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2011 vs 2012 vs 2013 draft and tier 1 vs tier 2 vs blah blah blah

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by crash5179, Jun 19, 2011.

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  1. crash5179

    crash5179 Member

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    Lets trade our draft picks this year because next seasons draft is stronger. If a tier 2 pick is available we must not draft a tier 3 player. Yadda yadda yadda.

    It's not that simple, especially with the Rockets need. The Rockets are a deep team except at the 5 and 3 positions. IMO, the center position is the hardest to fill. We have seen multiple drafts in row not produce a single competent center. This years draft has several Center prospects that could develop into starting centers in the league for a long time. I don't see any potential prospects to fill the center position in the next couple of drafts.

    Because of the difficulty of drafting a starting center I don't think DM can be so rigid in his thinking when it comes to drafting tier 2 vs tier 3 vs tier 4 picks. If a player is available that can improve the center position for the Rockets and be a quality starter that can provide good defense, rebounding and shot blocking I think you have to take him, even if their is a player in the next higher tier (unless that player is Michael Jordan).

    Biyombo may only be a tier 3 pick but if he is available with your pick and you know he will not be available later you must give serious consideration to drafting him even if a tier 2 shooting guard or point guard are available. Same thing applies with the 23rd pick IMO, if Jeremy Tyler is available you have to pick him with that pick over someone like Darius Morris just because you can find someone like Darius Morris in every single draft, but it might be 2 or 3 years before someone with Tylers upside at the center position is available again. You draft these guys knowing that they might be a bust but also knowing that they have the tools to become the next Marc Gasol or Tyson Chandler.

    DM can not afford IMO to draft a quality shooting guard that has trouble getting on the floor behind Courtney Lee and Kevin Martin only to pass drafting a less talented center that turns into a quality starting center on a play-off team while the Rockets continue to start a 6'6" center that can not protect the rim.

    Quality Point Guards, Shooting Guards, Small Forwards and even Power Forwards can be found in every draft and usually in the 1st and second rounds. A quality Center might not be in the draft for a few more years.

    Kanter, Valanciunas, Biyombo, Tyler are all guys that could develop into high quality starting centers in the league and the Rockets have to do what ever it takes to get one of these guys even if they eventually turn into a bust. There are no obvious Center prospects in the next couple of drafts and getting D Howard in free agency is a pipe dream that is not going to happen. Sometime you have to take a chance in order to improve your team.
     
    #1 crash5179, Jun 19, 2011
  2. HTown_TMac

    HTown_TMac Member

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    I've always been a "Best Player Available" person.. And I think we should stick with it.

    Unless it's a PF
     
    #2 HTown_TMac, Jun 19, 2011
  3. meh

    meh Member

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    I agree with you, crash5179. But not for the same reasons.

    Suppose one draft has Lebron/Wade/Melo on top and tier 2 rounds out at about #10.
    Supose another draft has Kanter/Derrik Williams/Irving on top and tier 2 rounds out at about #10.
    For a team with, say, the 15th pick, there's no benefit for them to the draft that yields Lebron/Wade/Melo on top.

    So the idea of trading for future pick only makes sense is said pick has lottery potential. And why if the Rockets really like the 2012 draft, the real answer is
    [​IMG]
     
    #3 meh, Jun 19, 2011
  4. crash5179

    crash5179 Member

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    If there is an MJ, Magic, Bird type talent then draft him but I don't see that. What do you do for a center if there is none available in the next few drafts. There will absolutely be PG, SG, SF and PF's available.
     
    #4 crash5179, Jun 19, 2011
  5. Ubiquitin

    Ubiquitin Member
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    Always draft best and trade to fill in the gaps. Look at how drafting Sam Bowie instead of Jordan fared Portland.
     
    #5 Ubiquitin, Jun 19, 2011
  6. crash5179

    crash5179 Member

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    As I said the philosophy does not apply if there is an MJ type of talent. Getting a quality center goes beyond trading to fill the gaps.
     
    #6 crash5179, Jun 19, 2011
  7. CXbby

    CXbby Member

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    I'm just glad we took Patrick Patterson(the 4th or 5th PF on the team at the time) instead of addressing our "need" with someone like Hassan Whiteside.
     
    #7 CXbby, Jun 19, 2011
  8. Commodore

    Commodore Member

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    does anyone have a link to an NBATV stream? I hear they are playing old drafts.
     
    #8 Commodore, Jun 19, 2011
  9. crash5179

    crash5179 Member

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    I'm a huge fan of Pat as I think he is our PF for the next 13 + seasons but if we could have taken Monroe or Cousins we would be set at the 5 with Scola maning the 4. Why did we miss the play-offs last season and will probably miss the play-offsnext season? Our play at the center position. We are going to have to address that position if we want to become a play-off team or a contender. If not we will just conti ue to be a mediocre team with a bunch of good players.
     
    #9 crash5179, Jun 19, 2011
  10. CXbby

    CXbby Member

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    Of course, but that is because Monroe or Cousins would have been the BPA. Not because they are centers.

    I am nitpicking, but we missed the playoffs last year because of our backup PG, not center. Which is also why we will most likely make the playoffs this year if there are no major changes(unlikely). But that isn't to say center, or shot blocking, isn't a major need for the team. It is our second biggest need behind an elite shot creator if our goals are going deep into the playoffs, not just making them.

    The point is, you don't reach in the draft to address your need(Whiteside) because the BPA(Patterson) or whoever he makes expendable(Scola) can always be used to BETTER address our need instead through trade. Instead of gambling on someone who will most likely not pan out- Whiteside/Tyler - we can target someone proven like Asik/Gortat. To be able to afford proven players like that, we need to bolster our asset collection with better players(BPA).

    However, if we trade up/down in the draft, it will be because we have a target in mind, in that case drafting for need is fine. In fact, I think it is safe to assume we would only be targeting those we actually need.
     
    #10 CXbby, Jun 19, 2011
  11. Pat

    Pat Member

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    So you are saying Thabeet at number 2 was a good pick, had we held that draft position.
     
    #11 Pat, Jun 19, 2011
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  12. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    Thabeet happens when you value crappy players at need positions over good players at deep positions. Center position is already valued highly due to rarity of good players there. No need to elevate bad players even more.
     
    #12 Joe Joe, Jun 19, 2011
  13. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    That said, I hope the Rockets try their hardest to get Valanciunas. He needs more strength, but he has a lot of promise to be an elite rebounder.
     
    #13 Joe Joe, Jun 19, 2011
  14. crash5179

    crash5179 Member

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    I'm saying that sooner or later you have to try and get a quality center. The player you draft may or may not pan out but a center is not going to just magically appear on the roster. If I could move into the top ten I would select either Kanter, Biyombo or Valanciunas and if not I would target Jeremy Tyler at 23.

    Maybe none of them will be any good or all might prove to be quality. If we don't take one of them I hope you will enjoy watching another year with a 6'6" center that can't protect the rim.
     
    #14 crash5179, Jun 19, 2011
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