12/22/24
May 20, 2002
NBA Draft.: "The trick is to hopefully get out of here and not be here next year," said Bulls general manager Jerry Krause, whose team was in the lottery for the fourth straight year. (Note to Krause: resign.) >>> Congrats to the Rockets. Will they trade their pick? Will Francis still be the "Franchise" (think Jayson Williams)? Or will they go for Yao Ming? Here are some early entry candidates.
posted by jacknose to basketball at 11:34 AM - 10 comments
Shouldn't the Rockets just pick Yao Ming? There are plenty of Asian people in Houston, no matter what 'everyone' has said so far about the Chinese government wanting him to go to a major media market. I imagine they should trade down, since there are so many teams looking to get impact players right now. Maybe they could get the Candyman and the Clippers two #1s for Ming. Or Danny Fortson and the #3 pick (maybe Bob Sura thrown in for good measure).
posted by pastepotpete at 12:17 PM on May 20, 2002
The rockets should take Williams, but they won't. Francis is a great talent, but he's also a flake and you never know when he is going to play or not. When they do play together, Williams can play the 2. The Rockets are in a position to will next year, but with a project at center I don't think it will happen quite as quickly as they want.
posted by corpse at 01:00 PM on May 20, 2002
the bulls will be much improved next year, with or without jay williams. jerry's been "salivating" over yao ming, actually, but it's been my experience that krause sends out smoke screens to the media regarding who he wants. personally, i think he should trade the pick for either baron davis or wally sczerbiak, and personally, i think he's been so burnt on sticking with the draft lately that he may well do so.
posted by moz at 02:18 PM on May 20, 2002
Francis is a great talent, but he's also a flake and you never know when he is going to play or not. I completely disagree with this. Francis has had a history of migraines, to the point of affecting his career. This past year is complete proof of that, and hopefully he'll fight back. The Rockets will trade their pick, probably to the Knicks, possibly for Thomas and Camby. I wish they could keep the pick and get Yao, but then, I'm a Knicks fan and want to see the Rockets trade. NY has the perfect market, and the Bulls are pretty tight as is. I see the Bulls picking up a couple of veterans over the summer and staying pat. They have a good team; they just need some experience.
posted by BlueTrain at 02:20 PM on May 20, 2002
Houston should remember what Ralph Sampson was like, and trade the pick to the Knicks, and let them have the Yao headache. Jay Williams will be taken by the Bulls.
posted by jbou at 02:28 PM on May 20, 2002
Actually, didn't Sampson win rookie of the year his first year and then go downhill due to injuries to his knees? I don't think you can blame him for that, and unless Yao is predisposed toward injuries, I don't think the analogy holds up all that well. All that said, I think Yao is going to get beat up when faced with really big men like Shaq.
posted by trox at 03:37 PM on May 20, 2002
Since we're hypothesizing here, is it possible for the Rockets to trade their pick to the Bulls, and then the Bulls could get both Jay Williams and Yao?
posted by BlueTrain at 10:08 AM on May 21, 2002
yah. it would probably never happen, but yah.
posted by moz at 10:28 AM on May 21, 2002
Okay, I'm bored today, so here is my mocked draft. These are no predictions, just what I think each team should do. I'm not taking into account the foreign players i've never seen/heard of, or any trades that might happen. Mark my word, absolutly none of this will really happen: Houston Rockets - Jay Williams I think they should take him for the reasons I pointed out previously. The Rockets were horrible last year without Francis. With both of them in the backcourt they would win at least 10-15 more games next year, and still have a viable option if Stevie goes down again. Chicago Bulls - Dajuan Wagner They need a point guard, but won't get Williams. Dajuan is the next best thing. A lot of people might disagree, but I think he should go this high in the draft. Golden State Warriors - Mike Dunleavy I don't think they should go with Yao right here, even though China may want them too. Dunleavy has the best upside and current skill level at this postion in the draft. Memphis Grizzlies - Yao Ming He wouldn't play here, but the Grizzlies certainly could use him here. Denver Nuggets - Qyntel Woods I don't know much about Qyntel, but his stock can't drop too far, and he sounds like what the Nuggets need. Cleveland Cavaliers - Curtis Borchardt I think Curtis will go higher than he is projected, and the Cavs should take him at 6. New York Knicks - Chris Wilcox Surprised to still see him on the board, the Knicks will snatch him up, and deal away some of the other slackers they have. LA Clippers - Amare Stoudemire First High School kiddy taken this year, the Clips could prob pick him up at 12, but I don't think they should wait. Phoenix Suns - Caron Butler Again, they will be surprise he slipped this far. They should also get rid of Penny as fast as possible. Miami Heat - Nickoloz Tskitsishvili They want Woods, but he won't be here. Neither will Zo for much longer. Washington Wizards - Jared Jeffries I don't think this pick will pan out for the Wizzies, but I don't think there is much else to pick here, unless they go for one of the foreign players I don't know much about. LA Clippers - Frank Williams He won't go this high, but I think he will be a solid NBA performer. I'd certainly take him of Dickou. Milwaukee - Kareem Rush He will prob fall out of the lottery. I'd take him here.
posted by corpse at 12:19 PM on May 22, 2002
IMHO, the Rockets cannot--and will not--pick Jay Williams. Francis has proved that he is one of the best point guards in the NBA and he's young. Nope. I think they'll ultimately trade with the Bulls. My guess is that Jerry is salivating over Jay. Of course, Rose will once again be asked to play forward. And the Bulls will be back in the lottery next year.