Isn’t KPJ slated to be the PG? While Green projects to be a SG/ SF slasher? Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s what I had been understanding I think Rockets need a scoring 2 guard, and they need a defensive front court player. That way KPJ focuses on play making. And Wood would focus more on team defense and his offensive development. Hence, I don’t think they go wrong either way. I like them both (Green and Mobley).
Good that you bring it up, but these guys who need to dribble for 15-20 seconds looking for their own shot in the mold of Harden are not PGs in my book. They are simply scorers who happen to have good handles and can be facilitators, but it's in their DNA to be shooters therefore they are SGs. I'm not a fan of KPJ and never was of Harden for that very reason, aside from KPJ's maturity issues. I think any team banking on a guy like KPJ to be their PG is a huge mistake and will set you back for years, no matter how good KPJ is or will be. I'd say sell high on KPJ, draft Green, and focus on our front court while we try to get a real PG with our other picks, through FA or trade.
https://sports.yahoo.com/why-the-2022-nba-draft-will-be-generationally-loaded-022747270.html That makes next year's draft DEEP! EDIT: Upon further searching, it seems this Double Draft probably won't happen because of a disagreement. https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...ssions-stalled-over-one-key-issue-per-report/ https://nbadraftroom.com/the-elite-25-the-top-25-prospects-in-high-school-basketball/ 2022 Houston first-round pick First-round selection from Brooklyn OR Miami (top-14 protected), whichever is higher Detroit first-round pick (protections are top 16 in 2022, top 18 in 2023 and 2024, top 13 in 2025, top 11 in 2026, and top 9 in 2027; becomes second-round pick if still unconveyed at that time) If Rockets get a Top 3 pick in 2022, then it's between Bates, Holmgren, and Hardy as they are franchise superstars and a class above the rest. Doesn't matter who is on the roster. Top 4-14 pick, big men and wings dominate the talent so probably best big man on Rockets draft board. Can Cade Cunningham get the Pistons to the 7th seed in the East? Maybe if Detroit gets him some help but there is a lot of competition that it's looking doubtful. Who is the better prospect between Evan Mobley and Chet Holmgren? Mobley vs Banchero? Or Duran? This should be in consideration when drafting as Rockets should be in the lottery next year.
Its win-win either way. Neither Cade, Mobley or Green are going to be enough to get Rockets into playoffs next season. Still have the Wall Effect to deal with.
Hardy my favorite player in 2022 draft. Right there with Paolo Banchero. But Banchero likely going #1.
It isn't really clear to the layman's eyes sometimes and the difference isn't that big in a deep draft. When it is not, I would say whoever fills the need and is talented for the position. This 'Pick the best player available' stance has to be reviewed as well, not every team views them as the best players available, they got different choices. The notion of that is too generalized. I get the positionless basketball concept but at the end of the day tweeners are still looking for positions, most are just masters of none.
I agree that the Rockets cant get too cute and assume that they will have a top 4 pick next season. While I have been solid Mobley since the lottery, I did waver for a bit when I started looking forward at shooting guard prospects for the next 2 drafts. I think that Green is probably only rivaled by Hardy over the 2022 and 2023 drafts with maybe some push coming from Amari Bailey in 2023. I think those 2 guys could be as good. However, there are several players who I think are in that class of player even if they arent quite as good (Jaden Ivey, Mojave King, Max Christie, & Benedict Mathurin in 2022 for example). Also, there are a ton of small forwards who might be able to play some 2 as well a la Paul George (Patrick Baldwin, AJ Griffin, Caleb Houstan, Kendall Brown and Peyton Watson). Thats a lot of guys with potential to provide what Green might. In comparison, I think that there is really only Holmgren and Banchero that are in Mobley's class next season and then Wembanyama and Duran in 2023. All of those guys will likely require a top 3 pick. There are guys who might have similar defensive potential to Mobley but they all come with questions of whether they will have any offensive game to speak of (Nzosa specifically in 2022). I think this just punctuates how rare it is to find a guy that is that big and mobile and skilled. A prospect has 1 of the 3, a lottery pick has 2/3 but 3/3 is super f***jng rare.
Hardy > Green Banchero > Bates > Mobley > Chet Maybe we should trade back in the draft this year and pick up a 1st from a team guaranteed to be bad next year.
I would trade down to #3 or #4 for Cleveland or Toronto's unprotected 2022 first. Score one of Green/Mobley or Suggs and have ammo to trade up next season. How does Wood+#2 to Toronto for #4, Anunoby and their 2022 first round pick grab anybody? Anunoby is 2 years younger and under contract for 2 additional years and with the extra draft capitol the Rockets could make a run at a top 3 pick in 2022 even if they were outside of the top 5.
THIS. So many people are worried about "fit" right now, makes no sense to me. What are we trying to fit a player into? We aren't a contender or even a playoff team. By the time we reach that level, our roster will look completely different. You draft the best player without even thinking about the roster. Once we find cornerstone players, then you draft for fit.
Hows about we just trade 1 or 2 of next years picks to get another top 5 pick this year? Take full advantage of this years draft since its supposed to be deep. Can we convince Detroit to give us #1 for a couple of lottery picks+ next year?
I agree with you. I’d rather have a point guard who directs his team 100% of the time to be EXACTLY where they have to be, than a highlight reel guy. I think Suggs could be that guy, but I also really like both Green and Mobley. PG like Harden, though amazing, can lose their team if things don’t go exactly right. Guys like CP3, Stockton, Kidd don’t have to put gaudy stats, for even fans to notice. I would hope that KPJ can be that guy, but you may be right he’s more of a SG with good handles…
