2023-24 Houston Rockets Thread - Climbing out of the Gutter?

[billfromlaketravis 11784]

20 minutes ago, TonyTexas said:

Everything I’ve seen is that the Rockets want to trade this pick either for a vet or future assets. They feel like they have enough youngsters at this time. 

I’d trade the third pick for a 2025 scratch off ticket. 

[ChickenSandwich 9918]

Big stiff from UConn makes sense to replace steven adams if they stay 

[tx 3 putt 78464]

How does the Baylor guard shoot ?

[BigOrange1 6604]

i'd offer the nets the #3 pick and one of their remaining obligations to the rockets (swaps in '25 and '27, unprotected first in 26) back to them for mikal bridges.  my guess is they'd want all of their remaining obligations returned, but i'm not doing that.  

i'm totally fine with just making the pick here if that's what it comes back to.

[HtownHorn 15243]

Supposedly the Rockets offered all the Brooklyn picks back to the Nets for all the Suns picks that Brooklyn received in the Durant trade. Stone really wants assets further out which makes sense when we have Green, Sengun, Smith, Eason, Thompson, and Whitmore all within 3 years of each other. Meaning the extensions are going to be hard to manage. Brooklyn said no, but I wonder if they would change their mind now that the 2024 pick is in the Top 3.

[Ricky Butler 2789]

1 hour ago, TonyTexas said:

Everything I’ve seen is that the Rockets want to trade this pick either for a vet or future assets. They feel like they have enough youngsters at this time. 

They need The Dude to go along with their dudes.

[A-Tex Devil 2492]

The draft is shitty at the top but it’s relatively deep, especially with foreign guys that could hit and become something incredible which seems to happen every 5 years or so.  Take the win.  
 

That being said, I’m down for a blockbuster.  Just be patient. The list of guys available this offseason is going to grow dramatically in early June.  Someone said Ingram upthread.  Would you trade the third, another future pick or three, Green, and FVV for Durant if Phoenix decides to blow it up?   I mean, that is wishcasting, but a few guys like that are moving this offseason. We just don’t know who yet.  
 

What would you give up for Jimmy Butler coming home? Not as much.  But we have the assets to do a lot of different things.  As far as I am concerned, depending on who is available, no one is untouchable, not even Sengun.  
 

But circling back to first paragraph, I am cool drafting best available on board, figure out your lineup by mid-January and make a trade then for Giannis or Booker or whoever becomes disgruntled and is available then. 
 

 

[HtownHorn 15243]

No to Durant or Paul George. Just too old. Get a guy that is closer in age to the other guys, but is established in the league. That list is a lot smaller, but guys like Mitchell or Ingram would be huge upgrades over what we currently have. The biggest issue is would they sign a long term deal with the Rockets.

[LCHorn 2749]

1 hour ago, HtownHorn said:

No to Durant or Paul George. Just too old. Get a guy that is closer in age to the other guys, but is established in the league. That list is a lot smaller, but guys like Mitchell or Ingram would be huge upgrades over what we currently have. The biggest issue is would they sign a long term deal with the Rockets.

If you scout just the 2020 and 2021 drafts (so guys coming up on extensions and because they are NBA 2 guards all feel entitled to the max), it's a couple of dudes like LaMelo Ball that have an upgrade on Green in one area but downgrade in another (or they aren't going to be available in a Green plus 3 swap). 

It makes me think that the Rockets might look to upgrade elsewhere with those same chips and use Whitmore or Thompson at the two.

[HtownHorn 15243]

Reed Sheppard testing off the charts. A shooter with athleticism is just what this team needs. He's the guy I take to replace Green. Move Whitmore to SF.

Thompson-Sheppard-Whitmore-Smith-Sengun, I am warming up to that starting 5 in 2026.

[Fud 9696]

Stone is posturing that he'd only trade the pick if it were for great value, as he should be doing. What they actually prefer is speculation. Ime presumably wants a vet, but he likely understands that a marginal vet isn't worth trading the #3 pick for. Tildo wants to win right now, but I think he listens to Stone when Stone says the value isn't there

The whole league knows that Mitchell won't re-sign with Cleveland. He'll be a huge free agent who'll end up at a destination city. Cleveland should recoup some assets a year early and try to see if they can get Garland right.

Houston could really use plus shooting, and some of the best players in this draft are either bad shooters (Holland, Castle, Clingan) or not as good current as their profiles suggest they should be (Matas, Williams, etc)

I think Sarr is probably gone by pick three, but I don't think Risacher by any means is a lock to be gone. I'm also not sure if he'd even be the pick for Houston 

Sheppard is an elite shooter who's a play-maker both on offense and defense, but he's also a small body who'd get hunted defensively

If Houston stays at three, there's about a half a dozen directions I could see them going. The one guy who doesn't make sense to me is Dillingham. 

I could see Ime falling in love with Castle or Holland, despite their shooting issues

Can Houston please steal one of the elite shooting coaches (Fred Vinson, Chip Engelland, etc)?

[Fud 9696]

If you take a straight average of Givony, Vecenie, and Hollinger, here's the rankings

 

1) Sarr

2) Clingan

3) Topic

4) Castle

5) Sheppard

6) Holland

7) Buzelis

'8) Risacher

9) Dillingham

 (pretty big tier break)

10) Knecht

11) Williams

12) Filippowski

13) Collier

14) Carter

[Ignatius 4125]

I’d be down with Clingan…

[HtownHorn 15243]

1 hour ago, Ignatius said:

I’d be down with Clingan…

I hope not. He tested really bad.

Max vertical: 29.0" - last among all C's that tested, 3rd worst among all players that tested.

Standing vertical: 25.5" - 2nd last among all C's that tested, 10th worst among all players that tested.

3 Quarter sprint: 3.46 seconds - last among all C's that tested, worst among all players that tested.

Shuttle run: 3.38 seconds - last among all C's that tested, 2nd worst among all players that tested.

Lane agility: 12.06 seconds - last among all C's that tested, 2nd worst among all players that tested.

[ChickenSandwich 9918]

Stiff

[Fud 9696]

9 hours ago, HtownHorn said:

I hope not. He tested really bad.

Max vertical: 29.0" - last among all C's that tested, 3rd worst among all players that tested.

Standing vertical: 25.5" - 2nd last among all C's that tested, 10th worst among all players that tested.

3 Quarter sprint: 3.46 seconds - last among all C's that tested, worst among all players that tested.

Shuttle run: 3.38 seconds - last among all C's that tested, 2nd worst among all players that tested.

Lane agility: 12.06 seconds - last among all C's that tested, 2nd worst among all players that tested.

Yet, he's an extremely impactful player

The issue is more about his awkward fit with Sengun than any sort of testing 

[Fud 9696]

I'm guessing that Ime is going to prefer Castle

[LCHorn 2749]

1 hour ago, Fud said:

The issue is more about his awkward fit with Sengun than any sort of testing 

That’s my objection to him.  Also, I think his type is more available in trade or free agency than less skilled/more athletic players.

[A-Tex Devil 2492]

Draft upside, particularly given our roster. Clingan’s upside is limited.  I have no idea why he is rated so high.  
 

i would rather have Edey (although not at 3). Look,  he might be Boban and inconsequential. But I could also see him being a force in limited doses at 7’5”.  You don’t draft him to play heavy minutes next to Sengun.  You play him to wreak havoc in short doses.  And who knows? Maybe he is even better than that.  
 

He won me over this year and also seems to have a little fuck you to him.  But that’s really just me saying don’t draft Clingan.  
 

In addition to Mitchell, I think one or more of Giannis, AD, Booker, Embiid, or guys like that become available.  I want to be ready for that. 
 

I’d love to get Myles Turner on this team.  

[Slacks 7019]

What team would even say, "We have to get to #3, or our player is gonna?"

Not in this draft. If there is a trade it's to match financials with players traded.

No NBA team is building out of this draft.  Built teams might find depth, but that's it.

Edited May 16 by Slacks
o

[Fud 9696]

10 hours ago, A-Tex Devil said:

Draft upside, particularly given our roster. Clingan’s upside is limited.  I have no idea why he is rated so high.  
 

i would rather have Edey (although not at 3). Look,  he might be Boban and inconsequential. But I could also see him being a force in limited doses at 7’5”.  You don’t draft him to play heavy minutes next to Sengun.  You play him to wreak havoc in short doses.  And who knows? Maybe he is even better than that.  
 

He won me over this year and also seems to have a little fuck you to him.  But that’s really just me saying don’t draft Clingan.  
 

In addition to Mitchell, I think one or more of Giannis, AD, Booker, Embiid, or guys like that become available.  I want to be ready for that. 
 

I’d love to get Myles Turner on this team.  

I don't know where to start with this post

[A-Tex Devil 2492]

10 hours ago, Fud said:

I don't know where to start with this post

I was drunk.  Just don’t draft Clingan. 

[Ignatius 4125]

You bitches are all gonna lose your shit when we take him at #3. JK, we’re gonna deal #3 and Sengun for DeMar DeRozan…

[HtownHorn 15243]

I saw interesting trade idea. #3, Tate, and Landale for #9 and Marcus Smart.

Smart could lead the 2nd team and even play along side both Green and Van Vleet.

That put the Rockets in the range to draft Cody Williams or Knetch.

Edited May 18 by HtownHorn

[BigOrange1 6604]

i'm almost in favor simply because it gets rid of tate.

[ChickenSandwich 9918]

2 hours ago, HtownHorn said:

I saw interesting trade idea. #3, Tate, and Landale for #9 and Marcus Smart.

Smart could lead the 2nd team and even play along side both Green and Van Vleet.

That put the Rockets in the range to draft Cody Williams or Knetch.

Short, poor shooting combo guard. I’d rather roll the dice at 3

[LCHorn 2749]

20 hours ago, ChickenSandwich said:

Short, poor shooting combo guard. I’d rather roll the dice at 3

Yeah, I don’t know why we’d want to  add another non-shooter.  Sengun is going to have three dudes guarding him.  

[billfromlaketravis 11784]

My dream scenario is we trade back for a 2025 pick and take a shooter. 

[Macklemore 2945]

Amen got robbed from being selected to the 1st team. Podz over Amen is a fucking joke.

[IDIOTsavant 8673]

16 hours ago, Macklemore said:

Amen got robbed from being selected to the 1st team. Podz over Amen is a fucking joke.

While I agree Thompson continued to get better as the season progressed and has way more upside, the stats comp between the two is really splitting hairs. Podziemski played 12 more games for a slightly better team and got the nod. It doesn’t change anything because we got the better player long term….and really something if his jumper can get to even league average.

[tx 3 putt 78464]

 

[ChickenSandwich 9918]

Thinking Sheppard is the best pick at 3. He at least appears to have an elite skill that isn’t just athleticism or height 

[BigOrange1 6604]

the more i think about it the more i want to trade the #3 pick, dillon brooks, and one of the '26 brooklyn pick or the '27 swap for mikal bridges.  give brooklyn some of their future back in return for a guy who can help right now and in the future.  

they can't have the '25 swap back though.  they are not going to be good next year and it is supposed to be a loaded draft.

[Macklemore 2945]

[BigOrange1 6604]

i don't know that memphis really has anything that really makes dropping from 3 to 9 all that worthwhile. 

[LCHorn 2749]

On 6/1/2024 at 12:19 PM, BigOrange1 said:

the more i think about it the more i want to trade the #3 pick, dillon brooks, and one of the '26 brooklyn pick or the '27 swap for mikal bridges.  give brooklyn some of their future back in return for a guy who can help right now and in the future.  

they can't have the '25 swap back though.  they are not going to be good next year and it is supposed to be a loaded draft.

When you posted this Saturday I looked up his stats and I think that Bridges would be a good fit if he was a couple of years younger. 

As it is, he's going to be a free agent right as the team matures and he'll be 30, on the downside of his career and expensive.

I'd rather draft Sheppard at 3, let Brooks hit FA when his contract is up, and keep my powder dry for someone more useful. 

[BigOrange1 6604]

1 hour ago, LCHorn said:

When you posted this Saturday I looked up his stats and I think that Bridges would be a good fit if he was a couple of years younger. 

As it is, he's going to be a free agent right as the team matures and he'll be 30, on the downside of his career and expensive.

I'd rather draft Sheppard at 3, let Brooks hit FA when his contract is up, and keep my powder dry for someone more useful. 

i'm fine with just picking at #3 as well.  if brooklyn is going to be ridiculous about what they want for bridges i'm not overpaying.  

[LCHorn 2749]

He’ll probably end up like Jimmer Fredette and be a good reminder that I don’t know shit about basketball, but the more I read about Sheppard the more I like the fit.  We don’t really need him to be Mark Price or (yikes!) Curry (as I saw a statistical comparison made today on Clutchfans).  
 

If he can shoot threes at 38% and be average on defense guarding 1’s I think he’ll justify the pick in a weak draft.  Anything more is gravy.

[billfromlaketravis 11784]

4 hours ago, LCHorn said:

He’ll probably end up like Jimmer Fredette and be a good reminder that I don’t know shit about basketball, but the more I read about Sheppard the more I like the fit.  We don’t really need him to be Mark Price or (yikes!) Curry (as I saw a statistical comparison made today on Clutchfans).  
 

If he can shoot threes at 38% and be average on defense guarding 1’s I think he’ll justify the pick in a weak draft.  Anything more is gravy.

Another 2 that can’t shoot is my worst nightmare (Castle). So I support this message.

My preference is to deal the 3rd pick for an unprotected pick in 2025. Not sure who would do that. 

[HtownHorn 15243]

8 hours ago, BigOrange1 said:

i don't know that memphis really has anything that really makes dropping from 3 to 9 all that worthwhile. 

Bane or I could see Udoke wanting Smart to run his 2nd team. Maybe a three team deal where we end up with Bridges as well.

[BigOrange1 6604]

16 hours ago, LCHorn said:

He’ll probably end up like Jimmer Fredette and be a good reminder that I don’t know shit about basketball, but the more I read about Sheppard the more I like the fit.  We don’t really need him to be Mark Price or (yikes!) Curry (as I saw a statistical comparison made today on Clutchfans).  
 

If he can shoot threes at 38% and be average on defense guarding 1’s I think he’ll justify the pick in a weak draft.  Anything more is gravy.

my thought with this pick when i thought it was going to be #9 or 10 pre-lottery was that i was just hoping to get a solid rotational piece out of it.  obviously, when you jump up to #3 you want to be a bit more greedy, but i still think walking away from this draft with a solid rotational pice (which i think Sheppard should be) would be a success.

[Murfdogg21 4547]

This draft sucks so is there much long term difference between who gets picked #3 vs #9? We expected to pick at #9 before the lottery. If Memphis or anyone else is stupid enough to give up something of value, why not trade back/out?

[ChickenSandwich 9918]

4 minutes ago, Murfdogg21 said:

This draft sucks so is there much long term difference between who gets picked #3 vs #9? We expected to pick at #9 before the lottery. If Memphis or anyone else is stupid enough to give up something of value, why not trade back/out?

I was intrigued about the possibility of Dalton Knecht at the 9, I still think he could be that solid rotation piece but 3 is too high.

 

 

[BigOrange1 6604]

1 hour ago, Murfdogg21 said:

This draft sucks so is there much long term difference between who gets picked #3 vs #9? We expected to pick at #9 before the lottery. If Memphis or anyone else is stupid enough to give up something of value, why not trade back/out?

if they want to give up something of value, then sure.  but if they're only offering lottery protected future picks then I'm not really interested in that.  

[Dutchrudder 11227]

In other news, Chase Budinger is now a professional volleyball player!  He's on the US National Team for the Paris Olympics, which sounds like a fun post-NBA career. 

 

Quote

Chase Budinger didn't have an illustrious career in the NBA. Years after he called it quits in basketball, he realized his Olympic dream in another sport - beach volleyball.

Budinger made it to the Paris Olympics as a member of the second-best Team USA pair in beach volleyball. He ended his basketball career in 2017.

2.01-meter-tall (6'7) Budinger qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as the second Team USA pair in men's beach volleyball. With 5840 ranking points, Budinger is currently ranked 13th in the world with his partner, Miles Evans.

The Budinger-Evans pair placed 17th in last year's World Championships in Tlaxcala, Mexico. A maximum of two pairs can represent the country in the Olympics.

36-year-old Budinger ended his basketball career in 2017 after a short stint with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the EuroLeague. In 29 games with Baskonia, he averaged 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds for 7.8 PIR during the 2016-17 season in the EuroLeague.

Budunger played volleyball recreationally during his basketball days and decided to pursue a professional career after finishing the basketball stage in his life. Budinger played for four different NBA franchises - Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, and Phoenix Suns.

Budinger will be the first player to play in the NBA and in the Olympics, NBC Sports notes.

 

https://basketnews.com/news-207229-former-nba-player-chase-budinger-going-to-paris-olympics-in-beach-volleyball.html

 

[Fud 9696]

Watching the game last night, I was wondering if Derrick White could be the comp for Reed Sheppard, but looking at measurables, Reed just doesn't have nearly the wingspan 

It's more like "plays like Derrick White (but maybe an even better shooter), at a slightly larger than Fred VanVleet size" 

Is that archetype worth the #3 pick in this draft for Houston?

[Wulaw Horn 19560]

3 hours ago, Fud said:

Watching the game last night, I was wondering if Derrick White could be the comp for Reed Sheppard, but looking at measurables, Reed just doesn't have nearly the wingspan 

It's more like "plays like Derrick White (but maybe an even better shooter), at a slightly larger than Fred VanVleet size" 

Is that archetype worth the #3 pick in this draft for Houston?

This draft? 
probably. 

[ChickenSandwich 9918]

Finals teams attempted 69 3 pointers last night, so grabbing a truly elite shooter might be the best option on a team severely lacking in shooting. 

Edited June 7 by ChickenSandwich

[Slacks 7019]

23 hours ago, Fud said:

Watching the game last night, I was wondering if Derrick White could be the comp for Reed Sheppard, but looking at measurables, Reed just doesn't have nearly the wingspan 

It's more like "plays like Derrick White (but maybe an even better shooter), at a slightly larger than Fred VanVleet size" 

Is that archetype worth the #3 pick in this draft for Houston?

Dalton Knecht is 6"6", athletic, and can score. If I'm Stone and Udoka, I interview him to see how much he wants to become an elite defender. He was a late bloomer in terms of size, so I'm guessing he worked on scoring more than defending.

I think Knecht will be a better NBA player than Shepard and I would draft Knecht at 3 if I can't trade back.

Edited June 8 by Slacks
I can't find the letter o apparently

[LCHorn 2749]

48 minutes ago, Slacks said:

If I'm Stone and Udoka, I interview him to see how much he wants to become an elite defender.

You want to add another 2 guard to split developmental minutes with Green, or are you just totally out on him?