I'm picking D-Mo big time. I think he'll be the star - on offense. He just has all the skills - and most importantly has the motor. I predict good things. Now, I wonder about TJones. Everybody was so high on him, and now he seems to be the odd man out - permanently. And he has no trade value. I just think he's better than that. I wonder what they will do with him. I hope he gets a chance.....
Most likely to be (or continue to be) a contributor? 1. D-Mo (from what he's shown + his work ethic) 2a. Smith (has proven he can contribute) 2b. T-Rob 4. Jones 5. Olbrecht Most star potential? 1a. D-Mo (I don't think he'll ever be great on the glass, but his skills/size/tenacity is enticing) 1b. White (most unique skillset) 1c. Robinson (most likely to be a double-double guy at his best) 4. Jones (still think he has quite a bit, but the coaches' lack of faith in him is a tad disheartening) 5. The other 2 don't have it
Terrence Jones. He has the most potential. I don't know how you guys can't see it. He has the most complete game, almost no weakness except confidence, for now.
I'm surprised that Thomas is not higher on people's list. I think the Flynn, Hill, Williams trades have affected people's opinion on Robinson's potential. Let's look at two very important things about Robinson that everyone can understand. 1. Robinson has every physical ability to be an All-Star in this league some day. 2. Robinson has the desire to learn, work hard, and become a great player. I do think Donatas is a special talent and was super excited when I found out we drafted him 20th two years ago. I think Donatas has All-Star potential and will - at worst - be a match up problem for every team once he gets more of an NBA body. But, Robinson, has a lot of things that are correctable. He also has things that are elite. I think he will be an elite rebounder, which if you look at guys like Evans, there is always a place for those guys. I look at guys like Asik and Chuck Hayes and what our staff was able to do with their offensive game and I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Thomas will work himself into a fully capable offensive player.
D-Mo and T-Rob, both are supremely talented and hardworking. If they continue to work hard there's a good chance they'll pan out. As for the others. I really like Terrence Jones and his ability to defend multiple positions, but I feel with the addition of Robinson, that Jones is going to get moved this off-season, along with Greg Smith.
To me it's Robinson or D-mo You bring up BIG points for me. Does a player want it and if so how bad? The fact that Robinson is a hard worker says everything to me (D-mo as well) and the fact that both want it means the most. It means they WILL improve, how much we don't know but they will improve because they will work to improve. While other players are engaging in twitter wars, these guys are getting better. Also they expect to be great. Robinson was genuinely puzzled as to why Davis went #1 and he did not. D-Mo is calling out Dwight Howard day 1. As long as they keep this hunger and drive they will get better. Not saying they'll be superstars...but they will be the best they can be and that's all you can ask of anyone. It will be interesting to see what the Rockets do with both. One is going to get traded eventually and the other may be the Rockets PF for a long time I hope.
That's 6 players with "potential" to be decent role players but not superstars. If Morey could only trade all of them for One dominant big man like LaMarcus Aldridge or Roy Hibbert.
We havent had a "Big Man" pan out at PF since Otis Thorpe....We need to find OT and teach these frontcourt players about toughness... I remember when PF's were actually power forwards and not "perimeter forwards".... DMo is your typical Euro big man(vast offensive potential, limited team impact)... I hope I'm wrong ... T-Rob seems to be a Corliss Williamson/DeJuan Blair type player ... He can help but will be a liabilty on defense, which means he fits right in with what we've been having this century in the frontcourt... Royce White...please...... And the others are just that , "others"....
Didn't we get OT from the Kings? How ironic it would be to have a potential star PF come from the Kings who helped us get a championship again, 25 years later. I agree that D-Mo has more polish and can help us in the immediate future, but I see TRob as being our future PF. Hope I'm not wrong.
TJones just needs to figure out what he's good at and then do it. I think another year of summer ball and training camp will do TJones and all of our rookies a lot of good. I think it's important to remember how young these guys are. Most of these guy are only 21 or 22 years old, which means they would be juniors or seniors if they were playing college ball.
I just hope McHale doesn't platoon them beyond this season... That rarely works... Give one of em 35 mpg and see where it goes... We should make the playoffs so let's not have a wait and see approach... And yes, that would be great if we have an OT II, 25 yrs later...lol
Power forwards The Rockets need to develop their Power forwards into stretch 4s (if their not stretch 4s already); to allow Lin and Harden to drive into open lanes, and have more shooters to kick out to.
You can't force a player to play a style play that doesn't fit his skillset. D-Mo can play that style, but you can try different offensive sets to suite the players you have. D-Mo, Jones, Robinson, Smith, and White are all going to be told to play solid defense, rebound the basketball, and and run the floor first and foremost to earn playing time. That's the bigger need for this team moving forward than scoring a few more points. These young bigs need to first worry about learning how to play NBA defense, and rebounding... the 3 point shot can come in time for these guys if they prove themselves in the areas that are in more need.
They all need more than a year to develop, and all will assuredly be traded within 2 1/2 years. The first one that develops will be the first one we trade off. The only way we keep one of these guys is if he's a bust.
