Man, last year the Draft section was a hive, and now look at it. Where are all the proposed trades for a first rounder? Where is all the speculation as to what player would be the most help to the Rockets? Common, all you Hottoddie traders! Let's get some anti-pro-Dookie ruckus going! I'll start: How about Kelvin Cato for New York's #9 and Howard Eisley and no compensation for hiring Van Gundy? There. That should bring stir the pot! We could then draft Hinrich, Pietrus, Ridnour, Gaines or Barbosa and trade Moochie and our second rounder for a better second rounder or late, late first rounder.
The Knicks may be dumb, but they aren't that dumb. It's quiet just because it's pretty tough to get worked up about some second rounders, especially in a top-heavy draft class as this one is. Last year, there was equality pretty much from 15 to 45. This year, after about 25, it drops off heavily. At that point, you're looking at a European player who will likely stay overseas for several years, a high-schooler who will need several years of seasoning before he can make a real contribution, or a collegiate senior who is likely flawed (re: one-dimensional) in some way. The smart teams will be the ones who find the collegiate seniors who can make their squads and have their deficiencies masked; the smartest teams will find the collegiate seniors who have simply fallen for one reason or another, despite not have many (if any) flaws. The already-good teams will take Europeans who won't be on their cap for awhile, while the teams that normally make exotic picks will take the high schoolers and sit them until they might be good and leave for better opportunities on another team. It's really formulaic that late in the draft. And that's why it's not very interesting at all! Especially to the fans - they've likely never heard of the player that any team that late will take. I mean, everyone knows Dwayne Wade and Kirk Hinrich. No one knows Malick Badiane or Kyle Korver.
There is not much to talk about this year. But if it is trades you want then trade Francis for Darko Milicic. Then Mobley and Griffin for Carmelo Anthony. Trade Rice for a draft pick. Sign Gary Payton with the extra cash. Sign Sam Cassell, sign Robert Horry. PG-Payton (back up: Moochie or draft pick) SG-Sam Cassell (some one we drafted or signed) SF-Anthony (back ups: Horry, Boki) PF-Milicic (back up:Taylor) C-Yao (Back up: Cato) I think it is time for a total rebuild. No play-offs in the last 4 years, something is wrong. Yao, Milicic, and Anthony are the future and Payton, Cassell, and Horry are the vets. Never would happen, but would you even do this? It's a big rick, because Milicic might flop, Anthony might be a bust, but they could also become greats and Yao+Milicic+Anthony would lead us to the promise land.
My face has always been a little crooked. However, that said, Cato played well and could easily be a beast in the little bitty East. There are no big men left at #9 except raw projects from Europe -- and the Knicks are afraid of another Weiss fiasco. They also want to get rid of some point guard contracts. Ergo, the proposal is not as insane as it sounds. Ta da!
It's so funny you mention last years Draft because I was feeling the same way you were feeling a year ago (Piston fan). Getting a high pick in the draft does do alot and spark many conversaitons and discussions on a message board. I'm surprised Clutch is not doing the MockDraftMadness game like years past. Any reason he said as to why not? especially with how deep the draft is this year. In either case, The fact that Houston doesn't even have a first round pick takes the flame out of any potential draft talks.
Dude, Ill tell you why this section is a ghost town. Everyone is creating new threads talking about the same damn thing all the time, Rudy T this, JVG that, new uni's this, new arena that, a couple wild trade scenarios here, free agent pickups there, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...................blah dollars! Too many thngs to talk about during the offseason including what has been mentioned above. PRICELESS! (Got that off the new Master Card "Blah, Blah" Commerical) .........point is, with all that is going on in Rocket-land coupled with the fact that the Rox dont own the top pick like last season, much less a first rounder, no one will really pay close attention to this section, like myself for example, who hasent been in these parts of the BBS for MONTHS! I'm glad to be back in the "Draft War Room." But I probably wont be here for long.
If we had a pick, it would be alot easier. Its hard to get excited about who to draft at 44. I'm not saying it won't be a good player there, its just the way the draft is now, alot can change. I've said all along that if I were the Rockets, I would try to move somewhere in the 20's. There are a few teams that draft in the 20's,Boston and Det that might consider trading with us for maybe a 1st rd pick 2 yrs from now and our 2nd this yr. If I'm CD, thats my plan.
If Hollis Price is there at 44 (which I doubt he will) I could get a lil' excited...........just a tine-tiny bit.
I'm hoping we can trade with Chicago -- the pick(s) they owe us + a Rocket they need or a three-team trade of some sort -- to get their draft pick. Like the Rockets, they are very young and don't want to get younger. However, there will be some decent SG prospects there at #7, and this (arguably) is the easiest position for a rookie to learn and perhaps excel.
If ya want a first round pick trade the underachievers: Taylor, Griffin, Mobely, Moochie, and Rice. Built around the nucleus that is left. Maybe we would then have a team that could move around, (as opposed to stand around), play a little defense, (any D would be better than what we had last year), and finally a little heart, and discipline!! Everytime I think about the 3 first round draft choices we gave up to get that no good @#$&% Eddie Griffin, I just want to spit. One of those draft picks was Richard Jefferson, too, dang it!!
Richard Jefferson has been exposed for his inability to shoot a basket of more than 10 feet. If Jason Kidd weren't feeding him, he would be nothing. On the Rockets he would have been a huge bust. The other two picks were basically chopped liver, and we didn't want that many guaranteed rookie contracts. Save your spit. Eddie Griffin likely will be the most improved Rocket because of JVG. I wish Rudy T was still the head coach and JVG was an assistant to him. However, JVG is the superior fundamentals teacher so Griffin should thrive. You can't trade Rice, Moochie or Mobley for a draft choice because the salaries wouldn't match. It has to orchestrated in the process of a larger trade so the salaries match.
