I'd really like to use our first pick to trade up for C 'Jonas Valanciunas', using in combination with either Martin or Lee also. But with our second 1st rounder draft SF 'Chris Singleton'. Got to have a great draft this year since we don't have any quality picks in next years draft.
Sullinger will be a very good NBA player in the mold of Adrian Dantley/Mark Aguirre. He'll be a mismatch against every team. He'll struggle defensively in post ups and face ups, but he'll board like Barkley and score like Dantley/Aguirre.
Don't get me wrong. I like Sullinger and think he'll be a (very) productive player, but I don't see how he'll create mismatches like Dantley or Aguirre did. Sullinger will have to play PF in the NBA. He's already a liability when covering college 3's and it sure isn't going to get any better in the NBA. He obviously has a very good feel for the game, uses his body well, has soft hands, quick feet, etc, but he's only 6'7-6'8 and won't be able to simply overpower people like he so often does in college. He'll get his shot blocked quite a bit around the rim and won't be much of a defensive presence. All that screams rich man's Big Baby to me and that's not a bad thing. But it's not worthy of a top-5 pick either. Not in next years draft.
Sullinger reminds me of Carlos Boozer as a young player. Boozer was like 280 lbs and husky when he first entered the league. He was effective, but that wasn't his optimal playing weight. It was only sometime after he signed with the Jazz that he really trimmed down and really became much more devastating. I think Sullinger can give you 10+ rpg in the NBA right now, given the minutes but won't really become a star unless/until he drops 20+ lbs.
I really like Jeremy Lamb's game. I'm not sure if he's an NBA player, but for a freshman he appears to be really smooth/polished.
Speaking of Lambs, I looked up Doron Lamb's stats and the shooting percentages are impressive. But yeah, draftwise, I say the Rockets go best player available with maybe a little consideration toward SF and C.
Doron will likely stay in school. In fact he said that's what his plan is at this point, depending on what Cal hears about his draft position in June he will probably spend another year at UK
This year's draft class is in limbo. There's a good chance they'll have to sit out the whole year. That not good for their development. Normally I say leave when your stock is high, but this year is more tricky than that.
I think I'm starting to get on the Enes Kanter bandwagon. If his knees clear by team Doctors, I wouldn't mind trading up for the guy. The kid has a ton of offensive moves. He has a great touch inside and can knock down the mid range shot. He has good footwork, that a summer with Yao, Luis or Hakeem could get it even better. His measurements(6'10.5 / 7'1 wingspan) concerned me a bit, then realized that a they were taken when he was still 17 yrs old, so his probably grown some since then. I think Enes Kanter, if his knee's clear, will probably be in the 3-6 range. With the possibility of trading up for him with a package of either Martin(alone) or Lee + pick. Assuming we could get C Enes Kanter for Lee + pick, I would then look to package up both Orl(23rd pick) + Clipps 2nd round pick for a mid first rounder and pick SF Tyler Honeycutt. It would really balance out our roster, before we go into free agency with Chuck and Yao ... so we won't overpay for either of them due to desperateness at the center spot.
I know who I'd want, but then again, many times they don't turn out to be anything. What we can look at is players morey is more likely to draft. I'd say Chris Singleton is EXACTLY the type of player morey goes for. John Henson too. Both have been impressive defensively, all over the court. Kanter seems like he's someone morey would covet and will try to trade up for. Nikola Mirotic is another international I see him looking at. But honestly, I see us taking one of the international bigs that fall to us and chris singleton. then maybe either etwaun moore or festus ezeli in the second round.
Lucas Nogueira from Brazil. Big shot blocker with a solid motor. Can be had late first round. Yes please.
If Valanciunas' stock drops then he could be a realistic option for the Rockets. He's easily the best center in this class and I'd still take him even if it meant waiting another season for him to come to Houston. If not then I wouldn't mind trading up in a deal like: 14th + 23rd + Jordan Hill for draft rights to Enes Kanter.
What about Jeremy Tyler? He already has a year of international play under his belt and is only 18-19 years old. He has also shown the beginnings of some pretty good post moves and he can actually shoot the ball from a good distance. Just needs polish.
Yeah, DX had him 8th in one of their first 2011 mock drafts, but that doesn't mean much. They also had Willie Warren ranked 5th in one of their early 2010 mock drafts and Byron Mullens ranked 4th in one of their ealy 2009 mocks. As for Jeremy Evans, I haven't watched a game of his, but just judging off youtube highlights and the stuff I've read about him, he doesn't strike me as much a Morey/Rockets type of player.
