How about addressing both PF and SG by trading our #8 for NOK's #12 and #15 (maybe throw in out 32 or take back a crappy contract with the trade exception if necessary)? If we do that then we can take Sheldon Williams and maybe Redick or Ager or whoever the BPA is at 15. I think that would help us more, especially since we are not trying to get a #1 option type of playre in this draft, but we are hurting for quality depth.
Position of primary need, IMO, is starting SG. Hence, we should be looking at acquiring a long-term solution, e.g. Maggette, through trade - I'm not convinced that anyone we draft at #8 is the answer. I would love it if the Rockets somehow managed to get Brandon Roy (and if he adapts quickly to the system, allowing JVG to start him).. but I think the more likely route is us using the two picks to fill up other roster holes, and yes, we have plenty of those I rather like Brewer because of his versatility. Perhaps a back-up swingman such as Brewer or Carney with our first rounder? Then with our second pick we can get an extra PG with size (someone like Mardy Collins, if he falls that far), or a jumpshooting four (Steve Novak)
I sincerely hope that I am wrong about Rafer Alston. The coming season will prove his worth or worthlessness. The SG position really is the position of greatest need, but it is also the position that is weakest (aside from true center which is not relevant in our situation). In this weak draft the best players are PFs and SFs. Because these are positions at which the Rockets have weaknesses, all I am saying is that perhaps we should address these needs first. If we can obtain a quality PF, that makes Howard or Swift expendable, i.e., a commodity to package and exchange for a young, quality SG. I would love to acquire Corey Magette, but I think we are dreaming here. The same holds true for #8 + #32 for New Orleans' #12 + #15 + J.R. Smith. I have some doubts about Smith, but I admit he has potential and some form of that scenario might be achieveable. At present, I think the Rockets are going to take Cedric Simmons, PF/C, at #8 and Steve Novak at #32. If Maurice Ager, Richard Roby or Rudy Fernandez is still on the board, the Rockets will go with the BPA. With the acquisition of Simmons (a taller Swift with a brain and a motor), the Rockets can trade Swift to the Nets for a draft choice we tell them to select + a player like Antioine Wright + a future pick. Another looming scenario considering the coming summer of discontent in Detroit is a deal with the Pistons for Carlos Delfino + other players/picks. For all the machinations that transpire between now and the start of the season in October, the only prospect of which I am assured is .... surprise.
NO, Alston is not a worthy starting pg, and yes, he would be a great backup. No, we shouldn't draft a pg with our first pick. Why? Because no rookie point guard is going to make a big impact next year (there's no Chris Pauls in this draft). Yes SF, SG, PF are the positions we should be looking to draft for with our first pick, and yes, there are impact players in the draft at those positions. Yes we should pick BPA with the 8th pick for one of those positions. Yes, even though Center is our least need, you can't pass up on O'Bryant if he's the real deal. Also, I think that Sheldon Williams is capable of filling both a starting pf roll, as well as backup center for the Rockets.
Well, obviously, the biggest NEED is the backcourt. They need a starting 2-guard for sure, but they need more depth, need to get longer, more athletic and better at shooting the 3. I think they will address and fix some of that with their two picks in the draft. I can easily see them drafting a PG and a wing-player. BUT, I think the key for them to be a great, great team is the PF. Ideally, they need two guys. One, a banger, rebounder, defender (ie: the type of player we have been clamoring for for a couple of year now), and two, a combo-forward who is athletic, long and can hit the 3. These two players would share minutes and the Rockets have the basis to match up, and cause match up problems, with anyone in the league. Unfortunately, they have neither. I'm not as down on Swift and Howard as a lot of people are, but they need to address this as well.
Personally, I think we need a SG. Most of us have seen the wide open looks players like David Wesley got all day this past season and the season before that, due to the T-Mac and Yao threat. If we have a SG who can either knock the shot down, or penetrate and get an easy score, that's basically all we need to increase our wins significantly, as long as the other players do what they are supposed to. Many people think we need a PG, however I would like to analyze this judgement. First of all, Rafer is a pretty decent PG, he gets around 6/7 assists a game, and even though he can't shoot, he is pretty good at handling the ball. Furthermore, if we were to DRAFT a PG, basically there is a minute chance that our draftee will actually be able to run the point successfully. It takes most rookies at least 2 years to develop into good players, and handing over the keys to the offense to an inexperience rookie is definitely not the way to go. There are no superstar prospects in this draft, and it takes time to learn the style of the NBA game. Just think about how hard it will be for a rookie to adjust to the big stage AND run a team's offense. Our PF position, in my opinion is pretty decent. Even if we don't have a spectacular PF, we have an unbelievable C and superstar SF right next to him. Plus, I seriously think that next year, if given enough playing time and confidence, Swift will be able to fill his role as a PF. We do not need anything amazing at PF, just a decent PF who can occasionally score some points and get some rebounds. Swift is more than capable of that, and I think he will show you next year if given the opportunity. So, above I have broke down my opinion of each position that we lack in currently. Since T-Mac and Yao have SF and C on lock, Swift is a decent PF if given the chance, and Rafer is one of the better PGs in the league (look at his APG ranking), we clearly need a SG who can hit the wide open looks he will be getting all night.
Clearly SG(swingman), PF and PG are the areas of "need." I am in the camp that this team is more in need of "starter type" players. The problem is that we had "bench" caliber players starting for us and that killed us. I think if the Rockets got Rudy Gay or Brandon Roy I would be jumping up and down. But that aside, if the Rockets stick at #8, I would highly consider Ronnie Brewer. I like his versitility, defense, intensity and BB IQ. He could be this team's Josh Howard, that lockdown defensive swingman and offensively can help create shots for others. If you got Brewer at #8 and then another solid player at #32 (bench specialist - range shooting PF) and then got Mike James with the MLE to add as a 3rd scorer, someone with quickness, that would instantly make this team much, much better. BTW, as much as the Rockets need a quality swingman with length, dont discount the possibility they take a STRONG look at Marcus Williams or Randy Foye at #8 as well. PG is still a position that really needs to be improved. Foye has the ability to be a solid 3rd scorer, perhaps in the Ben Gordon mold.
yea you made a good point i would send them the TE AND #8 and even stro if thats what it took and i think they would do it in a second they want to unload some dollars to sign cassell caman radmanavic and dunleavy!
YOU ARE 100% Right I love this if we get that deal done and use the mle on getting 2 good bench guys we are tops in the west!
Its simple maggette is the option i would bet money he will be outta town by summers end and he needs to be in H-TOWN read espn insider and it says they will be willing to take only a pick for him!
I think the rockets lack alot of toughness at certain positions. The scenario I would like to see outside of drafting Gay or Roy would be to take Sheldon Williams the College Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged almost 19pts, 11 boards and 4 tap outs in the ACC. I think when push comes to shove right before draft, teams will really try and move up and grab him. With Amare Stoudamire coming back, a healthy Tim Duncan and a much improved Elton Brand next season, you really got to take a long hard look at Sheldon Williams. He is the quentisential enforcer. Maybe the rockets can offer Swift to New Orleans for #15 and the rockets can pull either a Brewer, Carney or Redick, or just wait for the 32nd pick and draft James White. Either way in my opinion it would be very hard to pass up a player like Sheldon Williams and with those stats and toughness he brings, it might be even be hard for Morey and CD to do the same.
See thats the problem. If 12 pts and 7asst is all he is going to avg with Howard, head, bogans, and swift then with T-mac and yao he will average even less since he won't have the ball in his hand. This is what a Rocket PG should be able to do. Knock the dam three. Thats it...
if brewer can be a josh howard clone i think he is a lock to be drafted by us at #8. his perimeter defense will make a huge difference here, plus he can attack the basket which takes advantage of the new rules. i think a guy like novak would be a great second round pick. he can really shoot. he's 6-9 1/2, and can help spread the floor if he plays some minutes at the 4.
If brewer could be a guranteed josh howard clone he would be a lock to go #1 the problem is he isnt a lock to be that good and we need to trade that pick and get maggette he is the only player aside from harrington that we could acquire and instanly become tops in the west!!
Toroonto signs and trades Mike James along with the #1 pick to us. We send them #8. They in turn get Magloire from Milwaukee. We send Milwaukee Stro and a 2nd rounder next year. Toronto turns James and the #1 into Magloire and Marcus Williams. Milwaukee gets Stro and our 2nd next year in exchange for an expiring contract that doesn't fit them. We get #1 and James for Stro and #8. We then take bids on the #1, enticing some team in the 3-6 range to move up and give us an additional player/picks along with their pick. If we are drafting between 3-6, we should be able to get either Roy or maybe even provoke another trade to get 2 picks later and get Shelden as Stro's replacement as well as a swingman.
I'm not sure MIL would do it since Bogut is really more a PF. And I'm one of 1/10th of 1% that have not given up on Stro (especially in an uptempo offense). But if we could turn Swift and #8 into Mike James and either Rudy Gay or Brandon Roy I'd be ecstatic. We'd still have #32 and a full MLE to take care of the PF slot and depth. 1) Alston / Mike James / Luther Head 2) Mike James / Rudy Gay / Luther Head / Bogans 3) TMac / Rudy Gay / Bogans / Bowen 4) JHo / Chuck Hayes / #32 / MLE / vet minimum 5) Yao / Deke / Lampe / vet minimum James Augustine, Steve Novak, Pittsnogle, Fazekas, Paul Davis, and Shawne Williams are at this point likely available draftees. Jumaine Jones, Rasual Butler, Trevor Ariza (RFA), Wal-tah McCarty, Eric Williams, Darius Songaila, Slava, Aaron Williams, Melvin Ely (QO starting at 3.3m), Lo Wright (RFA), Cato, Uncle Cliffie (depending on the age of the team outside of Deke). One option would be to throw a full MLE at Melvin Ely and if CHA matched, they'd be less likely to step up to keep Jumaine Jones @ 1/2 an MLE. You could probably pull a similar gambit on NOK by bidding up the price on Speedy Claxton and if they matched go after Rasual Butler. Now IMHO, that's the makings of a team that has narrowed the talent gap to the WC elites. EDIT: Back on topic...SG/SF far and away the biggest need followed closely by PG. I can live with JHo, Stro, Hayes, Lampe and #32.
I don't think Colangelo would even consider such a trade. Magloire has sucked for two straight years (so that part isn't worth it), and there's certainly no guarantee he could get Marcus Williams with the 8th pick.
Corey Maggette is not a good fit on this team having Tracy McGrady alredy. He is not really a role player, more of a #1 or 2 guy. He is to Elton Brand as what TMac is to Yao.
