Summary of what was talked about on Rocketscast: 7/12/12 http://www.nba.com/rockets/rocketscast-07122012 This is my first summary write-up on a Rockets podcast/radio interview so don't flame me too hard... Rep if you like what you have read! NBA Draft & Rookies *Updating what Rockets went through on draft night... Drafted with their picks Jones, White and Lamb... and the "Turkish" version of Dwight Howard with our 2nd round pick that we acquired. *They state that one of them has a man crush on Royce White. *Royce White IS a basketball player! Very flexible player, can play the 1, 2 or 3 (if they want to go big) -- Who can play many different positions, like that of Terrence Jones, can play 3, 4 or 5 (if you want to go small). Great position eligibility from both players! *Armani? (a.k.a "Turkish" Dwight)-- NBA-readiness... making the introduction... He is not scared... Sore back no participation in workouts... Got a chance to play a little bit. Plays fast! He's going to be a monster in transition, could out-run possibly any big... *Montejunas' strength is not on the fast-break, his main strength is in the low-post, back to the basket... Dwight Howard Trade Talk & General Discussion of Dwight Howard: *Dwight Howard news: As of today, he's NOT going to Brooklyn til mid-January, what we don't know is if he'll be traded, when and where he'll be traded... The Rockets have a good of a shot as anyone in the league. *Luis Scola may get anmestied to make room there for Howard trade. * Do NOT believe everything you hear... Agents have an agenda, writers have an agenda... MUST not get worked up about everything that comes up in reports. *They believe it is between L.A. and Houston but do NOT put Atlanta out of the Dwight discussions. *Another thing to consider about Dwight: "Go get Bynum instead of Dwight because he'll re-sign... They aren't sure if he will indeed re-sign (though they brought up that tweet), but you can read it in different ways... Is it from a love for Houston or is it just for the love of money (when he becomes a free-agent). *People say that even if we get Dwight, he probably won't sign but the talked about how the other teams wouldn't have the cap room to get him, but there are always S&T probabilities... Atlanta (Josh Smith is there) but he's a free agent next season... Dallas (Dirk is there, but isn't getting any younger), Cleveland (Kyrie Irving is mentioned as an intriguing player to play with, but again, they don't think Dwight would go there either, but they are not sold on Tristan Thompson, but ARE sold on Irving). The MEGA-Markets are not there for Dwight. So they think that Houston is a prime destination. *Jeff Van Gundy believes that Howard wanted to go to Brooklyn because of his endorsements, particularly with Adidas... but they said that the team that he could get the most money from is the team that has his bird rights. *Who do you surround Dwight with if we get him? You have to do what you have to do to get that BIG piece... At least one other all-star, preferably two all-star caliber players and then worry about the rest later, on filling out the team with depth. *It was discussed if they would want a guy who is always fussy: "In an ideal world, yes, you would want someone who would want to be here..." In the three years of mediocrity, we haven't had that prime foundation, and now we're looking to make that move to get that player, even if we have to be bad because of it. It was also discussed that he may bolt with a reply of: "Well, his options may be open, but the mega-markets are drying up." *If the Rockets pull the trigger on a Dwight or Bynum, we have to wonder what we're giving up to get them? 1) No reports on specifics yet and 2) Say what you will of Morey, but he is all about real market value to players. If you get Dwight, you would have to overpay, but if Rockets got a Dwight, they also would have plans in place to surround him with talent to compete for a championship, whether its pre-season, trade deadline or next summer... to take a wait-and-see approach before "freaking out" off the bat and making accusations. ROCKETS' CURRENT TEAM OUTLOOK: *How people joke that there are 25+ forwards on this team... but how they can play at different positions. *Rockets' rotational players -- (C.Lee probably won't be back)... 80%-90%. As of today, 80-90% of rotation is either a) gone -- traded or signed elsewhere. *A ton of roster holes need to be filled... It is yet to be seen if they will be filled anytime soon... Will be an interesting off-season... *As of now, they have their offer sheets to Asik and Lin. *No experience at the center position... limited at the point guard position as well... *Where is this roster if Asik and Lin get matched? What happens then? We'd be the youngest team in the NBA... They have no problem going young, through the draft and rebuild... and possibly a Courtney Lee S&T... But because of the super-powers in the NBA, even with that, they have no problem going young and rebuilding, going that route and being bad for awhile... *One of two things will happen: Go really really young or Go really big and throw all your chips in a basket. (obtaining Dwight Howard and other pieces through trade). *Rockets are young and want to play fast. Whoever the Rockets bring in, with the new cast, they will need to push to get easy baskets (Phoenix Suns' offensive style comes to my mind?) Non-related Rockets conversation: *How Oklahoma City was designed to beat the LA Lakers, but did NOT have an answer for LeBron James and the Miami Heat because of how shots were falling... *They talk about how Lakers (or Hawks?) could possibly offer better talent but in terms of cap-space flexibility, the Rockets have the edge there. NOTE: I would had written more but my "S" key is all screwed up, it takes a whole second or two (haven't really timed it) for it to show on my screen (as I am a fast typer)
Excellent job doing the write-up RocketFan, but just to clarify for those reading the summary, this bit: This is Jason's stance and not reflective of what Morey/Rockets may have in mind. Jason is okay with tanking and biding time to rebuild but what Morey is aiming for if the worst-case scenario occurs, none of us really know.
