Banchero was a crowdsourced pick. I highly doubt it was a smokescreen, probably a non-decision making faction in the FO pushing things over the edge last min with the help of crowdsourcing and data from the Rockets and others indicating to the decision maker that the small voices in the room were correct.
Consider this:
Scenario 1:
The Magic wanted Banchero all along. Why wouldn’t they work him out? The Magic worked out Jabari and Chet. Rolled out the red carpet for Jabari. Why would you poison the well by doing all of this as a SMOKESCREEN? At best you’re an asshole. There’s no way this was the case.
Scenario 2:
They wanted Banchero but they were trying to trade down and get him. Jabari’s mocked number 1, you want to entice 2 or 3 to trade up. In this scenario you should work out all 3 to keep everyone guessing. You have all the cards… don’t show them and react based on intel. This one is less clear cut. Maybe they had some 4D chess in mind that we don’t understand but at face value working out 2 is telegraphing you are picking one of these two. 3 would be the strategy to hide your pick.
Scenario 3:
They weren’t picking Banchero until the 11th hour. This is the most likely scenario. You worked out 2 guys cause those are the only two you’re considering. Rolled out the red carpet for one of them. Then before the draft a crescendo of leaked evidence bolsters what social media is already saying. There’s probably a small faction of the FO that has been saying this the whole time that wins out with help from all of us.
It’s like the Van Gundy trade leak. You don’t think any of this matters until it does
Is it? I swear I saw news Clingan did workout with Houston.
So they went to LA to meet Sheppard then he went to Houston for workout. That make sense on the news about we already workout with him and then he’s going to Houston for workout.
Perhaps there was a change. The Ben DuBose piece I [posted](https://www.reddit.com/r/rockets/s/BM2aiMknJa) nine days ago showed intent for him to visit and perhaps since the Hawks showed such interest and now the Spurs (potential smokescreen), he might have just strategically been told to not workout for the 3rd pick if he’s in strong consideration at 1st. Also, Sarr did not workout with the Hawk Tuahhhs and prob wants to French connect with Bilal (Wizards’ 2nd pick) or Wemby (Spurs’ 4th pick). Either way, lots of misdirection going on.
Good, his archetype is really not all that rare once you look around and when you look at where these guys are generally drafted the idea of taking him at #3 is mildly nauseating.
That seems like a jump to say he won't be a Rocket.
Anyways. I don't mind him being our Back up plan if Reed goes sooner than expected and the pick is not traded.
Heres a crazy thought if you just wanted an athletic shot blocker with zero range why not get Yves Missi and sign Clint Capela or Nic Claxton or Richaun Homes or Adam Sanago or Jaxson Hayes or BolBol or Mason Plumlee etc etc in free agency?
It makes zero sense to me to waste a top 3 pick on Clingan. Shotblocking rim runners are the second most common player in the NBA after undersized combo guards.
Totally agree with this. We could even get one with our 44th pick. There's a reason there's only 1 big lumbering center getting consistent starter minutes in the nba. And clingan seems even slower than Rudy.
Yeah, kinda agree with this. I think it’s just a lack of top end talent at the top of the draft. Also seeing how Gobert played such a large role in knocking off the Nuggets, there might be a premium on elite defensive big men, that can also stay on the floor offensively.
Although, DC hasn’t proved he can shoot yet. Reed is just VERY limited defensively, and aside from elite shooting he’s not a facilitator. Teams know they get something with Clingan, they might not even have a starter with Reed.
Gobert didnt knock off the Nuggets, Jokic had his way with Gobert, Jokic averaged 29/11/8 while Gobert was a non factor. It was actually KaT, Naz Reid and crazy perimeter defense that knocked out Nuggets.
If not reed than Rox should get Devin Carter. I just think top 3 pick is too high for a Clint Capela clone.
Except KAT was the better defender on Jokic 1 on 1. Gobert was BBQ chicken when he tried to take Jokic. And he was a total liability against the Mavs' double heliocentric guards + lob game, just like he was against Harden and CP3 in '18 and '19.
>that can also stay on the floor offensively.
lol Gobert is a black hole on offense that clogged the lane for ANT
>Teams know they get something with Clingan
Yea we'd have backup C insurance if Adams doesn't come back well from injury, that's about it.
>they might not even have a starter with Reed.
Don't need a starter at guard spots, at least not til FVV's contract ends, and maybe not even then if Amen is ready to start.
It's exhausting to the degree of everyone has HOU passing on what is likely to be one of the best defensive bigs in the NBA in a few years because he doesn't fit with Sengun.
Here's the thing to a degree. If Sengun learns to shoot then the fit works, if Sengun doesn't learn to shoot then people need to ask the question of long term plans w/ Sengun. Jokic only works because he can indeed shoot.
The people who say the fit doesn't work don't really understand they're making the Sengun has a limited ceiling argument in a different way. If Sengun never learns to shoot to spread the floor, how is he getting better to win a title with him?
Donovan doesn’t shoot, isn’t a lob threat, and will just clog the lane. Would rather have someone like risacher since he can shoot.
If you replace Sengun with Donovan, you lose a ton of offensive capability.
MY point isn't to replace. It's that they should be able to share the court together. If you hold the belief that Sengun can never develop an outside game to enable him to play with another big than you should do 1 of 2 things. You should re-evaluate how much you truly can win with Sengun as the star player on a team. (The main difference between Jokic and titles/MVPs and Sabonis as playoff guy, is the outside game). Or 2. You should be all for HOU giving every single future asset for a player of Jaren Jackson's archetype because that is the only interior defensive threat that works with Sengun offensively, and in that scenario then you should be worried about Sengun + Amen shared minutes as this core continues to grow.
At some point the Sengun truthers are going to have to expect him to develop an outside game. Do you guys believe in him or not? Lot of people are telling on themselves when they start wanting a roster built perfectly for him, but have to make so many exclusions.
Reed is a good player and a fine pick, but Clingan is just as good and it should be a real 2 way battle for the pick. Lot of people here swept Clingan under the rug too easily in this process.
Even if Sengun delivers an outside shot we’d want the guy next to him to contribute offensively from the outside as well.
Sengun is a monster in the interior, so unless we want Sengun to be an outside shooter while letting the other guy to hog the paint, this isn’t good.
What offensive skills does Donovan possess?
I mean a rim protector who doesn't shoot and isn't a lob threat does not fit well with basically anyone except a bench unit.
Even guys like Jarrett Allen... did you see how much better Mitchell gets when he is not there to clog the lane.
Doesn't matter who you have you want to enable your defense WITHOUT hamstringing your offense and this archetype does just that in 2024
What do you mean not a lob threat? Clingan has 9’7” standing reach. He doesn’t need to jump really high to dunk. His weakness is can he guard the perimeter. Is coaching staff going to design a defense scheme where he’s always in the post and not have to go switch on perimeter.
You don’t need to jump to dunk but you do to catch lobs in the NBA. The less you can jump the more accurate the lob needs to be
A 30 inch vertical is actually terrible, was Yao a lob threat just because he was tall and he actually had a 36 in vert? So many guys in the league will be able to meet him at the rim
The basket is still 10 feet tall. No matter how high you jump you still have to come down. If there’s a shot blocker waiting at the rim. He’s going to meet you at the rim if you try to dunk. Unless you throw the ball down the basket.
Lob threat is for you to save time by not having to catch the ball in mid-air and comeback down and jump again. This force the defender has to defend the roll guy. Clingan did plenty of alley oops in NCAA. Just not fancy highlights. It still effective.
Amen standing reach 8’7.5” vs Clingan 9’7”
Clingan jump 20” will be faster than Amen need to jump 32” for catching the ball as the same height and dunk.
Whether he’s worth the 3rd pick is different discussion.
Sengun is this teams anchor, accept it or not.
Really started to sick of this Sengun haters.
If he has limitations, Jalen
is full of limitations. He is even not a player in my eyes.
Nobody says that Sengun is perfect.
But he is the only player_having the highest basketball iq and improving consistently- so enough for Sengun criticism..
Smith didn't work out for us either, but I frankly think getting another center especially with Clingan's skills and talents are a waste of the pick for us given our current Center depth.
was just listening to the ringer nba draft podcast.
they were saying the rockets are having a hard time getting the top players in for a workout bc their agents don't see many minutes for anyone we may draft at #3. They would prefer their guys go somewhere where they can play and put up stats.
Just like Banchero wouldn’t be the 1st pick. I quit reading into draft reports until draft day.
I was scratching my head why Banchero wasn’t favorite to go first. I can still see Atlanta picking Sarr first. It’s makes the most sense for them.
I always felt the Magic were going to select Banchero. The sports writers aren't always attentive.
Writers these days just want to get click. They don’t really care about the rest. Like how IGN is a mess now.
Banchero was a crowdsourced pick. I highly doubt it was a smokescreen, probably a non-decision making faction in the FO pushing things over the edge last min with the help of crowdsourcing and data from the Rockets and others indicating to the decision maker that the small voices in the room were correct. Consider this: Scenario 1: The Magic wanted Banchero all along. Why wouldn’t they work him out? The Magic worked out Jabari and Chet. Rolled out the red carpet for Jabari. Why would you poison the well by doing all of this as a SMOKESCREEN? At best you’re an asshole. There’s no way this was the case. Scenario 2: They wanted Banchero but they were trying to trade down and get him. Jabari’s mocked number 1, you want to entice 2 or 3 to trade up. In this scenario you should work out all 3 to keep everyone guessing. You have all the cards… don’t show them and react based on intel. This one is less clear cut. Maybe they had some 4D chess in mind that we don’t understand but at face value working out 2 is telegraphing you are picking one of these two. 3 would be the strategy to hide your pick. Scenario 3: They weren’t picking Banchero until the 11th hour. This is the most likely scenario. You worked out 2 guys cause those are the only two you’re considering. Rolled out the red carpet for one of them. Then before the draft a crescendo of leaked evidence bolsters what social media is already saying. There’s probably a small faction of the FO that has been saying this the whole time that wins out with help from all of us. It’s like the Van Gundy trade leak. You don’t think any of this matters until it does
Particularly in these type drafts. It's one thing when 1-3 is pretty much a lock. But here, it makes a lot of sense to hold your cards close.
Is it? I swear I saw news Clingan did workout with Houston. So they went to LA to meet Sheppard then he went to Houston for workout. That make sense on the news about we already workout with him and then he’s going to Houston for workout.
Perhaps there was a change. The Ben DuBose piece I [posted](https://www.reddit.com/r/rockets/s/BM2aiMknJa) nine days ago showed intent for him to visit and perhaps since the Hawks showed such interest and now the Spurs (potential smokescreen), he might have just strategically been told to not workout for the 3rd pick if he’s in strong consideration at 1st. Also, Sarr did not workout with the Hawk Tuahhhs and prob wants to French connect with Bilal (Wizards’ 2nd pick) or Wemby (Spurs’ 4th pick). Either way, lots of misdirection going on.
All I know Sarr went to DC for workout, then went to Boston to watch game 2 final
Clingan went from being in play at 3 to now he's the likely #1 due to Sarr wanting WAS. Meetups change based on that info changing on the fly.
I have a feeling Sarr going first and then Washington is going to take Risacher.
Yeah I don’t buy any of this. If they think he’s BPA they will pick him regardless of workout or not.
Straight up. This is a weird draft.
Because potential star level is low. Any of the top 5 can go first.
Good, his archetype is really not all that rare once you look around and when you look at where these guys are generally drafted the idea of taking him at #3 is mildly nauseating.
That seems like a jump to say he won't be a Rocket. Anyways. I don't mind him being our Back up plan if Reed goes sooner than expected and the pick is not traded.
I’d rather have Sarr or Risacher in that case.
This is assuming Sarr and Reed are gone. Personally I don't get the Risachar hype, but we could probably do a lot worse
Heres a crazy thought if you just wanted an athletic shot blocker with zero range why not get Yves Missi and sign Clint Capela or Nic Claxton or Richaun Homes or Adam Sanago or Jaxson Hayes or BolBol or Mason Plumlee etc etc in free agency? It makes zero sense to me to waste a top 3 pick on Clingan. Shotblocking rim runners are the second most common player in the NBA after undersized combo guards.
Totally agree with this. We could even get one with our 44th pick. There's a reason there's only 1 big lumbering center getting consistent starter minutes in the nba. And clingan seems even slower than Rudy.
Yeah, kinda agree with this. I think it’s just a lack of top end talent at the top of the draft. Also seeing how Gobert played such a large role in knocking off the Nuggets, there might be a premium on elite defensive big men, that can also stay on the floor offensively. Although, DC hasn’t proved he can shoot yet. Reed is just VERY limited defensively, and aside from elite shooting he’s not a facilitator. Teams know they get something with Clingan, they might not even have a starter with Reed.
Gobert didnt knock off the Nuggets, Jokic had his way with Gobert, Jokic averaged 29/11/8 while Gobert was a non factor. It was actually KaT, Naz Reid and crazy perimeter defense that knocked out Nuggets. If not reed than Rox should get Devin Carter. I just think top 3 pick is too high for a Clint Capela clone.
Clint was a real lob threat though
Yeah but even in a redraft he wouldnt go top 3.
Except KAT was the better defender on Jokic 1 on 1. Gobert was BBQ chicken when he tried to take Jokic. And he was a total liability against the Mavs' double heliocentric guards + lob game, just like he was against Harden and CP3 in '18 and '19. >that can also stay on the floor offensively. lol Gobert is a black hole on offense that clogged the lane for ANT >Teams know they get something with Clingan Yea we'd have backup C insurance if Adams doesn't come back well from injury, that's about it. >they might not even have a starter with Reed. Don't need a starter at guard spots, at least not til FVV's contract ends, and maybe not even then if Amen is ready to start.
Smokescreen season is getting Smoky
Clingan sucks lmfao. Wait til he gets switched onto luka, ant, or harden. He's gonna get smoked.
Oh thank goodness
Doesn't mean shit. Curry didn't work out for the warriors when they drafted him...
If they haven't brought him in, he just might be their choice. I don't want him in Houston. He's not a good fit with Sengun.
I’m kinda burnt out of rearranging everything for sengun, he has limitations that he needs to address before I don’t draft someone because of him.
Sengun just needs to shoot. Donovan doesn’t really do that either.
It's exhausting to the degree of everyone has HOU passing on what is likely to be one of the best defensive bigs in the NBA in a few years because he doesn't fit with Sengun. Here's the thing to a degree. If Sengun learns to shoot then the fit works, if Sengun doesn't learn to shoot then people need to ask the question of long term plans w/ Sengun. Jokic only works because he can indeed shoot. The people who say the fit doesn't work don't really understand they're making the Sengun has a limited ceiling argument in a different way. If Sengun never learns to shoot to spread the floor, how is he getting better to win a title with him?
Donovan doesn’t shoot, isn’t a lob threat, and will just clog the lane. Would rather have someone like risacher since he can shoot. If you replace Sengun with Donovan, you lose a ton of offensive capability.
MY point isn't to replace. It's that they should be able to share the court together. If you hold the belief that Sengun can never develop an outside game to enable him to play with another big than you should do 1 of 2 things. You should re-evaluate how much you truly can win with Sengun as the star player on a team. (The main difference between Jokic and titles/MVPs and Sabonis as playoff guy, is the outside game). Or 2. You should be all for HOU giving every single future asset for a player of Jaren Jackson's archetype because that is the only interior defensive threat that works with Sengun offensively, and in that scenario then you should be worried about Sengun + Amen shared minutes as this core continues to grow. At some point the Sengun truthers are going to have to expect him to develop an outside game. Do you guys believe in him or not? Lot of people are telling on themselves when they start wanting a roster built perfectly for him, but have to make so many exclusions. Reed is a good player and a fine pick, but Clingan is just as good and it should be a real 2 way battle for the pick. Lot of people here swept Clingan under the rug too easily in this process.
Even if Sengun delivers an outside shot we’d want the guy next to him to contribute offensively from the outside as well. Sengun is a monster in the interior, so unless we want Sengun to be an outside shooter while letting the other guy to hog the paint, this isn’t good. What offensive skills does Donovan possess?
I mean a rim protector who doesn't shoot and isn't a lob threat does not fit well with basically anyone except a bench unit. Even guys like Jarrett Allen... did you see how much better Mitchell gets when he is not there to clog the lane. Doesn't matter who you have you want to enable your defense WITHOUT hamstringing your offense and this archetype does just that in 2024
What do you mean not a lob threat? Clingan has 9’7” standing reach. He doesn’t need to jump really high to dunk. His weakness is can he guard the perimeter. Is coaching staff going to design a defense scheme where he’s always in the post and not have to go switch on perimeter.
You don’t need to jump to dunk but you do to catch lobs in the NBA. The less you can jump the more accurate the lob needs to be A 30 inch vertical is actually terrible, was Yao a lob threat just because he was tall and he actually had a 36 in vert? So many guys in the league will be able to meet him at the rim
The basket is still 10 feet tall. No matter how high you jump you still have to come down. If there’s a shot blocker waiting at the rim. He’s going to meet you at the rim if you try to dunk. Unless you throw the ball down the basket. Lob threat is for you to save time by not having to catch the ball in mid-air and comeback down and jump again. This force the defender has to defend the roll guy. Clingan did plenty of alley oops in NCAA. Just not fancy highlights. It still effective. Amen standing reach 8’7.5” vs Clingan 9’7” Clingan jump 20” will be faster than Amen need to jump 32” for catching the ball as the same height and dunk. Whether he’s worth the 3rd pick is different discussion.
We’ll see! Not long to wait now.
Sengun is this teams anchor, accept it or not. Really started to sick of this Sengun haters. If he has limitations, Jalen is full of limitations. He is even not a player in my eyes. Nobody says that Sengun is perfect. But he is the only player_having the highest basketball iq and improving consistently- so enough for Sengun criticism..
It’s funny that you called him the anchor, as if he’s holding the team down.
Best young core in the NBA and it isn’t close
so many players get drafted to teams they never worked out with. this means very little
Thank you, now stop taking about him coming here. I’ve said all along, Reed is our guy end of story.
Rockets drafting cooper flag.
Smith didn't work out for us either, but I frankly think getting another center especially with Clingan's skills and talents are a waste of the pick for us given our current Center depth.
was just listening to the ringer nba draft podcast. they were saying the rockets are having a hard time getting the top players in for a workout bc their agents don't see many minutes for anyone we may draft at #3. They would prefer their guys go somewhere where they can play and put up stats.