So my friends it has come to this if true....2 top 10 picks or howard?

Eh, the way I see it it Dwight walks, Morey restocks the team minus a superstar and we are right back where we are today. We will have a mediocre team not good enough to make serious playoff rum and not bad enough to nab a future star with a low enough draft pick.

Newsflash: When our last superstar was lost/retired the team didn't go down the drain and collect high draft picks from being terrible. The Rockets won't have a high draft pick after Howard's departs either as Morey/Alexander simply won't allow the team to be that bad.

 

maybe you're right.

but i'm all for them making a bold move to acquire a player that is among the top 10 in the game today. that's the sort of player you need to have to win a title. we have no one in the vicinity of that....and i'm not sure who we take at 5 or 8 that changes that.

 

I understand how you feel, I really do. The lure of a playey of Howard's caliber is very strong. If he can't be convinced to stay I fear we will have subjected ourselves to our own mini-Decision. While we're all tied up in the ensuing drama (God forbid) the team ends up back where it is today. In essence, we will have just been c#ck-teased seeing "what could have been" while savoring the return of the bitter flavor of the mediocrity treadmill.

Unfortunately, the while thing (Howard bs draft picks) is a crapshoot, so all we can do is let Morey steer the ship and pray we get a break.

 

I better use that picks to get Jonas Valanciunas, he's going to have better career

 

You know what, the people that wants Howard to HOuston fans need to understand one thing... Sure having Dwight Howard here for one year would be a little exciting and he would help Houston into the playoffs.

But Howard cannot carry a team in the post season so most likely the Rockets would lose in the first or second round of the playoffs. Dwight is not going to get this team to compete for the playoffs. After the season is over, he will walk to another team and it will set this team back for years. I much rather rebuild now than go another year just to set back this team even longer.

Orlando has another year with Howard and they know it would be wise to trade him now because they much rather start their rebuilding process now than keep him for another year knowing he won't make them contenders and just walk after the season is over. Orlando is smart enough not to make the same mistake the Cavs did with Lebron James. If the Rockets decided to trade all our chips for Howard, when he walks the Rockets will be the new Cavs when Lebron walks except for the number 1 draft pick but NO draft picks and in the worst position.

 

If we are able to acquire 5 and 8 we still try to move up and get 2nd best player 2nd best player is Jonas Valanciunas so try to make a trade with them, 5+8+future pick+cash for Jonas Valanciunas

 

If a hypothetical post-trade Rocket Dwight Howard is a slightly above average team, then they should a true contender for next year. I'm talking about 55-win team, 2nd/3rd seed, and a legit chance to beat OKC/SA.

I will take a season of that even if we do revert back to .500 the season after. Actually, I think Dwight Howard would stay with that team rather than signing elsewhere in 2013. The type of team that Dwight will leave is a team that's middling with him. In that case, the same team without him would be in legit contention for a top-3 pick.

 

fixed

 

I think I halfway agree with you.

People talk about this draft's top tier being maybe two deep, then 6 more in the next tier, then maybe 12 more in the tier after that.

The problem with that is, NBA GMs are much more fuzzy than that as to who is going to be the next superstar. As people mention, Dirk was a #9. Lin bounced around until suddenly becoming a star. Rondo took a while.

If we take a few shots, say, 3 first round picks in the first 20, we have a reasonable chance that one of them is going to be that guy. We think we have a star in DMo, who was a late pick.

Let's make those picks and see what we get.

 

Exactly what part of Howard's resume tells you he can't "carry a team in the playoffs?" He's made 5 postseason appearances, averaging 20/14 with roughly a steal and 3 blocks per contest. He's made it to the second round twice and the NBA finals once with a supporting cast of players like Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu and a roided up Rashard Lewis. Reread that - that core made the NBA FINALS.

I am all for the excitement of the draft. I love the anticipation and the hope that whoever Houston selects will turn in to a great player and long term Rocket. But the reality of the situation is that players taken 5th and 8th and 10th and 12th and 14th and 16th more often turn out to be "contributors" and "role players" than All Stars and the lynchpins of title teams.

The notion that Houston can build through the draft like OKC is near-insane. The Thunder happened to get a once-a-decade scorer in a draft where they didn't even have the #1 pick. They then picked the right guys for their eventual team(Westbrook over Love, Harden over Rubio) and hit an eventual home run with Ibaka late in round 1. Simply saying "if we get a bunch of first rounders we can be like OKC!" is foolish. How foolish? Well, going back 5 drafts, a total of 8 players from those drafts have made at least one All Star team. (Durant, Horford, M Gasol, Rose, Westbrook, Love, Hibbert, Griffin). Considering Gasol was a second rounder, that means exactly 7 of 150 first round picks in the last five year have made All Star teams. SEVEN. So if the idea is to build through the draft then my only comment would be that we'll be waiting a while to see a contender.

There is no price to high for a player of Howard's caliber.

 

I don't think you ever become great if you're too afraid of what will happen if it doesn't work out.

 

The Picks Dawg!!! No D12 is Rockets Red!

 

I don't want to cash in our "assets" for a player who doesn't want to be here. If we can flip Howard next season to a high bidder, then maybe it makes sense. If he's going to walk and then we'll be ready to rebuild....then let's just start rebuilding now. 2 Top-10 picks in this draft is a good place to restart the building.

I don't want a prima-donna who has one foot out the door.

 

If the Rockets get those picks, keep them for God's sake! Why waste our time on Howard? He showed a complete lack of professionalism last season, he had back surgery which always scares the crap out of me when it comes to big men(Brad Daugherty anyone?), and he's made it known to everyone he doesn't want to be here.

Not to mention that aside from the Magic's Finals appearance in 2009(which BTW never would've happened had KG's knee been healthy), he hasn't exactly done much for that franchise. I'm not saying he couldn't have a huge impact on this team. But it seems like the risks far outweigh the potential reward.

Build through the draft, Morey. It's the only way to return to greatness. And best of all, when the Rockets do get back there, they'll have a young nucleus that could dominate for years.

 

He'll change his tune when a) we win and b) he realizes how much money he'd be throwing away.

 

What if we don't win? It's not like Dwight Howard automatically turns this team into an overnight contender. We don't even know how effective he'll be coming off of back surgery. I just think there are too many unknowns baked into this. Granted, lotto picks aren't sure things either, but the upside could be much higher(and less expensive, at least early on).

 

I voted picks for the sinlge reason of "1 year rental".

But if your words come true I'll kowtow to your presence, physically and digitally.

 

Even one year of Howard in a Rox uniform would be badass !!!!!

I'd be at 41 !!!

 

I don't necessarily think we'll win it all, but if he's healthy and even if we just resign Dragic and don't end up with Deron, I think we're definitely top 4 in the west.

I share your concerns, but I really just want the Rockets to be relevant again. Having Dwight does that.

 

You must remember this draft is deeper talent wise because of the lockout last year.