With the 10th pick in the NBA Draft the Houston Rockets Select...

We could draft him, but there's no chance Ime lets him play. He's got the size of a forward but very little athleticism so he can't guard really anyone. Forwards have the same size and more athleticism and he's too slow to defend against guards.

He's essentially someone you'd have to scheme to make sure he's ALWAYS off ball on defense.

 

The issue with Coward, who I like a lot, is....where does he play?

If we're not bringing back one of Tari or Jabari, then that makes things more clear for him, but right now we have WAY too many forwards.

We have

Amen
Jabari
Tari
Brooks

Maybe he could get some burn at the SG spot, but at least in theory you have Green and Whitmore ahead of him there too.

Now, obviously the Rockets will make some moves this off-season and if we knew what they were going to do, it would change things, but right now Coward looks like another Tari when we still have our own Tari.

 

Coward is offensively a three point bombing 2/3 who also has solid connective feel / passing / decisionmaking but doesn’t project to handle the ball.

Has little in common, in terms of role, with Tari or Amen. Coward is more of a pure wing shooter who happens to have crazy physical tools too, but remains to be seen if they are functional against real competition.

He does all the great stuff Tari and Amen do.

Think Trey Murphy archetype, in the high end outcomes. Obviously no sure thing.

I work off the assumption Cam (or less likely, Dillon) won’t be here next year.

 

I could see that, but I was just talking about him as a 3 and D SF type, he does have a lot more passing and decision making ability than Tari could ever dream of so that's valid.

I guess we could potentially run him with some backup SG minutes if we're stuck with Green, but that doesn't leave him many minutes unless some moves other than Cam getting dumped are made.

 

I know nothing about this draft class - Any shooters or playmakers that could be available when we pick?

It's interesting to talk about who the Rockets draft, but it's a moot point as the 10th pick is the first asset out the door in a trade because no one buys Stone's belief in keeping continuity with the roster.

I do hope we strike out on the high-profile stars that are available, and end up keeping the pick. Plugging the holes in this roster like shooting and playmaking could go a lot farther than trading for someone like Giannis given the difference in cost.

Be patient and wait for the right star to before available that fits with Amen, and who knows by than it's possible Amen has Made the leap to stardom.

 

Sorber's issue is that he had foot surgery and may still be recovering. Based on that, I'm not sure you'll see any testing numbers from him. But his physical numbers at the combine are pretty incredible.

 

Yes, the new CBA requires players to do the combine testing if they are physically able to do so. I hope he recovers enough to get out on the court because without those shooting and agility numbers, he's probably costing himself 5–10 draft slots.

 

I just watched the following interview between him and KOC the other day and he compares his game to Kawhi or Jalen Williams (I'm not sure about the Jalen Williams comparison as much). Also interesting that the Mavs have been scouting him since his first year. He sounds like a bright kid and hopefully coachable. He's got the tools to be a really good player, but also needs to learn some fundamental things better that he probably hasn't thanks to transferring schools a few times and injuries. He tested pretty well at the combine.

 

Reposting idea from Random trade thread:

JG to Chicago for Lonzo Ball, Kevin Huerter and pick #12.

Then use 10 & 12 to pick Flemming (or Lendeborg) & Coward.

FVV/Ball/Reed
Huerter/Coward/Whitmore
Amen/Brooks/Eason
Smith/Eason/Flemming
Sengun/Adams/Flemming

There would be catch and shoot threats to surround Al-P and Amen and plenty of defense. Mix of youth and vets

 

Yeah, that's what I was saying. He missed most of the team's season and never tested at the combine because of the injury (supposedly). There are reports of him walking around the combine with no limp or anything but he said he probably wouldn't do anything that exerts that foot for another week because he didn't want to push it.

The last day of the combine is tomorrow and they've already done the measurements and strength & agility stuff. It looks like the only thing he's going to do may be the measurements, but who knows. I'm not even that concerned about the combine shooting numbers, tbh. Those numbers are kind of corny in an "empty" gym with nobody guarding. My one concern is a big guy with a broken foot. He's not a monster 7 footer, but still - foot injuries in big men kind of scare me.

 

The other injured lottery projection is Kon Knueppel. By CBA rules, Sorber and Knueppel are required to retake the athletic and shooting tests they missed at the combine, unless they're injured (which they may need to prove to the league). They can't sign a rookie contract without participation.

All the news sources indicate that Sorber is making a full recovery after surgery and might be ready to play by the summer league.

 

Ah, ok. I knew everyone was required to take the tests, but didn't know it also applied to people who are forced to miss it due to injury - that they'll still have to come back and do the testing at a later date. Kon's injury is just a sprained ankle, I think, so that one doesn't concern me all that much.

 

Tons of wing options to like. Best case scenario for me would be to trade down and get Clifford, Coward, or Fleming. Also starting to come around to Demin and Traore's upside.

 

4 years in college but not even that old (just turned 22 in April)

 

I cant see Demin actually being a guard anytime soon if ever.

I dont think theres any shot he can hold guards regularly. I think he definitely can be a forward though. If he develops into a guy who you can run your offense through thats a really high outlook imo. I think and still like that he can be a secondary or tertiary creator with excellent passing skills. Well worth pick 10. I like that theres a good handful of very interesting prospects where we are slotted.

 

I don’t think it’s obvious that we will make off-season moves other than extending our players.

 

I think it's obvious they need to, but i agree that it's not obvious they will do anything.

Stone just doesn't deserve that benefit of the doubt.

 

Absolutely agree. Most of what he is saying in the media is trying to set up the fan base for his non-action this off-season. FVV will be extended and Jalen will not be traded at his behest. I think next year after we regress to the 4-5 seed or worse and lose in the first round, the Godfather will force change. The only thing that can save them is an early FVV injury or Sengun actually developing a 3 pt shot.

 

Most of the scouting reports on Nolan Traore were done early in the year, but he has been absolutely killing it in the French league since mid-January. The shooting is a work in progress, but it’s improved throughout the year. He’s 18. If we keep the 10th pick, he’s the kind of high upside player you can take a swing on. Plus maybe we can stash him in Europe for another year.

here’s a recent highlight vid of his game against Le Mans
https://www.instagram.com/draftexpress/reel/DJaJeAzNCaW/


Here’s another recent one against La Rochelle

 

Egor's Pro-Day Workout...

His shot looks pretty good! I like this kid, alot.