Unfortunately, while harsh, you are right on the money here. They basically threw away 3 No. 1 picks on the PF position and now they have nothing to show for that draft. They also have a serious problem at that position because Cato is not the long term answer. It's my contention that somewhere down the line this season, the EG episode will come back to bite the Rockets squarely in the ass - quite possibly knocking them out of the playoffs.
The 2001 draft turns out to be a pretty good draft. If I were the GM, I definitely won't trade 3 1st rounder for a #7 pick, it is just not worth it. I will trade 2 1st rounder for the #7 pick at most. Most likely, I will keep the picks and throw 2 picks to the PF position, and 1 pick to the best player available. Why? because I want to play the probability game. Why risk 3 picks on one player while you can diversify your risks with 3 picks?
Damnit...this is such a low blow. Damn you Griffin! That draft was so good, why did we trade 3 first rounders for 1 pick?! There was so much talent still there to be sucked. Imagine...Randolph, Murphy, Parker etc......
I wonder if the Rox management could sign KMart if Nets think Kmart becomes expendable with the addition of EG. Not right away but we will see.. it would be akward to play against him though. J
Except that the Nets said afterwards that Jefferson was their man all the way -- they were elated to get the other two guys, since they would've picked Jefferson anyway at #7 had the Rockets not come calling. That means if this deal hadn't gone through, Jefferson wouldn't have been around at #13, and there are pretty good odds that Griffing would've been gone by that point as well. Who knows how things would've shaken out after that?
Why should we fire CD? Because he took a chance a potential stud? How were we supposed to know EG would go completely off the deep end? Anyways, I don't see EG doing much of anything in this league. He'll crash and burn in NJ like he did here for the same reasons -- he just mentally is not ready for the NBA.
oh man, the irony, what if the nets get him, think about it, haaaaaa, nevermind, don't think about it, it makes my head hurt when i think about it, here comes again.
I was NOT in favor of cutting Griffin. I would have tried to hold onto him and give him some time to staighten things out. He was on the suspended list, no big deal. We have invested TOO much time and those draft picks in him to just throw him out. From an outsiders perspective it just seems we gave up too easily. If he catches on with another team and does decently, it is going to be very unfortunate to us. It was a blessing that we got Yao. But the failed draft picks in Griffin, Nachbar (so far) and Morris has really hurt this team. We expected all three of them to be solid for this team, even Morris who was a 2nd rounder. This team has been really set back from these picks. You add the bad contracts to those failed picks and you have a mess of a roster. It really would be nice a have a few YOUNG promising players on this team that could grow with the team....but all of those players are gone or not effective.
People, relax. You know what's going to happpen. Somebody's going to "take a chance" on him. Then there are two scenarios. One is that he misses a couple more practices, hides from management, gets cut again, and shoots his (current or then) girlfriend. The other is that he shoots the girlfriend first, then gets cut. Either way, as far as basketball is concerned, boo hoo.
I have the strangest feeling that Eddie is going to develop into the prototypical PF that we need next to Yao one day. If he isn't convicted, that is. I guess only time will tell.
The Nets would have picked Rodney White had they kept the pick. No way in hell would they have picked Jefferson #7. Jefferson probably would've gone to the Hornets at 16. In fact, had the Rockets not traded their pick, they would've picked Troy Murphy at 13, Haywood at 18, and probably a guard at 23.
Well Im HAPPY!!! I hope he does sign witht he Nets and maybe he will be able to get things straightened out!! I am gonna miss him on my TV tho. lol
We should have held on to him at least until the trading deadline. I don't see how releasing him helped the team in any way. I am sure they could have gotten something if they waited. Patience is a virtue, you know. DD
This had nothing to do with patience. Not one team would give up anything decent for Griffin in trade. No one was willing to deal for him unless the Rockets were willing to take back bad contracts and players in return. Griffin is under a court-ordered curfew meaning he very likely will not play again this season. Most importantly, there is a very good chance Griffin will do prison time for his felony assault charge. There was a reason Griffin was released less than a week after he appeared in court. The result of that hearing and the findings presented in that case triggered Griffin's release. For all the complaining we do about players not living up to their potential or being thugs, we sure are in a hurry to attempt to attempt to capitalize on a guy who has done both. The guy is a zero on and off the court. If he rehabs himself and manages to play again in the league, it is more likely that he is a marginal player than even an average to decent one. There is nothing in his makeup as a player or person that could lead anyone to suggest otherwise.
Obviously, something can be done about this curfew, otherwise why would teams be offering one year contracts? It makes no sense. Also, I'm sure he could've been thrown into another deal we may have made at the deadline - if not, then cut him. We don't necessarily have to trade him straight up. I'm no insider like you Jeff, but it's so difficult for me to believe that the best option was to cut him.
