I think the new CBA will allow players in their first 3 years to be sent down to the minors for seasoning. This will allow Malick to play in Austin on the new NBDL team...of which I am a season ticket holder and will give Bad man reports. DD
The better question is why does this second round scrub sent over seas impress you Badiane lovers? You can go down to Fonde and find athletic guys that score on the Pros. That doesn't mean the athletic guys can play in the NBA. Says who? Lots of guys work hard and have NBA bodies, that doesn't mean they make it to the NBA. In 5 years, he'll rival the NBA contributions of former Rocket draftees Albert Burditt or John Turner.
The fact he didn't make the friggin team and isn't worth a damn on the team he's on now. When he does something worthy of all the praise you guys are giving him, then I'd consider him a contender for a roster spot.
what i'm saying is that where he is right now is probably the equal to a sophmore in college with less experience. I don't know if he will be able to contribute this upcoming season, but I fully expect that the season after that he will be on our bench. He was injured for most of this year and is right now contributing to his team. He trains hard and has the desire and maturity to succeed unlike many US players (see Brown...). He has the desire and the work ethic but does not have the experience. I would like to know which other players with his body type, youth and work ethic you are talking about. He has made great strides in the two (2!!) years he has been working to get an NBA caliber game. Give him another year and he'll be on our bench.
Badaine won't be ready this season, he will stay one more season in Germany to improve his game. Whether he'll be good enough to play the following season no one knows. But from what I've read (which isn't a whole lot I'll admit), it doesn't seem he is anywhere near ready to play NBA basketball.
Think back to 1999....if there is a lockout, there will only be unofficial training leagues like what took place at Westside Tennis Club and Autry Court. If I were a free agent or potential draftee, I wouldn't do jack **** in a summer league because if I got hurt nobody would have to pay me.
So exactly what do you recommend that the team does for the next "5" years while this guy "learns" how to play the game? Oh and don't forget that the competition won't exactly be standing still while the Rockets are waiting for their latest longshot (more like a shot in the dark) to come through. I realize that the PF position is a major hole that porbably won't be fixed this off season and that has most folks here nervous. But that's what happens when your organization wastes/trades/blows it's 1st round picks and ends up with nothing much to show. These things do catch up with you eventually. I'm sure this is a nice kid and all but I maintain as I always have that IF he was anything close to an NBA player, he'd be over here now.
well.. we only wasted pic number 44 which means the 15th pic in the second round of the 2003 draft. I'm not sure who else you think we should have picked, but it looks like a pretty good deal to me. As to what I would do in the meantime, I would get a ****ing 4... Just like everyone else would like to have on our team. just because we have a guy that may or not be ready to play in the next few years doesn't mean we stand still.
Talking about full of crap. Why on earth would we take him away from a league where he does play so that he can ride our bench while we have to pay him? That's crazy. he's a kid still. Plenty of NBA players aren't major contributors at his age (or even minor ones)...but turn out great. Why the hell are you people so dismissive of Badiane? I have no idea if he'll work out. But he might - and you don't know anything despite your pretensions.
Would people make claims, both positive and negative, please give a basis upon which they are making these assertions. People are talking about him like they watch him play every day. This is possible with internet and the fact we have members all over the world, but I haven't seen him play in 2 years and I have no idea what skills he really possess' these days. I am very anxious for Malik to pan out so I would like to know the qualifications of the people talking. If you're watching him play, or following euro-ball closely and understand how it works, or just reading stat that is okay, just mention your qualification so I can understand it. Thank you.
Again, if they (Rocket's brain trust) thought he could contribute he would be here. Nothing personal against the dude.
When you start chasing longshots and both Badianne and Spanoulis are longshots to make it in the NBA, you put yourself in the position of eternally playing catchup to your competition. While you are waiting around for them to pan out, your opponents are constantly moving forward. Four years ago, the Rockets chased a longshot for the PF spot and we all know that ended with them having nothing to show for their efforts. Now, they are still looking to address the results of that mistake but Badianne is not the answer. The Rockets need someone ready to play PF now and not 5 years from now. They need someone capable of matching up against Dirk, Tim, Amare, Rachard, KG, Ben, Dwight, Emika, et. al and it's virtually unlikely that this kid can be that someone. Consider the fact that he's playing a style of euro basketball that will not prepare him for what he's going to face in the NBA - he'll have the body of an NBA PF but he won't have the skills of a PF (the ability to play down low) because he's not being used that way in the euro leagues. Then there's the speed factor. The guys he's facing over there are no where near as fast nor as strong as the ones he'll see over here. IF he ever shows up here, he'll be in for a rough adjustment at the very least. He's a nice kid but he should not be counted on to make any type of concrete contribution in the near future. But he does have a cool nickname - the BAD Man.
I haven't seen him play in two years and that was only two games. I can tell you this you won't find anybody at fonde 6'11 with that wingspan and that athletic. From watching this guy he is the second most athletic player on the team next to T-Mac and has the potential to be the best rebounder and shot blocker on the team. I cannot wait until this summer for those who didn't get a chance to see him play two years ago, to jump on the bandwagon and wonder when will the Badine jerseys go on sell. This guy has more offense than he is giving credit for he can hit the open 15 footer, has a turnaround jumper and a baby hook and he likes to dunk when around the basket, the only person on our team that hustles like him is Bowen but this guy has athletic ability from hell. I hope Deke teaches him somethings as far as rebounding and shotblocker, with both of them being nigerian hopefully Deke takes him under his wing. This guy mark my words will be the steal of that draft. It isn't a powerforward in college that I would take over this guy except Marvin Williams but he can play multiple positions.
Thats what I dont understand, if he is athletic, quick, and has a good wingspan, why is he not here. Man look at our pf position, its truly pathetic. I really think he would benefit more if he was here. Makes you wonder if the Rockets really have him in their plans.
I have never understood why so many people get so hyped up over second round picks. It is always the exception when a second round pick becomes something really good. If they are so damn good, why are they in Europe? If they had so much potential why did they fall so far in the draft? I dont get why some of you feel that Badiane and Spanoulis would even be a starter in the league. We will be lucky if they turn out to be decent roll/bench players. I feel that we have more of a chance of them being a complete bust. We are going to get better via our 1st Round Draft pick (maybe, its pretty low) and definitely through free agency/trades, not two Euro league guys. Also, how many of you have actually seen either of these guys play extensively? What basis do you have to come to these grand conclusions? See also: Bostjan Nachbar
this is just cracking me up man... for all the folks asking "if he's so damn good, why the hell is he overseas?" because he's not so damn good. yet. He's a kid. He's seriously been working on his game for two years for all practical purposes. I doubt he'll be on our bench this year but really hope he'll be there next year. There will be a day when you realize how much of a steal this guy was in the second round. He was fully expected to be drafted in the first round and when he fell to us in the second there was a reason the Rockets organization was stoked. time will tell... One other thing, there isn't anyone we will draft who is going to be our starting power foward this year. Nobody. We are going to have to trade or sign for that position or go with Howard as our starter. That's just the facts man. At the 24th pic everyone with size that can play in the NBA right now will be gone. We possibly can find a guard that can step in and contribute with that pic which is what I imagine we will do.
I should clarify that we could draft a 4 that could contribute right now, it just would be more of the same as what we already have... which ain't much. I expect we will draft a 2 or a 3... but what do I know...
