33 replies to this topic

[Losthief]

Morey said he was gonna draft for 3-4 years down the line (thats the rockets moto) so....if thats the case makes a whole lot of sense as ariza will be expiring (and older) at that time. Kind of a gut punch now...but makes sense in that light.

 

Now vs. 3/4 years

Dwight=Capela

DMO=DMO

Ariza=Dekker

Harden=Harden

PG?=NJ?

 

I mean...yeah theres a hole at that pg spot...but Dekker also filled a hole, just not at the spot we all were thinking.

Edited by Losthief, 26 June 2015 - 10:59 PM.

[Cooper]

looks like they picked up Christian Wood on a partially guarenteed deal, he put up big numbers (15 and 9 with 2 blocks) in a pretty solid Bball conference to go undrafted. Will be interesting to see if they can find a roster spot for him and let him bulk up in the Dleague. 

[clydesmoustache]

Not sure if you guys saw this but pretty funny that dekker would rather be compared to Trevor Ariza than Parsons or Hayward before the draft. Let the mentoring begin!

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7648774

[rockets best fan]

I am a bit sad now when the ever optimistic JG is a bit bummed. However, I think Morey made the correct move. I feel you get into trouble when you pick for "need" instead of picking the best player available. Dekker was easily the best player available. I do not think that Grant or Jones would have helped this year. Nick Johnson would help more than either one of those two. Real GM is reporting that Rodney Stuckey wants to sign with Houston. I would be ok with that move. Stuckey would be a good ball handler off of the bench/ spot starter. He averaged 12.6 PPG while only playing 26 minutes. He also shot 39% from 3. All good.

Back to Dekker, I doubt he plays much this year, but he does add another player that we can use when we play small ball. There are line-ups where you can put Ariza on the PG and have Dekker guard either the SF or SG. Dekker will bring scoring off of the bench. I will take Chandler Parsons lite type of production off of the bench. In any case, I think Morey did well yesterday.

it is a little weird seeing JG bummed. I gotta admit I'm a little bummed as well. it has nothing to do with Dekker.....I agree with JG.....we should have took Grant. I understand the thought process of taking best player available, but I felt Grant was the best player available at our pick and he fulfilled a need. you can't ask for more than that. Dekker may prove me wrong and believe me that would make me very happy, but I don't feel that way right now. I also agree with those who believe that our drafted rookies send a clear signal that the Rockets intend to fill our PG needs either through trade or FA.  

[thejohnnygold]

I'm not that upset, guys.  I trust Morey and I am confident we'll be singing his and Dekker's praises soon enough.  I have to assume Morey has a plan.  Maybe Nick Johnson is making strong progress.  Maybe he's already got a deal in the works and he's just waiting until July 1st for FA to start.

 

I do believe Josh Smith is re-signing.  Morey gave a post-draft interview and was very, very careful about not talking about Smith so that he didn't violate any CBA rules.  I presume that only matters if you want to retain a player.

 

My prediction: Llull is in.  Bev gets re-signed as a super back up.  Josh Smith stays on a cap friendly deal (likely 2 years).  Terry signs a vet min.  Brewer opts in.  KJ...I have no idea....I still can't imagine Morey giving away Canaan for nothing so I believe we'll re-sign him.  There seems to be lots of people (mostly ClutchFans folk) who believe we are bringing Scola back.  Barring a trade that robs us of all our PF's I'm not buying it.  Looks like Dekker and Harrell will start in RGV (again, barring a trade).

 

So, that gives us Howard, Motie, Smith, Capela, Jones, Dorsey, and Papanikolaou up front.

 

Ariza, Brewer, and McDaniels on the wing.

 

Harden, Llull, Bev, Nick Johnson, Jason Terry, and Prigioni at guard.

 

That's 16 players.

 

It is more likely we see one of Dorsey/Papanikolaou/Jones (in that order) plus Prigioni get traded for another guard or draft picks to free up space to sign free agents.

 

All in all, I think we can take on the Western Conference with that roster.  Stuckey would be a pretty solid back up to have.  I'm starting to feel better already...until I remember the Knicks have Jerian Grant.  

[rockets best fan]

@JG

you know in all of this talk about PGs we are overlooking N. Johnson. he did start to bite off a few minutes in the playoffs here and there. maybe he is showing more in practice that has the Rockets believing he is ready for some PT. you know the Rockets like to bring their rookies along in this manner. year 2 is when they will get their chance. we likely will carry 3 PG capable players. it will be very interesting to see this years off season moves. as much as I hate to say it T. Jones is likely gone via trade with Smith around. if our net is Rubio I will be super bummed 

[majik19]

I really believe that Morey must have a strong indication that Llull is coming (to play PG) and that Brewer is going (so Dekker fills in at the wing later in the year). I think Beverly is only getting resigned at our price, otherwise we roll with Llull, Prig, and Johnson at PG. Stuckey may be preferable to Bev. 

 

OR, Morey still feels confident he can trade Jones, Papa, Prig, and others for a starting point guard (whether that's Lawson, Hill, Rubio, Collison...) 

 

Dorsey only sticks around if we don't trade Jones or if we resign Smith. If one of those goes, Dorsey sits as the 5th big in case of injury, at least until Harrell shows he can play NBA minutes. 

[rockets best fan]

I really believe that Morey must have a strong indication that Llull is coming (to play PG) and that Brewer is going (so Dekker fills in at the wing later in the year). I think Beverly is only getting resigned at our price, otherwise we roll with Llull, Prig, and Johnson at PG. Stuckey may be preferable to Bev. 

 

OR, Morey still feels confident he can trade Jones, Papa, Prig, and others for a starting point guard (whether that's Lawson, Hill, Rubio, Collison...) 

 

Dorsey only sticks around if we don't trade Jones or if we resign Smith. If one of those goes, Dorsey sits as the 5th big in case of injury, at least until Harrell shows he can play NBA minutes. 

I don't doubt Morey has something up. I also agree that he is reasonably confident he can pull it off. however Morey is tricky. every time you think you got him figured out he throws you a curb ball.  

[JimboSlice]

I'm normally one of the resident draft junkies over at DailyThunder, but have been a closet Rockets fan since Morey fleeced Presti for my favorite player.

 

I think Morey did a fantastic job with the draft this year. I know PG was a position of need, but Dekker was far and away the best talent left on the board. The comparisons to Parsons are pretty far off, and mostly based on the age old "white guy syndrome". Dekker's nowhere near the shoote Parsons is, but his finishing at the rim was extremely elite (74%). He also drew free throws at a pretty solid rate as well, as he attacks closeouts with an underrated, long first step. Fitwise, I don't know how he stacks up with what Houston has, but as a standalone pick at 18, he's very good.

 

Wood is the gem though. Me and another one of the junkies over on DT were completely smitten with him as a late first rounder, but his stock plummeted after workouts because A) I think people looked at his shot mechanics and threw up in their mouths a bit and B ) if his interviews were anything like what he sounded like on the DX video, people probably thought he had a single digit IQ. 

 

Sounds like all bad things, but he's a special prospect. A guy who can handle and move more like a guard, but with NBA ready big man defensive skills (4th in blocks per 40 pace adjusted among all players who played 30+ mpg, and more Rebounds per 40 pace adjusted (same qualifications) than any player drafted. He's a really unique prospect, and if someone can completely retool his jumpshot, becomes something not many teams will have seen before. Essentially, he's Perry Jones with actual NBA-level skills to fall back on.

 

Given how much better Morey's been in free agency and trades than some other GM's, my guess would be he intends to address the PG need in one of those avenues, but rookie-wise, you guys are sitting as pretty as anybody not in the early lotto imo

Edited by JimboSlice, 29 June 2015 - 07:02 PM.

[Losthief]

hey welcome to the forum and tks for the insight!

[rockets best fan]

good post JimboSlice WELCOME to the Forum  just like Losthief I enjoyed the fresh perspective you discussed.

[thejohnnygold]

Welcome, JimboSlice!  I also appreciate your input.  I just finished watching Wood's DX video.  He truly is an "upside" player.  I also didn't think his jumper was that bad...I mean, we've all seen Shawn Marion shoot.

 

Here's the video:

 

 

Watching that, I couldn't help but envision Wood and Capela patrolling the paint like a couple of pogo sticks and raining dunks on the opposing bigs.  It will be a year or two, but if the Rockets are patient I could see that duo, along with D-Mo, forming a really good front court trio.  The one drawback to Wood is I didn't see anything about his passing abilities on the video--which leads me to think he isn't very good in that area.  Otherwise, looks like a solid signing.

 

Our Summer League squad is going to be amazing.  Nick Johnson, Will Cummings, Glen Rice, Jr., Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Clint Capela.  If (big if) we re-sign KJ he'd be there too.  Ladies and gentleman, your 2015 Summer League Champions!  My prediction: Sam Dekker shows he is NBA ready scoring all over the court while racking up assists getting Capela and Harrell easy looks all day long.  Second prediction: Nick Johnson will run the pick n roll...a lot.  With guys like Capela and Harrell, defending bigs are in for a long day at the office.  He needs to prove that he can run some semblance of offense and with guys like that surrounding him it's the way to go.  Third prediction: Dunks.  So many dunks.  

[majik19]

 Third prediction: Dunks.  So many dunks.  

SO MANY DUNKS.

[thejohnnygold]

Rockets have signed Chris Walker out of Florida.  I don't want to disparage the signing, but this guy has knucklehead stamped directly on his forehead.  I guess they think maybe with some time in the D-League it will wash off.

 

They don't expressly say it, but it is implied that he only entered the draft because Billy Donovan didn't want him back.  He's also had eligibility issues as well as drug issues.  All that before we get to his complete lack of anything resembling a single basketball skill.  Outside of being tall, long, and bouncy he's got nothing going for him.

 

Meanwhile, we are sitting down with LMA tonight while San Antonio is talking to Cleveland about shipping out Mills and Splitter for Brendan Heyward's non-guaranteed $10.5M contract....hmmmmm, whatever could they be looking to do with that cap space?  

 

 

I'm not saying we're wasting our time talking to LMA....No, that's exactly what I'm saying.  San Antonio will be able to put out a line-up of Parker, Ginobili, Leonard, Duncan, and Aldridge to close out games.  Well, crap...

 

Sorry, I'm a little off topic from the draft.