Got this over at NBA DRAFT REPORT: The Bulls are sending everyone around to take more looks at Kenyon Martin, Terence Morris, DerMarr Johnson, Chri Mihm, Loren Woods, Brendan Haywood, Quintin Richardson, Erick Barkley, Keyon Dooling, and Courtney Alexander. They have pretty much narrowed it down to those players in the top four picks in the draft. Charlotte is interested in Nate Johnson, Dan Langhi, Michael Wright, Gerald Wallace, and Marcus Fizer. Dallas is very interestedin Terence Mossis, Erick Barkley, DerMarr Johnson, Chris Porter, Keyon Dooling, Jason Wiliams, and Stromile Swift. A few teams are very interested in moving down in the draft or just trading away theur draft due to their projections that they may not someone they want. The Clippers are interested in getting some veterens for their draft picks (Possibily Toronto's). Miami is very interested in trading it, since Riley hates rookies anyways. Phoenix is also thinking of trading, as well as Boston. Utah is hoping some teams out there trying to get rid of some salary cap room, may help them get some players as they don't expect Malone and Stockton for more then two more years and they don't want to rebuild, but just re-load instead. Milwaukee Bucks are looking to possibily make a deal if Mihm, Woods, or Haywood decides to go pro. They really want a center in this draft, especially one that can bang a lot. Houston is very interested in trading Oloajuwon for a draft pick to get some more youth. They woudl like to get some inside players that can run the floor and also a slasher/scorer at the 3 spot. They are looking at Terence Morris, Kenyon Marint, and Loren Woods more. They also have expressed some interest in Jerome Moiso, high schoolers Garald Wallace and Darius Miles. Two players they really have been keeping an eye is Stromile Swift and Marcus Fizer. I don't follow Fizer much but the Rockets are starting to target the players I would also... Woods-Best C...has the POTENTIAL to become as good as Zo. How many times have we heard of this? He got 14 blocks once though, could improve rebounding. Martin-Undersized but knows how to use his size and is very dominanting even though short to NBA standards. Morris-Francis' old teammate and is the big 3 star we crave. Could improve dribbling to become a point forward but why worry when we have Francis? Moiso-In a few years, this guy will be huge. Very good defensive player but doesn't have much range in shooting. What big guy does? Very streaky and lanky, could put on weight. Swift-This guy has been heating up. You want a dunker, here's a PF who likes to fly as much as Cato. Gerald Wallace- Quality SF, but will take a few years to mature. When he does watch out. Darius Miles-Imagine a younger version of Morris. A young potential Odom. Fizer-don't watch this guy, and can't say much. [This message has been edited by rocketsfan34 (edited February 15, 2000).]
Woods, Haywood, and Morris will not come out. I like Woods a lot. Looks like a combination of a poor man's David Robinson/Tim Duncan. Needs to gain a lot of weight, but he's got all the tools to be a very good pro. Haywood has started to pick up his game and his stock has been hitching along for the ride. He's starting to flash that ability to dominate and scouts are starting to get high on this guy again. But once again, I can almost guarantee that both of these guys will stay for their senior years.
I've heard Morris will come out if he's a top pick. He surely will be considered. Right now, a lot of underclassmen are considering coming out. Who wouldn't with all the millions waiting for them in the NBA. However, several have stated they will only come out if they're a top 8 pick. So, we will see.
Houston is very interested in trading Oloajuwon for a draft pick to get some more youth. Thanks for the scoop rocketsfan34... I don't mean to discredit this guy, but the above is a bit of a ludicrous statement. The Rockets had the chance to get 2 very high draft picks and 2 solid players for Olajuwon and passed as a result of loyalty. Now he is saying they are "very interested" in trading Hakeem for a draft pick (the cap realities make this impossible I'm sure) in light of the first positive news with the Houston Sports Authority and an uprising of support from the fans/SaveOurRockets? Seriously... I think Hakeem being traded will never happen at this stage.
I've heard that Morris isn't going out early. He loves the college life and doesn't feel ready for the next level. And if him leaving is dependent on being the #1 pick, that pretty much rules him out since Kenyon Martin seems to be the consensus #1 pick. I don't think Morris can get that kind of assurance of being the 1st pick in the draft. Morris just has the Tim Duncan attitude. Tim Duncan was pretty much the consensus #1 pick after his sophomore and junior year and he still didn't leave. That's how Morris thinks. Woods and Haywood are pretty much a lock to return to college. Both of their draft positions are highly volatile. Neither is guaranteed of the lottery this year and neither is in any financially dire situation. They both like their situations in college and they both have a lot of things they need to improve and accomplish before declaring. I have a pretty high level a confidence that none of these 3 young gentlemen will leave early. But then again, 3 months from now, a lot can change.
Houston not trading Olajuwon (to Toronto) was not because of loyalty, but they didn't want a public back-lash before the arena referendum. At this point, the only way I can see Houston trading Olajuwon is to a contending team (that needs a center). "This will give Hakeem another chance at a championship."
Hakeem is going nowhere but the Hall of Fame. As far as Marcus Fizer goes, he's pretty good but I simply hate him. Then again I really hated KT at New Mexico. The best player in the Big 12 is Desmond Mason. He and OSU are scaring the crap out of me (longhorn fan)I wanna see where he'd go.
Clutch, I think what the writer means is, "If I were running the Rockets, I would trade Olajuwon for a first round pick." Fortunately, he is not. Also, I would be very surprised to see Rudy T draft a high school kid.
I think we should go for Swift. He looks like an awesome athlete and with francis and him itd be a dunk/highlight a minute. He and cato would make a very athletic frontline. I figure detroits pick to be anywhere 13-19 so maybe we could go for porter if he's around doubt it but his stock has fallen. of course we could go for dermarr J with our lottery pick and then try for a PF in free agency. and will everyone stop saying "trade for mcgrady" itd be nice but it wont happen o yah one more thing morris wont leave early i think, haywood will stick around cause UNC is gonna be awesome next year, and the rockets will never ever trade hakeem IMO.
I think that alot of people are forgetting our second round picks from last year, Venson Hamilton and Tyrone Washington who are playing in Europe this year. Rudy and CD were very high on these guys last year and wouldn't be surprised if they're on the team next year. They're two big inside presences. The only thing we really need inside is a legitimate Center/7 Footer for when Hakeem retires. I also think that in order to keep Mobley he'll HAVE to start next year and that will leave us with a starting combo of Francis/Mobley/Anderson at the 1/2/3 positions. So therefore we'll need a backup 2/3 type player. Personally I like Pete Mickeal out of Cincy but don't know if he can play the 2 spot unless he can extend his shooting range. But he's one of the best defensive players in the country. Put him along side the shooting of The Wiz and Drew(assuming there both still here) and that sounds like a damn nice backup for our All-Star 1/2/3 starting line-up. That's just my opinion though, I could be wrong...........Franchise= Rookie of the Year [This message has been edited by Aggie Balla (edited February 16, 2000).]
Our 1/2/3 starting all star line-up? Francis is an all-star... but were you counting on signing Grant Hill and Eddie Jones for the other two spots? Shandon Anderson is my favorite Rocket, and he's a good player... but he's not an allstar. Neither is Mobley. Wait! I seem to remember Dale Davis playing this year... ... perhaps Mobley and Anderson have a chance after all
I'm looking at this from the opposite side. I don't know if there is truth to the Rockets wanting to trade Dream, but how could they even if they wanted? He is still a defensive force, but offensively he is very limited at this stage of his career. This may seem offensive to you guys, but it's the truth. Back in the days, when Hakeem made a brilliant post move and his defender didn't fall for the fake, we were shocked. But now, if anyone even falls for them we are amazed. He wouldn't even be effective in terms of freeing up cap space for the other team, seeing that he has another year left on his deal. Anyways, even if we were to trade him, it would be for players on the last year of their contracts (so we could free up space), but if the other team intended to free up space, why would they give those 1 year guys away? The only teams Hakeem is of the slightest use to at this point are those contending teams who need a big-man defender. But if they were contenders they wouldn't have a high draft pick, not making it worthwhile having to go through the whole loyalty BSh*t with the fans again, but this time only for a low pick. This is why I don't buy the recent reports we've been seeing about Hakeem trades. [This message has been edited by thacabbage (edited February 16, 2000).]
"Now he is saying they are "very interested" in trading Hakeem for a draft pick (the cap realities make this impossible I'm sure) in light of the first positive news with the Houston Sports Authority and an uprising of support from the fans/SaveOurRockets? Seriously... I think Hakeem being traded will never happen at this stage." That's what I like to hear... ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
