[RealGM] Houston Draft Preview

I think Morey's attitude is different in this draft compared to the last one. Last year, we had nothing and were trying to squeeze out as much talent as we can when we had nothing.

This year, it's a different story. Morey wants heavy firepower. Whether it be from the draft or via trade. I expect big move up for immediate contributor or an Euros who won't take up roster space. Not bit players who languishes on the bench doing nothing.

Is Rudy Gay a wing player? I personally can't do that. And I'm also of the opinion that he and T-mac at 2/3 will likely cause Yao to foul out of every game by half time.

 

Crediting Faos from this thread thread since there's draft talk here about the Rox -

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/06/21/nicolas-batum-might-have-a-bad-ticker/

Nicolas Batum Might Have a Bad Ticker

Tom ZillerPosted Jun 21st 2008 12:32PM by Tom Ziller
Filed under: Nets, Raptors, NBA Draft, NBA Injuries

When the 2008 NBA mock drafts began to surface this time last year, French swinger Nicolas Batum floated around the top 5 picks, built on the back of his silky-smart style and solid performance against American high school kids. He has slowly, slowly drifted toward the late first round, and this week had been placed in the #15-25 range in most legit mocks.

It looks like that damaged stock is going down down down again, as ESPN's Chad Ford reports tests in both Toronto and New Jersey showed problems with Nico's heart. Batum didn't work out in either town because of the concerns -- a "stress echo test" reported "borderline" -- and some troubling, rumored family history that Ford passes on.

A Sports Illustrated report in February said that Batum's father, Henry, suffered a "massive heart attack" and died at the free throw line while playing pro basketball in France when Nicolas was 2 years old.

Batum's agent says the cause of death was actually an aneurysm, according to Nico's mom. Barring any sort of official information, it's impossible to know the truth here. But if Nico's dad did indeed die young of a massive heart attack while playing basketball, and Nico has tested "borderline" on two separate heart health tests ... yeah, that's not good for anyone.

The NBA's been rife with heart troubles the past few years, between Eddy Curry's uninsurable ticker, LaMarcus Aldridge's irregular heartbeats, and Ronny Turiaf's open-heart surgery. Those have all worked out for the teams who took the chance, but Batum has enough other warts that I can't imagine a team risking a first-rounder on it. It's too bad, because he's an awesome talent and by several reports a nice fellow.