Morey looks to buy a 1st rounder in 2009 draft

jsim · Post #1 » by **jsim** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:54 pm

What position will we look to take? We have 2 young PGs, centers and PFs at the lower end of the first round in a weak year will not come better than Dorsey. Maybe a swingman like Thornton then, especially if we are keeping only either Mcgrady OR Artest. Or a true passer like Calanthes

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Wor ... l-20-3188/

Now, Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tells us that his team does not plan on standing pat in this draft. “We plan to buy our way back into the draft using some of this money” Morey told us via email this week, referring to the money his team was able to save by trading Francis.

Morey did not specify which round the team will be looking to move into. It’s widely believed that due to the global economic crisis, there will be numerous draft picks available in the bottom half of the first round this year as teams look to avoid being burdened by guaranteed contracts. With how weak this year’s crop of European prospects is currently shaping up to, it likely won’t be as attractive to “stash” players overseas considering the poor value involved with taking a player 10-15 spots higher than he normally would have went.

Munchlaxatives · Post #2 » by **Munchlaxatives** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:28 pm

Steph Curry, yay!

jzmagik · Post #3 » by **jzmagik** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:28 pm

I wonder what pick we can get, I'd be satisfied with a 20+ 1st rounder

HTown_TMac · Post #4 » by **HTown_TMac** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:49 pm

Lets get Hansbrough

MaxRider · Post #5 » by **MaxRider** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:52 pm

he didn't say 1st round

pretty sure it's going to be a 2nd round

texasholdem · Post #6 » by **texasholdem** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:55 pm

Goran Suton of Michigan State would make a great back up for Yao Ming
6'10" and 250lbs, will be 24 years old in August
10.4 ppg and 8.4 rpg his senior season
great free throw shooter (85%), can make the college 3 point shot (44%)
Could be like an Okur type of center

Roxflynorth · Post #7 » by **Roxflynorth** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:20 pm

texasholdem wrote:Goran Suton of Michigan State would make a great back up for Yao Ming
6'10" and 250lbs, will be 24 years old in August
10.4 ppg and 8.4 rpg his senior season
great free throw shooter (85%), can make the college 3 point shot (44%)
Could be like an Okur type of center

Is that means Mutombo probably won't come back next year?

BaYBaller · Post #8 » by **BaYBaller** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:14 am

You know I wouldn't be surprised to see Morey being able to buy a late 1st rd pick in the late 20's b/c of the weak draft + bad economy. If anything, it's nice to know Morey will be active even w/o any picks.

Guy986 · Post #9 » by **Guy986** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:21 am

I'll be happy with psycho T.

jove9 · Post #10 » by **jove9** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:54 am

Positions of need, in order of importance:

1. wing player
2. backup center

I don't expect us to get a PG now that we have Lowry, or a PF since we have Landry / Hayes + Dorsey. Of course, Dorsey may BE our backup center....

tisbee · Post #11 » by **tisbee** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:18 am

At first I thought Morey had a Euro player he wanted,but the bit about using the Francis money is intriguing. On the face of it the reference to Francis' money is ridiculous-Francis' contract EXPIRES June 30,making his salary a non-factor even if he wasn't traded.

BUT,trading Francis gained a TE worth @$2.74mil. Is Morey telling the league he will not only pay the bucks for a pick,but he will also take on an unwanted modest contract as well?(Think of Philly sending Carney,Booth AND a First to Minn to clear cap space.) Is this his subtle signal he's willing to outbid the Portland and whoevers who might also try to buy a pick?

Or was he just blowing some smoke and/or the writer totally misunderstood what was being said?

But I do think Morey has somebody definite in mind. And it's somebody he expects to make the roster next yr.

tisbee · Post #12 » by **tisbee** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:25 am

Jove9,
I doubt it's a PG too-unless he can get Rubio or Wall,which ain't happening-esp as the Rockets prob have a deal w/Priogni. While I could easily see Morey drafting a smooth-passing,outside shooting big that he could stash until 2010 when Scola,Hayes and Dorsey could all be gone,I really think he has some young wing in mind.

hayden · Post #13 » by **hayden** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:57 am

I think we need a C/PF tweener to backup Yao and to help against the bigger PFs in the league...

But in Morey I trust. Whoever we draft, I would put money on that in hindsight he would have been a lottery pick (Brooks, Landry (ok.. late, late lottery))

KWSN-Men · Post #14 » by **KWSN-Men** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:00 am

tisbee wrote:Jove9,
I doubt it's a PG too-unless he can get Rubio or Wall,which ain't happening-esp as the Rockets prob have a deal w/Priogni. While I could easily see Morey drafting a smooth-passing,outside shooting big that he could stash until 2010 when Scola,Hayes and Dorsey could all be gone,I really think he has some young wing in mind.

I noticed this thread. I have to say if you want Prigioni be prepared to fork out a big contract. Real is reported to be going after him hard this summer. That means full MLE type contract.

jsim · Post #15 » by **jsim** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:13 am

hansborough is crap.

draftexpress is credible. I think a late 1st is realistic.

Look at what we have gotten in the late first rounder recently:

Dorsey - undersized hustling C who can't score
Landry - undersized hustling PF who can score but has severe injury issues
Donte - ideal wing with character issues
Brooks - severely undersized PG

late 1strounder always has questionable flaws, usually size (if they scrap hard and defend well) or character (if the talent package is remarkable)

I wonder if McGrady is going if we dont need a young wing who can create this own shot. This is the type of talent that is most common in late 1st

texasholdem · Post #16 » by **texasholdem** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:54 am

jsim wrote:hansborough is crap.

draftexpress is credible. I think a late 1st is realistic.

Look at what we have gotten in the late first rounder recently:

Dorsey - undersized hustling C who can't score
Landry - undersized hustling PF who can score but has severe injury issues
Donte - ideal wing with character issues
Brooks - severely undersized PG

late 1strounder always has questionable flaws, usually size (if they scrap hard and defend well) or character (if the talent package is remarkable)

I wonder if McGrady is going if we dont need a young wing who can create this own shot. This is the type of talent that is most common in late 1st

Dorsey and Landry were both 2nd rounders.
I thought James White was our young wing player for the future?

jsim · Post #17 » by **jsim** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:45 am

dorsey was the 3rd pick in the 2nd round
landry was the 1st pick in the 2nd round
both drafts were deeper than this year's.

talentwise, its the same ballpark

Post #18 » by **Young_Star11** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:07 am

Weak draft, chance for us to cash in. There will be some NBA-ready guys

PocketRockets · Post #19 » by **PocketRockets** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:54 pm

I heard Morey uses an abacus for his numbers crunching.....

tisbee · Post #20 » by **tisbee** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:05 pm

Artest and Wafer are both FAs this summer. That leaves just McGrady(and no certainty of when he'll be back),Battier(who is going to be dealing w/pain in his ankle for rest of his career),Barry and White. Safe to say Morey is looking hard at wings.

Interesting that NBADraft.net has a bunch of Senior/Junior wings going in the early 20s.(We know Morey likes drafting experienced college players.)
Draft Express has alot more PGs going there.