Heard CD on 610 this morning and shed some light on both Gasol and Radmanovic as well as trading up, the charity auction and some other issues. 1. Gasol has said that if he is not taken in the top 5, he may simply stay in Europe. He said Gasol is a tall 3 with terrific shooting skills. 2. Radmanovic is under contract for another year in Europe and CD said that they want to draft a player that "can be here and learn the system now." Radmanovic may not be able to get out of his contract. He said Radmanovic is more comparable to Nowitzki than Gasol because he can drive and is definitely a 3. 3. He said that they are "set in the backcourt" meaning their needs are in the frontcourt but he did not mention any 4's or 5's. He concentrated on guys like Jefferson and Rodney White. 4. He was stuck in the airport overnight during the floods and said that the Compaq Center will be using the UH Cougar floor for the Comets. 5. The auction on Saturday will contain actual championship rings and a bunch of cool stuff and Les Alexander will match the auction totals up to $150,000. Enjoy! ------------------ Things do not change; we change. - Henry David Thoreau
Oh, one other thing. He said that no one could battle Shaq and that rather than try to match up with them, they would prefer to create mismatches in other areas than simply try to defend and match up with Shaq. ------------------ Things do not change; we change. - Henry David Thoreau
Thanks for the info Jeff! ------------------ When this guy started smoking 40 years ago, people had no idea it was bad for you. People had to guess based on the hacking cough, shortness of breath, and bloody phlegm girl you looks good won't you mock that draft up?!
I understand CD's thinking in terms of creating mismatches, but the solid reality of this game is that basketball has always been first and foremost a big mans game (sorry about the Waltonesque speech...) therefore I am still on the Curry/Diop bandwagon, BIG TIME!! Who know's when there will be two more 7 Ft- 300 lb draft picks who are quick footed with soft hands? Everyone knows that the guards and forwards will always be more plentiful, so if there is an opportunity to draft someone with that size, and possibly more potential than any of the smaller players we should seriously pursue it !! How much better would we be with someone who can go man against the bigger 5's in the league, or who will themselves demand double and triple teams in the post (Dream in his prime or even last year when going well...) Also, I'm sure Dream would love to have a true 5 to mentor prior to his departure, and that could even be a factor in his decision (a capable backup instead of El Crapo!). I also still hope they go after Vlad. Won't the buy-out of his contract be substantially less than Gasol's? CD saying that could be the old Rocket head fake to create an opening at #18. ------------------ Our purpose in life is to find our gift, and the meaning of life is to give it away!
rus... what happened to your old moniker, the one that had 50,000 posts attached to it? CD doesn't discount the fact that big men change the game, btw. He's just dealing w/ the hand that he's dealt. Why panic over something that you can't change? Is Woods going to stop Shaq? Is Brendan Haywood going to stop Shaq? Is Troy Murphy going to stop Shaq? Do the Rockets have the first pick in the draft? The answers to all of those questions is no. Fix the team, don't target the Lakers... like heyp's thread suggests. Find the best talent, create mismatches. Find a Rodney White, find a Joe Johnson <font size="-15">(one of my closest friends is White Johnson, but that's a different topic).</font>. Draft to improve your team. This team has Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley. Play to their strengths, draft to their strengths. Recruit FAs to their strengths. ------------------ When this guy started smoking 40 years ago, people had no idea it was bad for you. People had to guess based on the hacking cough, shortness of breath, and bloody phlegm girl you looks good won't you mock that draft up?!
Rockets-r-Us: In my initial mock, I took a big leap that buys into your philosophy. I had (and still have) the Wizards taking Diop because guys like him don't come around all that often-- especially when you have a shot at them. I'm sticking by that projection for now, though commitment wavers because of the deep talent base. Here's my question: how do you field a team that creates mismatches with every other team in the league? Baseball teams don't creat mismatches: they get strong up the middle (P, C, SS, SB, CF). Football teams do by opting for speed but guess what still usually wins Super Bowls: a rugged ground game and tough defense which are both hallmarks of teamwork not mismatches. What is the basketball equivalent? I say team defense (which begins at the 5 because it backs up everything else) and balanced scoring through two or three positions). I'd love to see the Rockets get Diop or Curry or even Kwame Brown but especially Diop or Curry to have that "immovable force" in the paint. The other pieces, while important, are easier to locate by sheer population stats: there aren't that many mobile 7 footers. ------------------ Time is a great teacher-- only problem is it kills all its pupils.
That's pretty strange news considering Clutch said that he was receiving word that the Rockets would definately choose Radman "if the draft was held that day." If the draft was held that day, we'd take him" - Clutch's thread ------------------ PrEsident of The Danforth Langhford FAN CLUB... He IS our future All-Star Small Forward
Probably that was said before we found out that he wouldn't be here due to contract problems........ then again we do have 3 picks and we could use one on him even though we don't get to see him until next yr. ------------------ When will I reach 1000 posts ?
I feel better about the domestic product anyway..more secure, less risk. ------------------ Rarely is the question asked: Guns kill squirrels than REDRUM to fools across the nation?
I should have pointed out that CD sounded like the contract situation was a new development. He also said that they've scouted Gasol on three separate occassions. By the third time, there were scouts there from 15 different NBA teams. ------------------ Things do not change; we change. - Henry David Thoreau
Achebe - I was asked about my nickname in another post, and the answer is the same: I am not the same R-R-Us as you folks are familiar with. I am basically a rookie to cc.net (insert joke here). I apologize if by choosing that name I have mislead anyone, but the site allowed me to choose it after turning down my first couple of choices. If another gentleman has rights to the name and wants it back, I would be willing to give it up and assume another. Back to the thread: I appreciate RichRocket's agreement. I understand that CD is playing his hand, but with 3 picks some tradeable commodities, and our cap space, we have the chance to "draw" a much better hand. That's what most of the posts I've read are all about, and why there is so much excitement. Some of you senior members may be more familiar with the H.S. and young college talent that could be drafted in years to come, but I am not. So...I advocate what I think is in the best interests of the team right now, and that is choosing a BIG man to help out the bench, and secure the future success of the franchise. And yes I understand that size does not guarantee success, but it is something that cannot be taught or gained via experience!! I would feel this way whether Shaq and L.A. were dominating or not. The only thing that would change my opinion is if we were in the Conf. finals last year and it was apparent that a new and improved SF would get us over the top. IMO that may have been enough to get us to the 6th seed next year, but to get to the ultimate goal, you have to have either a good big man + great support or Michael Jordan and a supporting cast! Whether we get any of the big men, I am holding out hope that we get Vlad the Rad, if for no other reason than listening to him being announced at the new arena!! ------------------ Our purpose in life is to find our gift, and the meaning of life is to give it away!
The auction is at Gallery Furniture on Saturday from 10am to 10pm. It features 300 Rockets memorabilia items including actual championship rings, signed basketballs, jerseys, etc. ------------------ Things do not change; we change. - Henry David Thoreau
Where did they get an actual Championship ring to sell from? Must be the one they didn't give Mad Max. ------------------ "If you don't understand it, don't try to understand it." -Carl Everett
Radmanovic is under contract for another year in Europe and CD said that they want to draft a player that "can be here and learn the system now." Radmanovic may not be able to get out of his contract. According to NBATalk, Radmanovic can be bough t out for $300K. " Unlike Gasol, and Greek big man Jake Tsakalidis last year, Radmonovic does not have a huge buyout on his contract. According to his agent, David Bauman of SFX, teams will only need to pony up $300,000 to get Radmonovic out of his contract. " http://204.202.129.224/nba/nbarumors6-8.html ------------------
thx aelliott, I thought someone had reported that before. What I find odd in the paraphrasing is that 4 and 5's are not mentioned, yet he didn't come straight out and say they are looking for a small forward. He apparently just said no backcourt help is needed. If you only mention SFs by name, why not say that's what you want...a small forward. Unless you are simply trying to guess availability at #13. Radman is under contract (for 300K)??? no 4' or 5's mentioned??? further headfakes by CD???
Whoever said "head fake by CD" knows his Rockets. I'm trying to recall a single time in the past 5 or 6 years in which the Rockets have NOT surprised us with their picks. They always seem to head fake us into believing they are headed in one direction, then take another. ------------------
