who do they take?

    Who are the 5 best NBA prospects that will be coming out for the draft?

    I think it is obvious that we will not get Toronto's lottery protected pick this year so we have to make the most out of our own.

    Ok guys, let's hear your thoughts!

    Chris
     
  2. CriscoKidd

    CriscoKidd Member

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    Well the top four are pretty easy.

    Ming, Williams, Woods, and Gooden.

    I wish Dunleavy was coming out :(

    After that I don't know. Jeffries maybe? Wilcox? Marcus(ick)?

    Might be a little easier to decide once they start working out for NBA teams before the draft :)
     
  3. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    Thanks! I don't follow all that much college BB these days and I just wanted to get to know some of these prospects a bit so when I hear them mentioned I can pay closer attention to them.

    If anyone has any stats on these guys (height, weight, ppg, rpg etc) that would be cool to see as well.

    Thanks again!

    Chris
     
  4. giddyup

    giddyup Member

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  5. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    Thanks for the link! I will indeed check it out! At the same time I do want to hear other user's thoughts on players you think would be a good fit for our team.

    Thanks again for the link! :)

    Chris
     
  6. mduke

    mduke Member

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    No one here has probably seen Ming play, but I hear he's a very tall guard.;) He's 7'5, but he can handle it like a Guard. I think Woods would be the best fit of those, because of our need for a SF. He's drawn comparison to McGrady......
     
  7. Live

    Live Member

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    If the draft goes the way Crisco thinks it will (good prediction, BTW):

    Best player available: Dajuan Wagner

    However,

    Most logical selection for Rockets: Rod Grizzard or Caron Butler. Scoring, versatile, ultra-talented SFs, 'nuff said.
     
  8. mduke

    mduke Member

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    YES!!! I totally forgot about Butler, I love his game!!! I didnt think he was coming out yet though....
     
  9. Tmo

    Tmo Member

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    Gooden is overrated--no outside shot, not extremely athletic=bad top 5 pick.

    Grizzard and Butler aren't worth a top 5 pick either. 7-10 picks at best (both could easily slip to the middle of round 1.
     
  10. CriscoKidd

    CriscoKidd Member

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    Tmo, why don't you list your top-5 then?
     
  11. Tmo

    Tmo Member

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    Ming (depending on workouts)
    Williams
    Woods (depending on workouts)
    Wagner
    Wilcox (I really think this guy will be an all-star by his third or fourth season; stronger and more athletic than Gooden with slightly less skill but much more potential)
     
  12. Live

    Live Member

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    (You posted too fast, TMo!) ;)

    I agree with you that Butler and Grizzard could\should both be drafted between 8 and 14, but I think they could go higher because of needs and workouts.

    Actually, if we are going by talent and upside, Marcus Haislip or Wilcox should go #5.

    My version:

    1. Ming (I won't even matter how he workouts, unless he's a complete dog. The NBA is as obsessed with Cs as the NFL is with OBs.)

    2. Williams (Ming & Williams could flip-flop depending on how the lottery goes, love him or hate him he makes the game look easy)

    3. Woods (All people had to hear was 'next McGrady')

    4. Gooden (NBA's #2 obsession: Post-up PFs who can rebound and block shots)

    5. Assuming the Rockets land this pick, they probably should take Wilcox (Hey, how about another Terp on the roster!), but the Rocks could be shrewd, draft Wagner and take offers. There should be a big demand for any of these players, especially the PGs since that's one of the NBA's weaker positions.

    Should be another interesting draft for the Rockets!
     
    #12 Live, Mar 20, 2002
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2002
  13. Tmo

    Tmo Member

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    Dixon and Baxter will not amount to much as pros.
    The Wizards, however, really dropped the ball last year when they passed up Tmo with their #1...
     
  14. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    Williams

    Ming...if Hype is true

    Woods...if hype is true

    Wagner

    Gooden.....may be able to play SF and be a dominate force on the boards
     
  15. CriscoKidd

    CriscoKidd Member

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    Not a bad assessment at all Tmo.

    Of course determining the exact order is moot. Still need to finalize the draft position cuz team needs do come into play. Also need to see how the workouts go.

    Gooden will most likely go top 5 though. He's too hyped up not to. Of course things could change with workouts ...

    If we do end up with the number 5 pick, hopefully someone ahead of us will pick Wagner.

    I wouldn't mind Gooden or Wilcox. I would love to get Woods or Ming or Williams(trade value).
     
  16. gr8-1

    gr8-1 Member

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    Not a good idea to reach for a guy like Grizzard. We should trade down if we know he will be available at 8 or whatever. BTW, is he coming outfor sure?

    What position is Wilcox? I liked Gooden alot last year, but, he really isn't that athleitc. I don't like him as much and hope he isn't the product of the Kansas system.
     
  17. Tmo

    Tmo Member

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    Wilcox is a Rasheed Wallace type PF--only stronger and with less attitude. Obviously Cox needs some skill development though.
     
  18. enbehay

    enbehay Member

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    No. No. No. If Ming, Williams and Woods are gone, IMO we should take Wagner. We already have enough PFs. We can then use Wagner as trade bait, although that would break my heart to have that much talent in our grasp and then go... oops. Once we have Wagner, we can trade Moochie and K.T. for a beefier backup to help Cato -- or draft Chris Christoffersen. He's 7-2 and 300 lbs -- and is a big clog in the middle.
     
  19. Desert Scar

    Desert Scar Member

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    Ignore that cite. Anybody who has Dunleavy as "the next Larry Bird" and the #2 prospect THIS YEAR and Duhan as #6 next year has had a quite a few too many brains cells lost in Cameron. Dunleavy as the next "Walt Williams" is a stretch, but Larry Freakin Bird:rolleyes:


    I would not be against the Rockets taking Jason Williams (despite being a Dukie--like the more athletic Dukies like Hill or Brand this guys game will actually translate to the pros) or Wagner if they are clearly the best players available. Always go with skill and potential over position needs, there are always trades. Just don't reach for a molassus footed--Kenny Smith ole' defense playing--dork like Dunleavy unless it is a late 1st rounder. The guy is a real good college player enhanced because of the mismatches his team creates, but he will get murdered by NBA swing players.
     
    #19 Desert Scar, Mar 20, 2002
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2002
  20. NIKEstrad

    NIKEstrad Member

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    If we have the #5 pick, I'm looking to trade.

    Ming and Woods are most likely going to be gone. Dunleavy probably won't come out. Dejuan Wagner is incredibly redundant, and Gooden just doesn't make sense for the team. Trade down anywhere from 5-10 slots. The players that would make sense for this team (SFs like Grizzard, Butler, Jeffries, Cs like Borchardt or Marcus) will be available, or trade out altogether, and get an Odom, or the latest hot rumor, Kwame Brown.
     

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