NBADraft.net is a good site, it updates often and goes pretty deep as far as how many players it profiles, but I question some of their scouting sources/conclusions they make. For instance, the NBA comparison for Sam Clancy is Rodney Rogers? From what I have seen of Butler, I am not too worried about his ball skills. If there's one question I have about him, it's whether or not he can shoot the NBA 3 with consistency, and that's something that many people on the board seem to think is a given with him. I don't think it is. He reminds me of Bonzi Wells...a big, tough, 2 guard that posts up. I think he'll be better than Shandon...in that I think he's more aggressive and is able to handle himself in the paint. If he can prove that he can shoot the 3, I think he could be a good fit with the Rockets at the 3. With his aggressiveness and strength I don't think his size is an issue.
In my opinion, rookies would take a year or two before they'd be ready to contribute to a playoff run. So, you have to decide whether you want to make a run this year, or two years down the road. I say we do this, in this order: 1) Force Rice on Seattle, along with the #5 pick, for a resigned Rashard @ $7.8-8 million on the first year of his contract. Rice makes $9.2 million next year. 2) Then, we trade KT/Collier to Orlando for their #18 pick/DeClerq. DeClerq has a team option for the next year, which we could drop if he isn't at least serviceable. Orlando wants to add some size up front & aren't real high on DeClerq. The pick is the prize for us. 3) #2 would allow us to trade Moochie/#15 pick to Minnesota for Marc Jackson, or we could pursue Mohammed from Atlanta with a similar package. Unless, Rudy redesigns the offense, Rashard is better suited for it. He's a very good 3pt spot up shooter. Jackson gives us a low post offensive threat & improved rebounding from the center position. That would give us a lineup of: C: Cato/Jackson/#18?/DeClerq PF: Taylor/Griffin/Willis SF: Lewis/T-Mo/Walt or Langhi? SG: Mobley/Torres PG: Francis/Brown The only real tweak that I might want to do, would be to get Artest, instead of Rashard, for defensive purposes.
Odom. I'd rather not have Lewis unless we can get him with the exception(yeah right) or without using our #5 as trade bait. He is not worth the money he is going to want. Outside of his shooting, I really don't like his game.
