Assuming that the Rockets dealt No. 1 and Rice to the Clips for No. 8 and Odom, who would the Rockets take? The glaring need is at center. Perhaps they take Wilcox? Francis would be ecstatic.
At #8, I think Curtis Borchardt would be the odds on favorite with Hilario worthy of a looooonnngg look. Now, if a real surprise shows up at #8, take him regardless of position (Eddie dropped to 7 last year - it is possible Wilcox, Gooden or Butler may drop as well). If "forced" to take the best athlete at #8, I like Melvin Ely at #15. If I want to dreamcast....Tskitishvili at 8 and Hilario at 15 (or vice versa). What do you think R-dog?
Odom and #8 would be TIGHT!! It isn't impossible that either Wagner, Wilcox, Hilaro, Woods, or Tskitishivili will be available w/ the #8. Regardless of the center position, we have to draft the potentially best player left on the board!!! Chris Marcus might withdraw from the draft, I heard!!! Any comments???
Screw it. Let's trade No 8 and 15 (and Taylor if necessary (I know that's overboard)) to move up to get Butler or Dunleavy. I don't care what pick. Butler's the one guy I covet (other than J.Will). He seems to have little down side and looks ready to contribute. He has the athleticism to be a star. Butler could play 2 or 3, and Odom could play 3 or 4. Odom could slide to the 4 from time to time. Francis can play the point, and when he's on the bench, let Odom run the offense as point forward, with Mobley and Butler. (Hey, this sounds better and better as I type). I'd like to see someone match up to Odom, Mobley, Butler, Griffin and Kato/Thomas. (tangential rant - Someone please please trade Moochie for star pizza. Shoot, papajohn's will do. I don't care if I never hear Calvin Murphy say "Moochie's put him in the popcorn machine" again. Dallas seemed to want to sign him. Let's dump Moochie and our 2nd round pick for Najera, or Moochie for Dallas' 2nd round pick in the year 3092. Who cares. Shoot, let's trade Moochie for Matt Maloney. or Derek Chievous. or Buck Johnson. or Allen Leavell. does anyone else know that Leavell was banned from the CBA for choking a referee into unconsciousness?) If we stay at No. 8, I hope we stay the hell away from Gooden, Jefferies and that big goofy white guy from Stanford. Big soft jump shooters. I don't want the next Donyell Marshall, Raef LaFrenz or Christian Laettner. If we go big at 8, I'll take Wilcox or Hilario (bruisers) If we have Odom, I want either Hilario or Stoudamire with one of our picks, but not both. No real need for Bostjan whateverhisnameis. If Rudy thought he could run the offense through Pippen, imagine how he must be reeling at the possibilities with Odom. War Pothead.
Its gotta be Hilario I have seem him play and go head to head with Jermaine O'Neal and Kenyon Martin - and do very well I think he could be your answer at center - fits very well with the athletic feel your starting 5 would muster with lil Stevie , Cat, Cheech Odom and Eddie Griffin
I like it. I really like it. Getting Odom allows us to play for today and tomorrow, stay young, keep Griffin, and use our draft pick to get more beef. Does weed make you skinny like cigarettes? I'm hoping that Odom will play a little tougher, like Garnett. I'll go out on a limb right now and say that Odom may have more physical talent than Garnett. If you're gonna play the finesse game, you gotta handle the rock. Odom is better than Garnett in that respect. Garnett has trouble creating his own shots, as evidenced in the playoffs. However, Garnett has his head screwed on right and has a franchise player's mentality, which all but guarantees that Odom will not surpass Garnett's productivity. Who does the clips want to draft: williams or Ming? Not that i care about the fate of that hopeless franchise but it seems to me that they will let Kandi go and need to replace him. If its Williams, I'll be listening for Stern to announce our selection of Williams to lay the groundwork for the trade.
First of all, I wouldn't do that trade. WAY too much for Odom. If we're talking Brand, that's different. But just following your scenario, WITH Odom already solving my immediate need at SF, I'd take the player left on the board highest on the following depth chart... Ming Williams Wagner Butler Dunleavy Hilario Wilcox Tskitishvili
I think Tsika will be long gone before 8...teams will want to cash in on Gasol II or Dirk II-he also apparently does have legit potential. Right now, I like Hilario at 8 a LOT if he's 6'10''+ . IMO, if we deal with LAC, I think we land Odom, 8, 12 (with possibly Maggette, Dooling, or Jaric coming our way as well, depending on how things get). I'd try to end up with Hilario at 8, and Borchardt at 12. Borchardt, Hilario, Cato, (maybe Collier) at center; Griffin, Taylor (maybe KT) at PF; Odom, Morris, (maybe Rice) at SF-that's a revamped, and VERY talented front line. If you trade Moochie to LAC, and didn't get Jaric, draft Jiri Welsch or Frank Williams at 15, and then Casey Jacobsen at 38 (or Freddie Jones, Juan Dixon, or whatever other guard you want). I think Hilario will be there at 8, Borchardt should be at 12- Williams, Ming, Dunleavy, Butler, Tsika are top 5 IMO, then 2 out of Wilcox, Gooden, and Wagner go 6-7. Hilario at 8. Whoever is left from Wilcox/Gooden/Wagner, and Woods should go between 9 and 11. Then, if Haislip, Stoudemire, Jeffries or Nachbar goes top 11, Borchardt is there at 12. With the buzz around Stoudemire and Jeffries lately, it should work out, and you come away on draft day For grins, let's say you trade Moochie, Collier, #1, #15 and KT to LAC for Odom, #8, #12, and Jaric: Draft Hilario/Borchardt. By position: Center Borchardt/Cato/Hilario- Borchardt starts for now, with 2 solid backups. Nene is 19, and a couple years down takes over the starting slot. Very diverse group, all with excellent size. Griffin can log any extra minutes needed, but there shouldn't be many. Power Forward Griffin/Taylor- Starting slot up for grabs, obviously Griffin is the future starter, but is only 20, whereas Taylor is coming off an injury. Both can put up the numbers when starting. Griffin has the defensive talent, and more range, but Taylor has the better body (well, if doughy is better than twiggy) and more experience. T-Mo or Odom can also log token minutes here, possibly Hilario too. Small Forward Odom/Rice/Morris- Odom doubles the production here....literally. 22 year olds that have a career average of 16 ppg, 7.5 rpg, and 5 apg do not suck. Rice can become a stabilizer for the 2nd unit, and Morris can continue to hone his shot, and be used in defensive situations, eventually taking the backup role. Shooting Guard Mobley/#38 pick- Mobley is a horse, and played through injuries. Jacobsen would provide a nice heady player, but how many minutes are here if Mobley and Steve are both playing 40+. I'd expect Francis to get minutes here when Jaric plays PG Point Guard Francis/Jaric- It's the Steve Francis show. It wouldn't hurt to add one more cheap backup, like Mookie Blaylock in free agency for insurance. If Jaric is what he's cracked up to be, there could be some serious handles on this team. Anyhow, I think right now, I'd trade the pick. If you get Odom and 2 lotto picks, there are only a few ways you lose. Odom is Steve Francis +7 inches- a.) Ming becomes a super-stud that ranks in the Shaq/Hakeem/Wilt/Kareem/Russell class when his career is up, and he has a healthy career AND neither Borchardt nor Hilario amount to much or Odom's drug use plagues his career. b.) Odom screws up big time. c.)TRADE IS EVEN IF- Borchardt and Hilario both BUST and are out of league in 5 years, Odom is decent, and Ming is a slightly better Rik Smits.
Lenny Cooke might be a good second round pick to back up Cuttino. Torres is not the answer for the Rockets bench.
i think we should keep the #1 and not even trade for #8 =D. that's way too far down in the draft. too many good players would have already been taken. i say keep the #1 and trade down 1-2 spots where there would still be Ming or Butler to choose from. Take the best backup center or backup SF you can get at #15, and that should be good enough to get the rockets into the playoffs.
If this happens, you won't be a draft god. However, I'd be very surprised if the Rockets keep #8 and #12 even if we did trade #1, which I am hoping will not happen.
I think that if we tradr no#1 (+ Rice and Cato) to Clips then we could get Odom , no#8 , no#12 and some1(Magette or...) Then we could do another trade ...let's trade no#12 , no#15 and Mo Taylor...to the Memphis or Denver (to get Caron Butler)and let's keep the no#8 pick....some great guy will deffenetly fall (Hilario, Gooden, Wilcox or we could go to Curtis Borchardt)...then our lineup will be : PG Steve or Moochie SG Cat or Magette SF Butler or Odom or Griffin PF Odom or Griffin or the no#8 pick C Borchardt (if we take him) Do ya' feel the playoffs in da air http://www.clutchcity.net/mockdraft.cfm?xMockID=2062
It's going to be number #1 for Odom and the #8. Clippers will jump on it, they will then let Miles go wild and develope along side brand and Olowakandi. Plus with there number 12 they will get Hillario or the High schooler Stoudemire. They also will have Richardson at off gaurd with Jaric the next Stojakovic ( he has been rated as the top 3 Euro player last season)............Dooling will back up the number 1 pick thanks to Houston Jason Williams. Plus I have heard that the Clippers are thinking of offering number 12, Magette, and jeff Macinnis's rights, for Denvers number 5....................Butler, Dunleavy or Tsika............all perfect backups for Miles and Brand. So the clips will be totally loaded. Clippers are loving that deal............While Houston get Odom to play along side Mobley and Francis, I think better than Ming as a number 1. Plus Hilario or Stoudamire the man child at number 8.............we shall see.
hei R-dog the Knicks will go for Wilcox. (^(o o)^) ______________________________________ http://www.clutchcity.net/mockdraft.cfm?xMockID=2062
I think they'd love to take Dejuan Wagner, because he fits perfectly in NYC, but can't justify another SG, and playing Wagner at PG is murder. I see them taking Gooden-Layden would be crucified if he took a "white stiff" like Borchardt (even though he's a good player and fits what they need), and he needs a guy who can help now-I think Gooden will be a very good 4 in this league. I could also see them going for Wilcox, but I think Layden will look for the instant gratification of Gooden, rather than the potential of Wilcox (or Hilario).
Nike- Do you think that Ming is a done deal? I am all for getting better talent across the frontline rather than gambling on Ming being the next great big man. I would be all about the #1 and Rice for Odom, #s 8 & 12, and Dooling/Maggette.
