Thoughts on Jiri Welsch or Nachbar For Rockets At #15

Welsch is 6'6'', and according to nba.com weighs 208 pounds. To put that in perspective, Frank Williams weighs 205 pounds, Dejuan Wagner weighs 200 pounds, and Casey Jacobsen weighs 210 pounds. People are questioning Butler's size for the 3, and he has a near 7' wingspan, and weighs a solid 235. Sure, he could play spot minutes like Cuttino Mobley, but if you're really planning on putting a natural 2 at the 3, Kareem Rush is a much better option. To me, Welsch would be an option at 15 only if we made some sort of large trade, that either filled all our concerning needs (SF, C) or left us with a hole at backup PG (ie traded Moochie).

Where are people getting this "Welsch is a good defender" idea? Other than nbadraft.net, which is notorious for embellishments, I haven't seen anything mention his defensive ability.

I think if Nachbar is there at 15, and puts on a good shooting display during his workout, he'll be the guy. Otherwise, I'd look for us to hope one of the 6 SFs slip a couple slots, and we move up from 15 using KT as bait to nab him.

 

I think Welsch may very well be the steal of this draft, that is if Qyntel Woods doesn't fall too far down. With that being said, I don't think he fits well on the Rockets. If you want to pick best available, take Welsch. But I doubt the Rockets are looking at best available at 15...they just have holes to fill, unlike teams like the Pacers who are solid and can just add talent anywhere.

I like Nachbar too, but I still think the Rockets need to look at the defensive side of the ball with #15. I like Chris Jefferies over Nachbar, but I'd be happy with either one of them. It will be a tough decision to make. Especially if a guy like Stodemire falls to 15.

 

I think Welsch would be a great pick at 15 if you are looking for a 2 but he does not address our problem at the 3.

I like drafting Nachbar since he would give us a true three that can shoot.

I really hope the Rockets can either find a way to move up for Jarred Jefferies or maybe he will slip.

I really don't think Rudy wants to go into another season with 2 rookies eating up so much time like he did last year so maybe he will trade for Odom or find a way to get Lewis.

 

I believe bulter weighed in at 220, but point taken. The idea behind drafting welsh, is that he can back up in three positions. It's an interesting idea, but with moochie signed up for years, I don't see him getting a lot of minute at the 1 or 2.

 

We need a SF now, not in 3 or 4 years. If we're going to wait that long, we can wait for TMo.

So, either we use the pick as part of a package to trade for a SF, or we take one of the guys who falls. I don't think there's anyone worth trading up for, who's worth MORE (in total) than KT and who we'd draft at #15. I'd take Stoudamire or Hilario in a second, if they are there, before Nachbar. If we need to trade whoever we get, then we do. But I'd hate to trade either of those guys.

Maybe we pick up our SF in Free Agency, such as Lee Nailon. Or maybe, we just move Griffin to the 3.

 

Sherlock, I'm glad someone finally touched on this. Everyone thinks we are going to solve our SF problem with the 15 pick. Whomever we pick at 15 will be a backup. If there isn't a big man with loads of potential available (Nene / Stoudemire) why not pick a player that can back up two or even three positions. Welsch has a lot of intangibles that our backcourt is lacking IMO. He's a team player, plays tough defense, loves to push the ball up court for fast breaks and has good court vision. He's tall enough at 6'6" that were not at a disadvantage (Mooch) if we want to go small ball.

 

I'm becoming more open to the idea of trading the #15 up, down or out of this draft. My thoughts are that if we find the perfect starting SF at or around #15, take him. By perfect starting SF, I'm envisioning a very good role player; someone with good defensive skills, can shoot the 3 very well and plays good team ball. Point forward skills would be terrific, but that's hard to come by. I'm not interested in plugging that position with mad talent. As others have considered, I don't think we can afford another high-salaried starter. There's only so much ball and long term, I think the last thing we need is a SF who needs the ball in his hands to be effective. As long as he can shoot the 3 and maybe some other things to keep the defense honest, I'm fine with that out of our starting SF. However, if we don't feel any of the prospects in that range fits, then just trade the pick to the highest bidder. If we can swing a deal for a veteran SF, all the better. But I can live with not coming out of this draft (or offseason) with the SF solution.

 

One thing that I've been thinking about that might make a bit of sense from the team's perspective, would be to draft a European player with #15 that, like Hidayet Turkoglu or Andrei Kirilenko before him, might stay in Europe for another year before coming here.

By doing so, they might be able to pick up a player whose value has slipped for non-basketball reasons, and find a way to offset the lack of a 1st round pick next year (he'd fit into said role).

The buzz around Ming for this year would then offset the deferment of imediate gratification for the #15 pick for this year.

Furthermore, from what I understand, Nachbar has a somewhat sizeable buyout for this year, and a much reduced buyout for next year. Because of this, it might be financialy more feasable if he were actually to come over here next year, unless he's a top 10 (or so) pick, which he won't be...

Hm...

1+1=?

 

It is amazing how we do all this dreaming and come up with what we need and what we should get, only to find that they are already on the team. Someone said we need a SF that is going to play now not 3-4 years from now. Untrue. The following people from what I can see are in line to play the 3 before almost anybody brought in except Odom: Rice, KT, EG, Morris. If MoT makes it back, then EG will have to play some 3. Probably the better way to go is with a 2/3 swingman like Welsch or Rush. We need some protection for Cat who could have a season ending injury, you know our luck!

 

Nachbar did not even start on his team in Europe.
Just because Dirk was killing everyone now everybody
want a euro import.

 

Ideally at the SF, Rice starts, EG gets minutes when MoT is on the floor and Tmo gets developmental minutes. Rice was a big trde for us. EG is a potential star that needs all the PT he can get and we essentially traded a lower #1 for TMo. These guys have to play ,so how would a #15 SF get in the game?

(stated 20 times I still like Stoudemire at #15 to get ready for a championship run in 2004)

GP

 

You're mixing up Nachbar with Nickoloz Tskitshvili, who doesn't start because he's behind Nachbar. Nachbar was second on his team in minutes, behind Tius Edney. His team, Beneton, is the team that won the Euroleague. Nachbar is also young enough that he's still getting much better. The year before this, he averaged 5 minutes a game.

I think, all in all, he has demonstrated quite a bit more than a number of other players that are projected to go higher than him.

 

Is Nachbar going to be able to get away from Europe to work out with the Rockets? If so, does anyone know when the workout will be?

 

Rudy went to Italy to go see Nachbar and Tsika.

From my understanding, they're still playing in the Italian league, but will be coming to the USA about a week before the draft for some workouts. They may just hold general workouts for multiple teams like Ming did, and Wilcox and a couple others are doing.

Nachbar's buyout is 1 million this year. The Rockets can contribute 350K, but the rest would be on him. In another year, Nachbar's buyout will be 350K, which the Rockets can pay in full.

 

NIKE: Do you have any article with quotes on what Rudy thought of Nachbar? or any articles on Rudy going to Italy to scout at all? I'd be very interested in reading them. Thanks.

 

I REALLY hope Stoudamire or Hilario drops to #15, and we take one of them, not Nachbar or Welsch ... but we'll probably trade the pick, anyway, for an established player...