Given that last year's Yao-less Rockets were significantly better than the Knicks, and with a full year of Kevin Martin, the "strategy" was still rational. Frankly, at this stage, you're just being a 20/20 hindsight hater.
Its not to late to get in to the top 8, hell with a couple of more losses and some wins by Milwaukee, Charlotte and LA Clipps(which they all have been getting BTW) the rockets will have the 8th pick in the NBA Draft. Now I know that's not a high pick, but that is good enough to where we can package a young player plus the draft pick itself to move into the top 5 (via trade). Also from current projections, I wouldn't mind having the 8th overall pick.. :grin: Current Projected Top 10 prospects (Via Draftexpress): #1 Kyrie Irving PG #2 Perry Jones SF/PF #3 Jonas Valanciunas C #4 Enes Kanter C #5 Jared Sullinger PF #6 Kemba Walker PG #7 Terrence Jones SF/PF #8 Harrison Barnes SG/SF #9 Donatas Montiejunas PF/C #10 John Henson SF/PF From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2011/#ixzz1BmghnXJO -------------------------------------- Harrison Barnes > meaningless playoff losses and 1st rd exit ... just my opinion..
BTW, the Knicks are not 4.5 games in front of the 7th or 8th seed or 5 games over the 10th. Rockets aren't bad enough to get a high draft pick anyway.
Players 'cut' with salaries freed as an amnesty, discarded if you will, in new CBA (my opinion; my strong belief) will sign wherever they choose. Draft position will be irrelevant. Or did I misunderstand you?
How does acquiring amnesty player bring us closer to a higher draft pick over the Warriors and Clippers as previously mentioned? It doesn't. We are still stuck in the 12th-14th draft position and I am still depressed. I will repeat myself. I want them to draft higher than the Clippers and Warriors not lower. If it doesn't affect the draft position, why would an amnesty player cheer me up about out draft odds.
Here is the original conversation. I was unhappy about the Warriors and Clippers being lower than us in the standings. You replied that taking a discard player or two would make me feel better. The Wizards and Clippers would still be lower than us in the standings, and the Rockets still get a worse draft pick than either team..
The Draft is in June. Amnesty will be (if it occurs tho I believe it will) after ratification of ensuing CBA. if, for example, Rox select Lucky 13th then they will select at that slot (and hope like hell they get lucky or can make a fortuitous trade). Holes remaining will be filled either by trade, FA, or an FA p/u of someone cut. Kaman, maybe? Brand? Those guys sound good to me at minimal pricing (with the Clips and 6ers paying the bulk of the $s). If Rox can sign a player or two from the proverbial scrap heap then maybe, just maybe, we can be less depressed by a low Lotto and can be excited over a pick closer to 20s, or - in - 20's???
I'm tired of people not understanding the Draft Lottery. It's called the Lottery for a reason. 50% of the Top 3 picks in the past 10 years have gone to the Fourth to Seventh worst teams of that season. They are not bad to enough to ENSURE a high draft pick (Top 5). But they can easily be bad enough to get a high draft pick.
How would this picture be shaping up if we had traded for Amare (ie if Morey had balls)? We would have not only had this year's MVP, but also a probable high lotto pick from the swap. But hey, at least we still have Shane Battier!
Yeah, who could figure that adding Amare' and his 20 points and 10 boards would make the Knicks a better team? DD
With Stoudemire, you don't even get 10 rebounds. I will bet $20 for the tipjar, he doesn't get 10 rbs per game, this season.
None. I'm still holding out hope that if there is not made trade by the deadlineand after this stretch before the ASB in which we face 7 very good teams, Minnesota twice, & Memphis once, the Rockets will have no choice but to accept that they will not make the playoffs and they need to develop their young talent. That would be time to get a #7 or better draft pick
