[Allen_Iverson_3Participant]

With the picks #14, #23 and #38, who do you think the Rockets will draft?

This site have them going with Biyombo, D.Morris and Mirotic, while the other one has them drafting Jordan Hamilton, Honeycutt and Jeremy Tyler.

Of the current roster, here are the players leaving as Free-Agents (in bold, the RFA):

–Goran Dragic (Team option, what will they do?)

-Chuck Hayes (Even if he’s resigned, the Rockets should be looking for another starter as he’s too small to be a starter on a team aspiring for the playoffs)

-Yao Ming (I doubt that he’ll be resigned, and if so, he’ll not make a big impact, his career is for me over).

This is how the Rockets’ roster will look like before Free-Agency (in bold, the potential starters):

-PG: Kyle Lowry

-PG/SG: Dragic (should be resigned imo)

-SG: Kevin Martin/ Courtney Lee

-SG/SF: Terrence Williams

-SF: Chase Budinger (very light for a starter, though I think he might average 15 ppg next year following his post all-star streak)

-PF: Luis Scola/ Patrick Patterson (should have a promising season, and might end up playing some SF time)

-PF/C: Jordan Hill

-C: Brad Miller (I don’t see him start)/ Hasheem Thabeet (is his option activated?)

Right now it seems that the Rockets have a real hole at C and should look to add depth to their SF and, to a lesser extent, PG spots. Therefore, I see them going C with one of their two picks in the first round and then upgrade their PG or SF spot with the other pick in the first and with their second round pick.

Whether you like it or not, the ideal pick for the Rockets at 14 is Bismack Biyombo, but I see it quite unlikely that he falls that far considering that GSW and Charlotte need this type of player. With likely no valuable potential center still in the lottery while Biyombo is gone (they can always go PF with Markieff Morris though it wouldn’t be very smart), Houston might end up needing to draft a PG or a SF. If they go PG then they should go for Jimmer (if available) but else I don’t see them taking Darius Morris at 14 it would be too high. Therefore, Houston might be inclined to draft a SF. If they want to improve defensively then they should take Chris Singleton, but if they want to add an offensive force, they’d better take Jordan Hamilton imo. They can also take Tobias Harris.

With their second pick they might fill their need at C by drafting Vucevic if they assume that he’ll not be available in the second round and that there will be no very interesting C like Tyler left. Otherwise, they should go with a PG like Darius Morris if he’s available or else maybe someone like Selby or Reggie Jackson. However, since I feel like there is a bigger density of guards than bigs in the second round, the Rockets should rather draft Vucevic over a guard.

With their third pick, they might be looking to upgrade their PG position. Here, they will be served with opportunities. Names that come to my mind are Reggie Jackson, Shelvin Mack, Charles Jenkins, Nolan Smith, Norris Cole, Malcolm Lee, Shumpert, Garrett, Goudelock, etc… depending on their availability and the profile the Rockets are searching. If they want a good playmaker, why not take McCamey. If they didn’t draft a C before or feel like they still need to strengthen their PF and C spots, then they can go with Keith Benson or Willie Reed for example.

Plenty of possible combos here.  What do you guys think?

[fj84utu389tu5Participant]

If you were the Rockets GM, would you possibly be interested in an offer of picks #14 and #23 for the Pistons #8 pick? Just wondering.

[Allen_Iverson_3Participant]

I did see your post and it’s quite interesting… I don’t know what to say… I would consider that option to take Biyombo but then the Rockets also have the possibility to end up drafting Vucevic later, a player who might end up being much better than Biyombo.

I think that with that draft plan established, I wouldn’t accept that offer just like that unless you add Tayshaun Prince once you’ve resigned him for example. That way I wouldn’t need to draft a SF so then that’s maybe ok. By the way I forgot mentioning that the Rockets will be under the cap as FA starts as they’ll have under $ 50 million of salaries.This way they can make moves in free-agency.

I would consider it but maybe not accept it.

And you MadScientist have you got any comments on the thread? Your opinion would interest me

[fj84utu389tu5Participant]

Well, speaking as an NBA fan(and not just a Piston fan, which I am mainly) heres my take: I think your team is very solid from 1-4. I also think Budinger is an excellent small forward and, in all honesty, I’m not sure why you would want to replace him as a starter. Another thing, I live in Arizona, and when I heard about the Suns making that trade for Aaron Brooks, while giving up ONLY Goran Dragic and a future 1st round pick, I was shocked!! I couldnt understand why the MIP last year was basically given away(or so it looked like at first) to the Suns. But theeeeenn…..I looked at Kyle Lowry’s production, and how Brooks has majorly dissappointed this year. So with Lowry and Kevin Martin in the backcourt, I think your solid there too. But I think we both can see that that center spot needs help.

Thats another reason why I suggested that trade idea. If it were to happen, you could take a guy at #8 like Jonas Valanciunas or Bismack Biyombo(with all due respect, despite what this site says I honestly dont see him falling to #14, just my opinion). As far as a small forward goes, I could throw in Austin Daye into that deal(I guess I was looking for a deal to make BEFORE free agency began lol). Anyways, bottom line is this:

I think you have a good team, but the big question is Yao. I think they(you) have to make a decision on him during this summer and if he goes, find a replacement and let the team take off from there. Make sense?

 

[Allen_Iverson_3Participant]

What you say mostly makes sense.  I think right now the SF position with only Budinger as a pure SF is too light so that’s why I have them getting another SF. When I said "upgrade their PG or SF spot", I meant adding depth cos that’s what’s missing in that team apart from the big C problem.

I think Yao has a 50% chance of being resigned by the Rockets (he said he wouldn’t go anywhere else) but then I think he’ll not be a viable and durable option for Houston. 

[doubledribblerParticipant]

I think the Rockets are an interesting team. They have some nice talent and personally I think they would have made the playoffs if they hadn’t tried the Yao experiment which was really an odd way to play and I’m sure was hard to coach. I don’t think this draft is going to be much for them unless they can land a future star. They have all the main pieces and good role players, but they are missing that one guy. If they draft this year they should package their picks to move up. They have plenty of depth except for center, but no one at that position jumps off the board that is going to be left around that 8 spot if they can move up to there.

[Real Talk Real TrophiesParticipant]

I like Jonas Valanciunas for the Rockets. I think he fits their team very well and can become the defensive anchor they need around the rim… I have only seen highlights and short video clips, but from what I have seen I think he would mesh with this team very well and compliment scola as he is super aggressive… Also mentioned above is the cap space they have available. I think they should (if they can) make that deal with Det. Take Jonas, with their second round pick snag one of the many pg that will be around then, (but still resign Dragic), and with the money they have try to sign prince or Wilson Chandler to help fill out their wing position. Make sure they do not over pay however and get burnt by a big contract (sure morey wont since he never does). Opinions?

[PlatypusParticipant]

They should look to deal either Lee, Budinger, or Williams for a pick in next years draft

14. Center

23. Tyler Honeycutt

38. european player

Lowry – K-Mart – Honeycutt – Scola – Miller

Dragic – Lee / Williams – Budinger / Williams – Patterson – 14th pick / Thabeet

[Allen_Iverson_3Participant]

As I said, the Rockets need to draft a Center, but at 14 it appears unlikely as Biyombo will unlikely be left. Who do you think they should get apart from Biyombo at 14?

I think they can take the next good center (Vucevic, Tyler) later at 23. They should therefore take a SF at 14.

[ghettosermonParticipant]

 I have Singleton or Tobias Harris pegged to them at #14 as that role player SF to support K-mart at SG. Only way I say they don’t go wing at 14 is if somehow Jonas or Biyombo is there which is highly unlikely. #23 is a tough spot. Tyler isn’t a great complement to Scola and Vujevic’s upside is limited. PF is not a need where they have Scola and youth invested with Jordan Hill and Patrick Patterson, SG isn’t really a need either with Kevin Martin, Courtney Lee, and Louis Scola. That leaves again Center and PG. PG is an interesting spot. Both Lowry and Dragic are good scorers who can penetrate but I think a more pure point like Darius Morris if available would make a ton of sense. Maybe even a spark plug scorer like Marshon Brooks or Charles Jenkins. In the end I think at #23 they should go BPA and not be hand cuffed to take a center purely on need. I say at #23 draft whoever falls of Morris, Faried, Brooks, and at 38 you can take someone like Greg Smith or Rick Jackson.

[Allen_Iverson_3Participant]

I get your point but the thing is that drafting a C is more of a necessity whereas drafting a PG is just to add depth to the team + there are so much more PGs in the second round than there are Centers. I think the Rockets must find their center in the first round: it’s the spot they need to improve right now!

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Jimmer would be a good scorer off the bench.  If they go big I am not sure Biyombo would be there.  Is the 14th pick too high to take Jeremy Tyler?  I might pick him if I were them.  They have a good team already, and could make a run at the playoffs again this year.  Outside of the top 10 Jeremy Tyler might have the most talent.  Then at 23 get another shooter like Shelvin Mack or a solid small forward like Kyle Singler.  There should also be some other good guys that drop at that pick. 

Right now, the Rockets are in the 35-35 wins a season HELL.  Not bad enough to get a good draft pick but not good enough to be a true contender.  They need to get a guy who makes them a contender, because even without their draft picks they should be good enough to win at least 40 games a year next year.  They already have two decent small forwards in Terrence Williams and Chase Budinger.  If Jimmer and Biyombo are off the board then I think they should take Jeremy Tyler as the best big man prospect available.  With their other picks they can draft solid role players that fill needs.  Jeremy Tyler at 14 would fill their need for a center.  Shelvin Mack or Kyle Singler would be a good off the bench scorer at 23.  At 38 they could go after DeAndre Liggins or David Lighty (if they are there) to give them some defense and 3 point shooting at the wing spots.

[ghettosermonParticipant]

The thing is the draft isn’t the only way you have to fill a need, there is free agency and trades. Expecting a rookie at pick #23 to be a starting center is not advisable. Good luck if you think Nikola Vujevic can be a starting center day 1, there are guys in free agency much more capable. The NBA more than any other sport once you pass the top 15 picks should be about BPA and finding a role player rather than handcuffing yourself based on position. Take the Knicks for example finding a starting big man beside Stat is a much more pressing need than PG with Billups and TD in place. But why do you think all the noise we are hearing is PG? It’s because for the greater good of the team’s future the value is at PG instead of reaching on a big man who isn’t a starting caliber player.

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