Should the Rockets seriously explore trading UP to #4?

Jovic over Murray.

 

You do understand that Kevin Porter is a shooting guard that dabbled at SF as
a Cav and most recently as Point Guard for the Rockets these past two years?

There is no reason why Porter can't be a facilitator while being labeled SF....
or we say position-less basketball, "a wing"

Ivey-Green-Porter all penetrating and facilitating....why is that so hard
for you to understand? Are you watching how other teams are doing
the same?

Question is if Porter leaves us at seasons end by way of a poison Pill
contract or someone offers him an extraordinary amount of money as
a restricted free agent......do you think Josh Christopher can step up?
Oh yeah, a SG.....another SG trying to fill in and play PG......as the rest of
the league is doing the same. I say no. I like Christopher coming
off the bench and prefer Ivey with Green torching teams.

It's not a cult thing.

It's not an obsession thing.

It's a, finding a replacement in the event Porter leaves us, thing. Or he
doesn't work out because Porter wants to continue dribbling the air out
of the ball incessantly.
----------------
Would you rather wait until the moment (Porter leaves)? Then
draft a Nick Smith or Scoot Henderson or Anthony Black?
Maybe the Rockets feel they may be drafting later than
top 6 or 7 next season and getting that prime, athletic combo
guard in a guard driven league is hard to pass up now!

Garuba couldn't even get playing time because of Wood, *Theis and Sengun.
Now the Rockets may add a Tari Eason or Sochan type. Nobody expects
the Rockets to win much this year so why is it so important that the
Rockets draft big wing Banchero now and a guard next year......or Ivey
now and big wing next year? [I say Big Wing, because many are telling me
Banchero will play wing.......meaning Banchero is not replacing Sengun....SURE]
*exit Theis.......exit Eric Gordon? Schroder? Nwaba?

The Texans drafted linebackers almost every season in
anticipation of exits by key upcoming free agents. Did you
have a problem with the Texans drafting a year or so before?
Rockets would want options leading into next summer. Having a
Tari Eason would also be in anticipation of Wood being gone.

Texans:
2006: DeMeco Ryans
..........Mario Williams --> 2011
2007: Zach Diles
2008: Xavier Adibi
2009: Brian Cushing
......... Connor Barwin
2010: Darryl Sharpton
2011: Brooks Reed
2012: Whitney Mercilius
2013: Trevando Williams
.........Sam Montgomery
2014: Jadeveon Clowney
2015: Benardrick McKinney
2017: Zach Cunningham
(some worked out and some didn't.....Texans didn't sit on their hands
hoping magic would come their way. They tried to fill the void in advance)

Yes football linebackers are 3 to 4 depending on if the defense
is playing a 3-4 or 4-3......but many NBA teams are going 3-guard lineups
for fast pace, instant transition, 3-pt shooting, above the rim A.A.U. ball.

Teams better adjust or be left behind.

 

So you move KPJ to the 3 and have him run the point from there.... the results are getting smaller, getting worse defensively, and shooting worse.

Why give up a defensive advantage at the 1 just to add a SG that adds nothing of value to either side of the ball?

It doesn't make sense.

Ivey is ball dominant because he's not a good shooter, he lacks PG skills, he's mediocre defensively.... how does he fit on a team that already has a transition scorer like Green? What possible value could he bring? Just being small and quick?

 

I just want to hear what Ivey brings to the team that someone else doesn't already do better..... what role would he have that someone else better doesn't already fill?

If he could shoot the 3 as well as KPJ, I could see a role for him.... but he can't

If he could run the point, I could see a role for him.... but he can't.


Just what would he do?

 

Your scouting report doesn't match what scouts actually report. Just the opposite
in most cases pertaining to Ivey. Don't you wonder why most if not all mocks have
Ivey top 6.

I could link scout after scout indicating Ivey as Ja Morant comp.
What does Ja Morant bring to an NBA team with improved
spacing?

Ivey outside of the month of Feb shot in the neighborhood
of 41% from 3. Research his splits.
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/jaden-ivey-1/splits/2022/

Porter shot over 40% in Catch-n-Shoot 3 for the season.

Jalen Green shot 39.4% from 3 on 8.0 attempts in the last 26 games.
---------------------

So you don't see how the 3 can coexist.....the spacing will be unreal
as each and every one of them take turns facilitating and attacking.
Add C Wood and his 3-pt shooting capabilities......Sengun would have
so much space posting up with all four (Ivey-Green-Porter-Wood) on the court.

People were crowning the Nets champs with no defense in
year one with Harden: Irving-Harden-Joe Harris-Durant-DeAndre Jordan.

And you are worried about defense? Ivey-Green-Porter-Wood-Sengun
would give that team a run for it's money after two years together.
But who said we will be a top seed this year with Banchero or Chet?
Many are telling me that the Rockets will still be top 4 worst with
both Banchero or Chet plus Tari Eason added. So what's the big deal, or than
your obsession for big men....or is it fascination?

But who says the Rockets can't add defense? You act like Ivey is the
equivalent of a #14th pick and the Rockets have no other 1st round pick.
Rockets could use it on Sochan, Mark Williams, Tari Eason, EJ Liddell, Kessler
or others to bring rim protection and rebounding.

Next year Dillion Mitchell (6'7"), Cameron Whitmore (6'7") or Kel'el Ware (7'0")
or Dereck Lively (7'0").

Fact of the matter is, it's easier to find those rim protecting - rebounding
big men from pick #7 on up than good NBA quality facilitators in a guard
driven league.

This really comes down to you're are still old school and don't want guards
taking over the league and you still strive for the big men to take things
over with plop-plop post ups and lumbering down the court in slow
motion compared to the quicker guards. You hate Green and still wish we
had drafted Evan Mobley. Admit it.

 

His draft stock is based on his athleticism... and in a team needing a SG type, that can be valuable... but that's not what the Rockets need. They already have 2 guards better than Ivey.

He's got questionable decision making and ball handling, though you can cherry pick a small sample he's not a very good shooter... he just doesn't fit what the team needs.

Now in a scenario where the Rockets drafted Mobley, sure there's a strong case for Ivey.... but they took Green, someone who does everything Ivey does but better.

 

I'm so glad you aren't the GM.

 

I would create a winner comparable to the Celtics, Warriors, Bucks, Heat right now.

Your way probably has us winning 20 games a season for the next 10 years

 

I wouldn’t depend on a scouting video too demonstrate your point, countless of them can be posted going looking the same only for the player to amount to nothing what they are projected too.

If you were a GM, why would YOU pick Ivey when we already have Green, Christopher & Porter Jr.

Why wouldn’t you look at upgrading the parts that’s needed.

Who is the PF for the future?
Who is the SF for the future, is it going to be Tate ?
Providing long term Wood is traded, will they keys be given to Sengun? If so will be able to perform defensively good enough, or will the rockets need a defensive C in the rotation like Boston have with Williams.

They are more questions than answers at 3-5 than 1 & 2.

 

If Stone absolutely loves Ivey, then I'd back him but I would be trying to trade down to acquire another asset.

 

Ughhh. Schmitz is a highly regarded scout/analyst respected in the
field. So much that Portland just hired him to their staff as Assistant
General Manager. Which holds more clout than you and BobbythenotsoGreat
or raining threes.

Tell me how you answer all your questions by drafting either Chet or Banchero?

 

Im not saying I have the answers or either of them are the answers but it makes more sense to draft a PF or C than another guard who doesn’t do anything better than we already have.

Maybe Portland can trade Lillard for 4 to get Ivey then

 

@marinara

I see Banchero as Sengun: so doubling up on Sengun does what for this team?
Some say Banchero will play SF, good luck with that. He's not guarding SF's.

Chet is C Wood (if C Wood plays right and ain't in tank mode):
Chets gets pushed around on the interior of the defense, but is good as a help defender.
That's C Wood.

Wood is consistently good from 3. Chet is a plus 40% three point shooter in
transition as a trailer, but only about 32% as a half court in the team scheme
three point shooter. C Wood game, people will see that if we let the Rockets win.

So how does doubling up on Wood with Chet solve anything?

Ivey-Green would destroy this league for years to come. Just add some big defenders
to go with Garuba and whoever we draft at #17.

 

Okay, I’m not even going to reply to the first two paragraphs because I just flat out agree with your opinion.

So you would basically just give up on most of what has been built for Ivey, Grauba who is still unknown compared to the other 3 draft picks last season & who would you take at 17 then?

 

The problem you're going to run into is that is an incredibly easy to answer question when it comes to the 3 bigs at the top of the draft, but it's impossible to answer when it comes to your guy Ivey.

Sengun is a 5, Banchero is a 4, he adds size, passing, and makes the team considerably more difficult to guard. He'd help get guys like Green and KPJ open looks while pairing with Sengun well.

He fits essentially perfectly.

Wood has no future with the team, he clashes with the young players and is an impediment to their growth.....exactly why it's good the Rockets are in a position to pick a big man to pair with Sengun.

Ivey on the other hand is a guy who is best in transition and when the defense is not set.....you know, EXACTLY when Jalen Green is best. So pretty much the only time he'd bring anything at all to the table would be in situations where you'd want Green to have the ball instead. Since he doesn't have any PG skills and isn't a good enough shooter to really play off ball, the pairing with Green doesn't really work since both of them would be best next to someone primarily running the point for them that can also play off ball when Green needs the ball.....you know, why KPJ and Green work so well together because KPJ is EXACTLY that.

Garuba isn't even a consideration at this point. MAYBE he improves enough to be a bench quality player by the end of the year, but he's a raw prospect with a long way to go.

On a different team in a different situation, you could convince me that a smaller, poor man's Jalen Green should be the pick, he might end up being really good one day.....just not on the Rockets with the situation they are in. Just because he'd be worthless on the Rockets doesn't mean there isn't a situation out there where he could thrive.

 

I normally enjoy Schmitz's video. Him able to post this on the ESPN YT channel, gets a lot more exposure then other scouts.

That man 'bangs' on the space bar (play/pause) super loud.

 

Lets me start with the last part of your question. If Tari Eason or Mark Williams is there
then I'm taking one of them. One is 6'8" and the other is 7'2" according to some.
For the sake of argument let's round that down and say Mark Williams is 7'0".

You don't see Sengun as PF and Mark Williams covering his back like Capela
covers any flaws John Collins has?

Or Sengun at Center with Tari Eason at PF. If Sengun is getting abused
in PnR and faster Guards are taking him out to the perimeter and getting
around him easily like last year.......you don't see Tari Eason being moved
to the 5 and we run a small Ball lineup with Tari Eason as a 6'8" (Robert Williams is 6'8")
three point shooting center slash rim protector?
-----------------------
Garuba was highly regarded coming out last season, why do
you have more faith in Banchero or Chet or Tari Eason or Mark
Williams as proven stock over Garuba? They haven't done anything
in the NBA. Maybe it comes out that Timme made Chet look much
better defensively by taking the stronger man in the post. Maybe
Mark Williams made Banchero lol much better by covering his back.

.........i had a longer response but my internet spazzed out.
Comment back and give me an opportunity to response if
I didnt complete my thought in this post.

 

This team needs to get taller, period!!! We have like 8 guys that are 6’3”-6’5”. Ivey would just add to that list. We’re constantly gonna get exploited in switches due to the lack of length, not to mention rebounding. Sick of being short at PF and SF. Small ball hasn’t done anything for us, come on now!!! Rant over lol

 

You’ve suggested something by naming players you would draft, then you’re asking me why I would think they are better than grauba who’s proven you’ve completely just wasted so many words because you’ve just flipped and said they unknown.

 

Well there you go......talking about Defense, Defense, DEFENSE, and then spouting off
about how Sengun and Banchero would work on offense. Deliberately avoiding
the two elephants in the room (on the court) having to try to defend the perimeter
against players as fast as Trae Yong, Fox, SG-Alexander, Ja Morant, dare I say
Jaden Ivey.

How in the world will Banchero keep them in front of him? I would attack
Sengun-Banchero as I isolate them on the strong side of the court all game
long. Teams would target Sengun only for about 8 plays and then feel sorry
for him. If the Rockets are a real threat, they will target Sengun like 20 times a game.
Now add Banchero......have you seen scouting reports on Banchero. Slow lateral
quickness is almost always used. Have you seen him trying to stay in front of guards
on video. No Contest......wait until he faces NBA caliber guards. He will be
fouling them from behind just like Sengun did.

Just a simple burn past Banchero......then get in his pathway to the rim.....
then a hesitation or two....will get Banchero flat footed enough to get the shot off.

This recovery and blocking the shot in college works in college.....in the NBA they
are going to dunk with Banchero riding their backs.....or hit an open 3-point shooter
on the weak side as a help defender comes over.

This is where your plan fails, as half the game is also played on the defensive side.


*Side note: actually watch a Jaden Ivey highlight video........notice how many
times Ivey is playing off the ball. Receiving the pass from a teammate. This ball
dominant stuff by Ivey is a fallacy. Not true. No more than Banchero.