PF, or Center. Perhaps the Rockets have a chance to get in here. ------------------ Sometimes you gotta do the next best thing!
I think we will land a 12th pick, the playoffs are packed this season, we will easily get to the playoffs next season if we draft a big man, and a REALLY good three. I think we can pick up brendan haywood and terrence morris(morris will be pretty easy to pick up because his stock has fallen so much). If we could pick griffin or wallace by moving up, that would be great. ------------------ President of the Charles Barkley fan club...Oh he retired? When?
I would love to get Brenden Haywood. The guy has a great upside, the biggest flaw I've seen with him so far is his inability to catch the ball in the post. ------------------
Inability to catch te ball in the post, huh? Don't we have someone with that skill already? Of course, Cato doesn't come off the IR long enough to even attempt catching the ball in the post. But I am also of the opinion that we need to draft big first then move Cato. I am really sick of that guy. A couple of questions I have for anyone remotely informed are: 1. What does the draft order look like if it were to happen right now (players)? 2. Would the Rockets be best served to try moving up, or will this "deep" draft be deep enough for them to keep their picks and draft multiple players? ------------------ Kenny Thomas had a foul called on him in the Western Conference Finals.
i'm of the opinion that we should move cato to a team above us, moving us into the top 5. with that, i'd go ahead and get a griffin-esque player. then, with the mid 1st rounder (from whoever it is? milwaukee? detroit???) go for a shot blocker/dunker ala ken johnson or haywood - effectively replacing cato.
Do not give up on cato yet. Haywood and cato are alot alike, inconsistent, injury prone. Haywoods upside could lead to 18 ppg, 9 rpg, but most likely it will be about 14 and 8 which is also what cato is capable of. You guys must not realize that a high ankle sprain IS serious. My coach got one during his college ball days and it kept him out for 4 months. ------------------ President of the Charles Barkley fan club...Oh he retired? When?
I think offensively Haywood has a far greater upside than Cato. He also has a bigger body to use against the big men of this league. ------------------
Cato is not out with the ankle sprain anymore. But the main problem I have seen is that he doesn't have the hands or the desire to reach the potential everyone sees in him. I would rather have Pig on the team than Cato. ------------------ Kenny Thomas had a foul called on him in the Western Conference Finals.
Lets give him some playing time before making the conclusion that he doesn't have desire. Last season he put up 9 points 6 boards and 2 blocks in only 24 minutes. Worth 6 million? No, but he was injured on and off last season. He also bulked up this season. You can ask anyone who has seen him in person. His shoulders and arms are alot bigger than they were last season. IMHO Cato can give you 11 ppg, 9 rpg and 3 bpg. And even more changed shots. At the beginning of the regular season last season(not exhibition) He was an enforcer in the middle. He gave some olajuwonesque performances. He also put up averages of about 15 ppg and 9 rpg. ------------------ President of the Charles Barkley fan club...Oh he retired? When?
As posted above, Haywood definitely has a better offensive game than Cato. He's also built a little better to bang in the post. However, Cato runs the floor MUCH better than Haywood and is just overall a better athlete. I don't think Haywood will last past 12, though, so if we're going to get him it will have to be with our own pick (provided we don't make the playoffs). ------------------
Im not very enamored at all with Brendan Haywood. He has poor lateral movement, a horrible feel for the game and is nothing special in terms of running the floor as Prempeh pointed out. When searching for a shot blocking big man, I think its important to find one with good lateral movement and footwork, and the ability to run the floor well along with that quick pogo stick like jumping ability. I am a backer of Loren Woods, but he needs to add more bulk to his frame for the NBA. Haywood is just a horrible draft choice imho. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net [This message has been edited by MManal (edited January 22, 2001).]
Should/would the Rockets take a chance on one of the high school kids? ------------------ Kenny Thomas had a foul called on him in the Western Conference Finals.
Im for taking anyone who is mature enough to handle the NBA at 18 years. I would rather take a guy who has had a couple years of college experience. My top pick for big man who we actually have a chance to get are haywood and woods. ------------------ President of the Charles Barkley fan club...Oh he retired? When?
Both will be top 5 picks. The Rocks will most likely have two picks in the 15-20 range. We should looking at 2nd tier draftees and/or sleepers. ------------------
It would be great to have two picks in the draft, but I doubt Detroit or whoever else owes us aside from Milwaukee will send us a pick this year, and if we make the playoffs, Vancouver gets our pick. We could end up with one at about 12 or 13 and another in the 15-20 range if we don't make the playoffs, but I'm not sure if I really want that to happen. Where is Ken Johnson likely to go? How much of an improvement over Cato would he be? ------------------
That's news to me that if we make the playoffs Vancouver get our pick. I did not know about that clause or that the picks has to be our own. The Rocks will definitely be battling for a playoff spot. I would not want to bet against them. In looking our collective crystal balls we should assume that the Rocks will make the playoffs and loose their first round pick. We can also assume that the Bucks will not have a top ten pick and thus ship their pick to the Rocks. ------------------ [This message has been edited by No Worries (edited January 23, 2001).]
Griffin, Wallace, Williams, forte, Ming(probably), randolph, Murphy, Battier, Satterfield. Those are nine guys who have been touted as better players and guys who will be picked before haywood and woods. Its only midseason and neither of them is known for raising their play at the end of seasons(actually its the opposite). Their stock will probably drop a little bit more, and could very possible fall right into our hands somewhere around 12-14. They could possibly be top 10 picks, but neither will be top 5. ------------------ President of the Charles Barkley fan club...Oh he retired? When?
Not to mention if Eddy Curry declares, he will be top 5. There is another high school player or two that could be in the first round, also. ------------------ Kenny Thomas had a foul called on him in the Western Conference Finals.
A guy who can very well be in that group if he comes out is Rod Grizzard of Alabama. Saw Grizzard and Gerald Wallace play last night against Kentucky and Grizzard has a very polished game for a sophmore. Wallace has tremendous potential cause of his athletism and some natural defensive ability, but he needs to work on his shooting mechanics. ------------------
