Nah …… and with the number 2 pick in the 2021 nba draft, the Houston Rockets select ….. Jaaaaalen Greeeeeewn
You prefer the 8th seed purgatory of the Kmart years instead? IMO that is the absolute worst place to be If you lack a superstar core, top 3-5 picks are surest bet to find them for teams wo cache to play the Superteam sweepstakes in FA You genuinely preferred the Drayton model of being consistently average over the Crane model of suck-to-dominate? Not me I'd split every decade of my teams' in half if I could: 5 years irrelevant for 5 years elite contention 10 years of not quite good enough is pure fan frustration for me The other way I can tune out for 5 years angst-free, then really enjoy the 5 years of legit contention
thank you for the interesting write up but a lot of jumping to conclusion here 5 years of being irrelevant doesn't guarantee youll be elite next 5 years... on contrary OTH as 8th 9th seed you can absolutely draft your MVP at pick no 15 giannis or 41 jokic etc booker pick no 13... dpoy rudy went 25 or something.. dpoy draymond was pick no 30 something look at these finals alone... a lot of non lotery picks playing huge roles, be smarter do better!
You are right but so is the other poster. There are other variables as well that will have an effect on the way you go though. 1. The Rockets have their picks for the next two years. Then proceed to have swaps etc going to the Thunder. 2. Those 2 years coincide with Wall's contract, you then get to use that space. With the young team, the Rockets have there will be a ton of FA space to try to fill a hole in the lineup. Those variables in my opinion create a timeline where if you don't want to likely have to give assets to trade Wall you then get a few top picks while giving all of your young guys playing time. Then ample FA space and Nets picks giving you more chances to create a superteam down the line if you have your top picks work out from these 3 years/FA space. There are so many bullets in the gun that you should eventually hit the target and fill out the team accordingly.
Jalen Green: "I'm the best prospect in the draft, in my opinion... because I didn't go to college and I played against grown men who was already killing it in the NBA right now. I just think as a 19-year old doing that, I'm the best player in the draft for sure."
No doubt High draft picks are only valuable in the hands of competent personnel people ... and even those good at it mess up all the time But that's kind of my point Extended suck gives you the most premium picks This mitigates the flops Luhnow doesn't get crushed for Appel, Aiken, Whitley, Daz, etc That's only bc he hit big with Correa, LMJ, Bregman, Tucker Without the extended tanking over 4+ seasons, the Astros never get their championship core together on the same budget-friendly roster in 2017 If he doesn't gut the MLB roster completely, we don't have the spare parts like Musgrove to go get JV, Cole, Greinke Luck and talent seem to usually find each other Even Luhnow must admit he didn't know Josh Fields would net him Yordan Pujols
Does having other teams picks in the future change that in your opinion? Nets possibly falling apart in a year or two (Harden rumored to only want to try out Nets for 2 yrs.....1 year down) Player option for 22/23 season....I thinkth he wants to go back to California Detroit #1 in 2022 Nets and/or Miami #1 in 2022 Washington #1 in 2023 Milwaukee #1 in 2023 Nets #1 in 2024 GSW #2 in 2024 And so on..... I know the rule is approximately 8th is Team Purgatory because our picks rarely improve our status; but will other team picks help? Just a question, interested in your opinion
Let me put this disclaimer......I entered Rockets future picks and clicked on first site listed. I can not confirm nor deny that the site has picks updated. But the premise remans the same......many picks or facsimile there of Edited: Pistons 1st Rd Pick 2022 (1-16 protected) 2023 (1-18 protected)
Howdy, I haven't posted in years but was just reading the Dean draft stuff and it cheered me up and thought it might do so for you as well. Check out his historic picks; he's got a pretty impressive record of calling booms and busts. He says that the Rockets are in a position to get the best player overall. (I was about to say "we are in a position" but haven't been able to muster that sort of phrasing since Omelette bought the team.) https://deanondraft.com/2021/06/22/2021-draft-lottery-guide/
CF needs to have this podcast transcribed because Vecenie nails the analysis. Mobley may not talk much, but he THINKS the game. That's how smart this kid is. And his ambidexterity, skill, size, length + vertical pop are crazy. No one wants to see Mobley in Houston, supposedly Rockets organization would not have resources in place to maximize his potential. Makes you wonder why everyone is so desperate for Houston Rockets to pass on the player with the GREATEST upside in this draft?
IMO ... The picks beyond 2023, or that windup outside the top 5, will probably not manifest their value as a drafted player that becomes a rotation piece for the next Rockets playoff team If everything goes right ... It is possible Stone found four key rotation pieces amidst the misery of 2021, and set this team up to become a juggernaut by 23-24 2 POTENTIAL STARS OUT OF NOWHERE KPJ has the talent, skill and mindset to become a star as Harden-lite CWood just arrived as a 20-10 center Time will tell if they have the professionalism and focus to become stars on a contender If not, they may be no more than KAT & Russell, piling up empty stats on perennial pretenders 2 MORE POSSIBLE PLAYOFF CONSTRIBUTORS Even if he doesn't get any better, Tate will get minutes in the NBA for a long time with good health Reminds me of when Bev first arrived Not talented enough to be a good starter, but grimey enough to be a bench contributor for a championship KJ is the one I'm not sold on The highlight jams & swats are fun, but not enough to carve out a long NBA career He must make major strides next year as a shooter and on-ball perimeter defender to stay in the mix long-term At this point, I'm going to use the current Suns as a blueprint for building a Rockets contender in 2024 DRAFT THE SUPERSTAR CORE UP TOP Booker Ayton The picks made this year, next year, and in 2023 should provide the core foundation of this team Optimistically, I'm hoping Stone's warchest of picks yields 2 more top-5 cornerstones to join this year's #2 after the 2023 draft This Suns team's foundation was drafting Booker and Ayton AGRESSIVELY TARGET KEY PIECES IN DRAFT Bridges Cam Saric All the various non-top-5 picks in 21, 22, 23 should be used to maneuver up the draft board to target specific players identified as possible core/rotation pieces If it costs #23 + DET pick to move up and snag Jalen Johnson ( or whomever they Target ), they shouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger Phoenix wanted Bridges and worked out a draft day trade to get him from PHI THE FINAL PIECE Paul At that point, we finally can emerge from the Wall + EGo dead weight to make a serious addition via FA or trade with a veteran hungry for a ring and primed to lead the youngsters Hopefully, we would be positioned as a premier destination for whatever superstar that off-season is fed up with 2nd Rd exits and is looking for help on a new supersquad This is where those 2024+ picks from DET, GS, etc will come into play as currency to get such a player CONVERT REMAINING DRAFT CAPITAL TO VETS Payne Craig Crowder Once the team becomes a legit contender, the roster emphasis will shift from unproven potential of youth to the reliable production of experience Morey infamously auctioned off 1RPs every season for years trying to find vets that fit with Harden before the deadline Much like PJ and Oladipo last year, the 2023 Rockets should be converting late picks into proven veterans to help win playoff series
5 long guys who can all create offense, inside and out - for themselves and teammates, is the next evolution of the game. If those same 5 guys can also switch everything - watch out!
Mobley's ability to cut is one of reasons media liken his skills to a wing. He is so smart, sees the entire floor and moves so effortlessly that haters conjure fantasies about lacking passion. Even 7 footers dont just roll out of bed and understand game like Mobley does. He is high IQ but his abilities were honed by study AND hard work, not just God given talent and height.
