I like the thought of getting Amare Stoudemire, he has great size, athleticism, and could be good, potentially great PF in this league, if he grows enough maybe even a center. However, I have the feeling that he may end up like Leon Smith with a lot of the trouble with the ACCU coaches, and going from Adidas to Nike basketball camps, etc. Amare looks a like a gamble, who knows he might pay off, he might not. Truthfully, I would rather see the Rockets trade the high pick they can possibly get for a veteran (I'm thinking Odom, Miller, etc.) in that type of class that is near the same age as Francis and Cat. I don' t think the Rockets need another young rookie, but thats just my personal opinion.
Amare is a huge gamble. If I'm the Rockets, I move the pick for a proven young veteran with more potential, or aim for a center in the mold of Ming or Marcus. Failing that, take the best available - perhaps a Dunleavy or Gooden, someone who could have an impact on the team immediately in an area where some depth is needed.
EG - While your enthusiasm is appreciated, have you actually ever seen this guy play? Choosing HSer's in the draft is a completely scout-based evaluation. How can you possibly be so high on him? Does he even have a killer instinct? How do you know? Just curious.
Doesn't anyone think that we will already have a logjam at PF without drafting another? We will have Taylor, Thomas, and Griffin. We have a whole lot invested in both Taylor and Griffin, and Thomas has proven this year that he is a capable big man with great offense. Like the majority of the people who voted on the front page poll, I say we trade for a veteran. Prefferable at C or SF.
But all 3 of them can play SF or C too... Or so some blind Rocket fans think... I tried to tell them that having 4 PF's on the roster is quite extreme. Yet, Mo T can be a SF or C, KT can be a SF or C, and Eddie can be a SF or C. I guess they can all back up Moochie at C.
Well fellas, what do the Rockets really need in the draft is it a 3, 4, or 5??? I say three myself but...
I would answer a definite 'YES' if: 1. The Rocks were truly finished rebuilding, i.e. a true playoff contender and not some also-ran that luckily qualified for the 8th spot, or 2. There were a legitimate impact SF or C available in this year's draft, free agency class, or by way of trade. As far as I'm concerned, while the Rocks' PF threesome have definite talents and strengths, they also have significant weaknesses that makes one wonder if any of them are really the ultimate answer at PF. And the only one who has the potential to be a PF on a championship-caliber team (remember, that means a steady diet of Webber, Garnett, Nowitzski, Duncan?, Wallace?, etc.) is Griffin, who as of now is the least developed of the 3. So what appears to be a logjam isn't really a logjam at all, IMO. And if the best available player just so happens to be a PF (or PG, for that matter), the Rocks definitely shouldn't hesitate in acquiring said player. Their rebuilding may be way ahead of schedule but they haven't finished yet. Now is not the time to get specific.
Offtopic: Mo and KT both have what it takes to be on a chamionship caliber team. KT would be money as the starting PF of the Lakers. No team to my knowledge has ever had 5 allstars. Most of what you said I agree with. If the best player available is a PF, draft him and trade him, KT, or Mo.
Well, we'll just have to disagree on Mo and KT as championship-caliber starting (should have clarified that, sorry) PFs, especially on a team without a dominant C. Yes, they are both good players, but there are significant holes in their games (Mo-rebounding, defense; KT-height, outside shooting) that make me wonder if their are the ultimate answer at PF.
