We should not go for a big in the draft, but rather..

I agree with that as well. I trust Morey and the scouting staff that if they believe a draft prospect they can get will have superstar potential then that surpasses getting a backup center like Thabeet or Hibbert.

It's just that if we draft a Whiteside, Alabi or any other big in the draft then there is no guarentee they will even see the floor in the next two seasons.

It seems more likely that they trade down in the draft to pick up someone in a trade or free agency and now we have the ability to potentially pick up a quality big man whos best years are still to come.

 

Keep in mind that the draft will come and go before we even start wooing any FAs.

 

All the good big men will be gone by the time we pick. I would rather have a potenial star instead of reaching for a player that "might" help down the road.

 

I would draft Paul George only if he promises to change his name to Pablo Jorge, at least for Noche Latina.

 

I am not terribly interested in any big man that can't play pretty decent backup center.

 

The more i think about it, Cousins is a one of a kind player. He is very strong in the post. Some have compared him to Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudemire. These types of centers don't come along to often.

 

Eric Bledsoe would be an inspired choice.

 

BPA please.

 

Called in a favor and had the chance to watch alot of video of Alabi and i hope he's the one. He has a great motor, he's developing by the day, and he seems very,very coachable. He has a high bbiq and loves the game. I think he's the type that can come in and give the team 15 quality minutes right off the bat. 3 years from now, he can be a starting quality center.

 

Whwn taking a player 14th or so, you want a guy who will eventually start and be a piece on your team. Its easy to say a late playing guy will be a bust, but i also look at player development. Petro and sene both went to a sonics team in transition. To be fair, petro was playing ok until he fell out of favor with the coach. I think every case and player is different. If the guys is a hard worker and coachable with talent, then at 14 and a future center, i don't see a problem. The guys has a high bbiq and has a good skill level. How many raw guys like that shoot 80% from the free throw line? How many raw guys like that can hit a 15 ft jumper?

 

I like Alabi, its just that he is somewhat slow and mechanical. Also, i hate to say it, but when i look at him i see injury prone.

 

Alabi was rated last out of 68 players.

Hollinger has missed badly on unranked or bottom ranked players for Rockets players, though.

He had Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger listed in the "Potential Disappointments", last year.

In 2007, he had undrafted gem Zabian Dowdell ranked 29th, but Brooks and Landry didn't even make the cut. They were unranked completely, at least Alabi makes Hollinger's cut.

4 misses for Hollinger on Rockets bottom ranked players in 3 drafts. He doesn't have a good track record with us.

 

Surprising but ingenious.

Similar to the Brooks pick when it seemed like we didn't have a need at that position.

 

Other than getting a big, we should also take a look at one of the top combo guards available. Although i don't think he will be available at the 14th, i would like to draft Xavier Henry. IMO, he will be in the running for ROY.

 

I like that Alabi kid as well Larry Sanders. This team has a great opportunity to pick up size and length on the cheap in this upcoming draft. Even Morey said they will be in a position to add size threw this draft after they traded Carl Landry. I think Morey is a great GM, but I have one big gripe with him and thats assembling a frontcourt lacking size and length outside of Yao. Sometimes its not all about stats and plus's and minus's especially if you have no one that can protect the rim. I know hindsight is 20/20, but as second round pick Morey could have easily taken a flyer on DeAndre Jordan instead of drafting Joey Dorsey, waiting a couple of years and developing Jordan over time. This team cannot rely on Yao being there for them, he's just rediculously injury prone, they need to start going in the direction of developing some young size. They have there chance now. This draft is going to tell me alot about Mr. Moneyball.

 

Solomon Alabi's lack of production is somewhat a problem even if he is "raw"

6.2 boards? Only about 2 blocks a game? No offensive ability?
Isn't quite as athletic and smooth as for example Whiteside?

I guess if he has good bbiq and work ethic, he could be an option, but I would think there would be better value at 14.

I also like what Sanders brings to the table, but at 14 you have to ask if he ever will have any offensive impact or can he bulk up without losing the athleticism so that he can comfortably play the 5 spot? Again, I would gladly take him in the 20's but 14? I don't know.

If we stay at 14, I would be happy with for example Ed Davis, Xavier Henry, Paul George and if for example Cole Aldrich drops, I think you have to seriously consider him, upside be damned.

I really wouldn't want to reach for any of the project big men or undersized combo guards like Bradley or Bledsoe. The scouting reports always say that guys like them "can play both guard positions". It's usually BS. If they wheren't so small, nobody would play them at point.

 

So, Hollinger had Hill rated #26 and Budinger rated #31?

The funny thing is, that may not be too far off from where MOREY had them rated!

As Morey himself said, he had Hill rated "in the 10-20 range" (read, maybe 17 or 18?) and obviously had Taylor and Llull rated ahead of Budinger. Hell, the Rockets weren't even planning on drafting Chase until the draft got into the 40s and Bud still hadn't come off the board.

While I agree that Hollinger's draft ratings are not conclusive by any stretch, there may be at least some correlation to his grades and the grades that Morey and the Rockets' front office place on draft prospects.

 

We do pick #14. Getting a solid rotation player is a good draft. I trust Morey to take a gamble on what he sees as a potential star if we get lucky but I also trust him to take the BPA if there is nothing special left.

He is what I expect from Morey. If there is a sleeper star and any position left take him. Second, if there is a potential starer at any position take him. Third, if there is a solid rotation big take him(I'd be perfectly happy with a solid rotation big with the 14th pick). Last, find a trade. Of course I always expect Morey to be exploring any trade that can improve a starting position with a proven NBA player.