If we make a trade for a swingman using our lottery pick, I would like to see us move up to the bottom of the first rounder and take a flyer on Paul Millsap. He has been a dominant rebounder, leading the NCAA in rebounding 3 years running, a feat never accomplished by any player before. I have no doubt that if he had stayed in school and stayed healthy, he would have led the nation in rebounding 4 straight years. When you look at the list of NCAA rebounding champions, it includes a lot of no names, but it also includes names like Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, Jerry Lucas, Paul Silas, Elgin Baylor, Xavier McDaniel (twice), Kurt Thomas, Artis Gilmore(twice), David Robinson, Kermit Washington (twice), Larry Smith (probably the best comparison to Millsap), and Shaq daddy. Millsap is getting knocked because he is not 6-9 to 7-0 and he played against "second rate competition" at LA Tech. I ain't buying it because rebounding is all about heart/desire. He did it in H.S. and he did it THREE straight years in college. He is tenacious. Not only that but this guy actually has an offensive skill set including the midrange jump shot. That puts him in another class than Reggie Evans and Chuck Hayes. To me he could be a poor man's Elton Brand. Remember Brand is only 6'8". And worst case he could turn out to be an Evans/Hayes type player except with more size than Hayes and more length than Evans. Everybody really likes what Hayes brings to the game, don't they? And the vast majority of us can't stand Juwan's and Stromile's games. If we don't take a PF with the lottery pick and Millsap falls down to the mid 20's, I hope we take a gamble on him with some team wanting out of the first round and the guaranteed money.
while you might hear a lot of talk about a big man's height leading up to the draft, at the end of the day they look for length. comparing milsapp to brand is a little flawed because brand has the wingspan of someone 7-4. if milsapp has long arms then his height won't be that big of a deal ... he might even have a short neck. all sorts of things are taken into consideration. the nba loves length. anyway my answer to this topic's question is in my sig.
Agreed, that's why he's not at the top of the lottery. We're talking about 2nd rounder/bottom of the first round. If we could come up with a one dimensional short rebounding fool like Evans, it would be worth a 2nd round pick in my opinion. The 2 best rebounders I've ever seen play in the NBA: 1. Dennis Rodman-hyperactive, skinny, and long but not tall (6-8) 2. Charles Barkley-wide, huge, muscular and short (6-4 1/2) Millsap is hyperactive with Barkley's width and close to Rodman's height. He's worth a shot. Not to mention, he has more offensive game than Rodman, Evans, or Chuck Hayes will ever have.
I do not see Millsap dropping and I am not sure we can trade up for him. He is just the type of player we need so he will not be availible some of that depends on his measurements though. If he comes around Chuck Hayes height then he might slip... 6'7 maybe... 6'8 and he is gone. The one issue with him is I have never seen him hit a jumper outside of 12ft... but a very very good value, like Evans or maybe Rodman. I like Gansey as well as he seems to be like Jon Barry in a way. Energy and hustle. Knows his game and rebounds well for his size. A pretty Safe pick but no upside and I question his defense. I like PJ tucker... accept he can not hit a 3. Bobby Jones had a great Portsmouth Tourney so he could be a steal giving us that defensive stopper/off guard. He is the pick if he is there but I am not sure he will be. Unless we can somehow draft Gay/Morrison/Roy I think we are picking up a SG/SF at this pick. As I am thinking we are picking Shelden Willams with a lower pick cause we trade down and pick up a second rounder... which we use on James White.
Rudy Fernandez won't be there. I've never seen him play, but from what I've heard and seen from the euroleague websites, he's the most NBA-ready Euro prospect in this draft and a top-20 pick. With good workouts he might even play his way into consideration for our 1st round pick. It depends a lot on who the Rockets take in the 1st round. If they take REddick, their not taking Gansey, etc. I think we'll take a guard in the 1st round (Foye or Roy) and then pick up a good rebounding forward like Millsap.
It hurts me to say this but Taj is not NBA material. He just doesn't have it mentally. He also has horrendous form on his jump shot, is undersized and only has one post move. Athletically he is there but he is lacking in everything else. Sounds familiar, huh? (Slomile)
Adams has some of the best upside in the draft, and would most likely be the best player available if he were still there with the first pick in the second round. Brown is also someone to look at. He had a poor shooting year, but a lot of that was due to loosing his two best teammates, and trying to take too much on by himself. That being said, he's got skills. I also like the fact that he already has chemistry with Luther. Wish we knew if Spinolous, or whatever his name is, was going to make the roster next year though. It could change the direction of this pick.
I feel these players are the best of the rest for the Rockets roster needs in the second round in order. 1. Thabo Sefolosha - From the scouting reports he seems to be a Bobby Sura type player. He does a little of everything. Can play the 1, 2, or 3. Could be the steal of the draft. 2. Bobby Jones - Reminds me a lot of Bruce Bowen. At 6'7", he can defend sometimes 4 positions. Limited offensive game, but Rockets only need him to knock down open 3's and defend the best G/SF on the opposing team. 3. Damir Markota - At 6'11", he can flat out shoot. He gives the Rockets what Scott Padgett gave you last season. A big that can shoot, but unlike Padgett he can rebound, and has good quickness for his size. Defense still needs improvement. 4. Terrell Everett - Reminds me a little of Cuttino Mobley. Already is an excellent entry passer to the post with a good first step when he decides to penetrate. Can play the 1 or 2. Just an average jumper. 5. Mike Gansey - High basketball I Q. Can shoot it and with his long arms, plays better defense than you think. Not a great athlete. 6. Solomon Jones - The best combination of shot blocking and rebounding left in the second round. I haven't seen him play, not sure if he has the lateral quickness to play nba power foward. Had a good showing at portsmouth invitational.
Taquan Dean-Louisville We need a PG with good size and strength that can score if called upon that can spell Rafer. He's got 4 years under a great college coach and understands the game well enough to play extended minutes if Rafer goes down again. Good defender and 3 pt shooter.
yup. senior year numbers: 46.7% 3PT and 97.4% FT. In his 4 years, he's never shot below 90% from the FT line and his lowest 3PT % was 43 in his soph year (frosh: 51.5%; jr: 46.1%).
Brad Newley http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=341 http://nbadraft.net/profiles/bradnewley.asp http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,18538237%5E39875,00.html Recent interest among scouts from Denver, Atlanta and Detroit.
The nice thing about this supposedly shallow draft is that it is still going to be real hard not to improve the Rockets' depth. They need a starting or backup 1, same at the 2, backup 3, starter or backup 4, and maybe a backup 5 who we should probably wait and pick up out of the undrafted players. Many of these guys look intriguing - I feel like a kid in a candy store - I hope our braintrust doesn't blow it. We need shooting, length, speed, passing, shooting, length, speed, defense, shooting, length, speed, rebounding and shooting and length and speed, in that order. It will keep me on the edge of my seat to see what CD and Gundy are able to do with trades and FA signings. Rafer, Head Bogans and Hayes all need to go to a John Lucas type camp and work their games intesely with a personal coach. Lampe - who knows? Swift: would it do any good? Bowen: Go to Temple as an assistant coach.... Kiss and make up with Mike James? The risk there is he keeps playing his own game to the detriment of the team. Also no long contract offers until he is eligible for medicare. The next question is can I get excited about the playoffs? The danger there is I watch potential FA signings play, see them shine in their current system, and then wonder how long before they wither and die under the JVG "system" next year?
Yes, that is true. FA signings scare me to death because it seems that everybody that we sign develops hands and feet of stone. Still, I think the Rox have learned a valuable lesson this year of how important shooting is to this team. I would look for next year's team to be loaded with shooters. JVG may not like it because he doesn't have a bunch of defenders out there but there is no doubt that they realize they have to have shooters. I tell you what, if they don't get shooters, it would not surprise me if JVG loses his job next season. Les has too much pride and too much money wrapped up in this team to just stumble bumble through another season like we did this one. And we have been exposed. Even with both Yao and TMac on the floor, there has to be other players that can put the ball in the bucket. Otherwise, when we get to the playoffs we are going to get torched down the road by some team with 3+ scorers. I was flipping through draft profiles yesterday trying to figure out what the braintrust is thinking and dreaming a little bit. What if we did get lucky and land a top 3 slot? We wouldn't have to have the top spot necessarily to have a shot at a player like Rudy Gay. We could probably pick him up with the 3rd pick. He's obviously got great talent. Can he play SG? Is he a hard worker? Is he smart, smart enough to pick up the JVG "system"? Does he work hard enough to be put in the starting lineup from the beginning of the season? What about Carney? Or what about one of the PFs? Could we draft a PF in this draft that would start for us from day 1, that is tenacious on the glass, plays defense, blocks some shots, and can hit an occasional jumper? What could we get in trade for a top 3 pick? Could we get an established star at the swing position with a top 3 pick, a player that will be the starting SG from day 1 and give us close to 20 ppg and can ramp it up when either Yao or TMac goes out? What can we turn Stro in to in trade? (I think he is history with Van Gundy, unfortunately.) I agree, we have to have improved play at the three other positions on the floor. That's just all there is to it. Can we sign Bogans and depend on him to shoot 2000 jumpers a day and come back next year a sharpshooter? (doubt it) Could we keep Stro (don't see how) and expect that he will come back next year with his head screwed down on top of his neck and the oxygen getting to his brain so he actually knows what he is supposed to be doing out there? Would he come back with about 10 more pounds of muscle and battle in the paint for rebounds? Is Head going to keep working and improving? (I really think he will.) Is he going to become good enough to be our starting SG. (Just don't see it.) Could he become good enough to be our starting PG or play major minutes at the PG and SG spots? (don't know, but that is where he needs to play.) I'd hate to trade the kid and watch him blow up somewhere else like Mike James did. And he can shoot it, a commodity that is like found gold on this team. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. But this offseason is the key to JVG's future with this team. He's had his way with the personnel that has been brought in. He has cycled through a lot of players in search of the players that he wants. It will either happen this offseason or he will face major heat next year.
I say we take Adrian Moss from Florida Height/Weight: 6-9/247 Birthdate: Birthplace: Houston, TX Team: Florida Gators Class: Senior this kid has really good body shape, he is hustle most importantly, he is from H-town
I still think the Rockets should do a trade for the pick, we could gear something up with Vince McMahon, I'd like the big show. As he nears retirement he would be the perfect person to tutor Yao, being a seven foot tall man himself. Plus, who's better at pushing people around than the big show? Down the stretch he could play some minutes for us, maybe pull a chokeslam here or there, it would be legendary.
I agree with everything you are saying. Also a big question especially cause JVG is the coach, what direction are rockets going to go age wise. Is Howard, Sura, Wesley and Mutombo going to be around. Is this team going to try and build short term chemistry ie. "go deep into the playoffs" or long term chemistry "multiple championships". JVG knows this next season is on him, so will they keep their draft picks when some veteran players are offered for them or will Stro be traded because he doesn't fit specifically with a coach like JVG. Yao has been exposed to a huge turnover or cycle as you have said, of teammates so far in his NBA career. When will that slow down.
MIKE GANSEY is a great shooter, good defender and a smart player....Rockets need that kind of player badly.
