Topic is about pure talent and the ability to not only initiate the offense but defend 1-4. He gets to the rim at will and is fantastic in transition. Much like Amen he does everything well .... except shoot the 3 ball. He shoots 50% overall from the floor and just under 30% from 3. You expect some improvement there. As for Williams, I don't necessarily see him as a 3 just because of his size, I see him as a combination wing (2 or 3) who the offense can run thru kinda like PG13 or TMac - both are great shooters and Williams is very good too.
I'm all about a Jalen Green alternative this draft. Topic just seems like worse Amen to me or maybe like a better Giddey so I really doubt the Rockets go in that direction. I like Williams but worry he's getting curved up because his brother is so good who also was projected in the teens. And he just doesn't have JDubs motor. It's a weird draft but I also have a sneaking suspicion that the best player from it is going to go in that 6-13 range. Maybe Collier/Holland. The Rockets need another SG so I'm thinking Holland/Collier/Knecht/Sheppard.
I really think you are under estimating Topic .... he's a legit talent, maybe not the physical talent that Amen is but he's a much more polished offensive player with similar size. He has an assortment of ways to finish a drive - dunks, layups, floaters, stop and pop .... He's also a fantastic passer. Overall, a very advanced offensive game. Also, unlike Amen, his jump shot is mechanically sound, he won't need an entire overhaul of his shot to improve. I really don't think you can understate his ability to attack the rim .... and make the right decision in the process. He does need to work on a few things - particularly tightening up the left hand and improving the outside shot. To me, Cody Williams is just that, a JG alternative. He's a very versatile offensive player, good handles, good passer, fantastic shooter and a first step that can get him past defenders .... and with his length, he can get his shot when and where he wants it. At worst he'll be a good 3D player but the ceiling is a guy who can carry an offense. I actually have him ahead of Sheppard as a prospect, he'd be #2 or 3 for me. (I don't much like Sarr). Risacher, Topic, Williams, Sheppard and after that, roll the dice.
Nope. They are fully unprotected. If they get #1 then we get #1. Our picks that are owned by the Thunder are protected through #4. I'm assuming that's what you're thinking of.
No, I just don't know enough about lotto picks. For some reason I thought the top lotto picks were protected.
betelgeuse almost about to go super nova. "That means it's still tens of thousands or maybe a hundred thousand years from exploding, if those models are correct."
All the half time show savings will finally pay off, once the training facility is done the first thing they need to do is splurge and book Severo for noche latina....
I still laugh when I think about that Denver halftime show with Severo and they kept panning to random Latino Nuggets fans shaking their heads in shame. We need a Severo show next year.
Personally yes, but that's as much because I am relatively low on Paolo. Flagg is certainly looking like an above average #1 overall prospect, but I think his ceiling is closer to say, Kawhi (and he has plenty of work to do to get there).
Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper might have more upside than Flagg. 2025 draft could help Rockets find that final piece of the puzzle.
My problem with Topic is that I'm not sure I trust the "big point guard" archetype when the guy is an average-or-worse athlete and still has work to do on his jump shot. We've seen how that plays out with Josh Giddey when his shots aren't falling, and we've seen how Cade has struggled at times too (he's only lived up to his potential when the jump shots go in). The reason I was such a big believer in Amen is that I felt his length and athleticism gave him a reasonable floor even if the jump shot never came along, and I think that's proven to be true. Topic has a better chance to become a real shooting threat, and sure, he's more polished offensively, but he's definitely a guy who needs that jump shot to get better if he wants to be a starter in the NBA. He's going to have to be a highly-efficient three-level scorer to make up for some of his physical shortcomings on the other end. Again, I come back to... this is a draft class where there are a few guys where you can squint and see how they could become all-stars (Topic may be one of them)... but the question marks are really major. You don't have guys with that low-end starter floor/franchise player ceiling, instead you have guys with, bench player floor/all-star ceiling, and that's really the best this class has to offer in terms of upside. It's not a bad class for roleplayers where you feel very confident they can be real contributors though.
I know everyone starts to think about "consolidation moves" or just getting a safe rotational player to fill gaps when they see we don't have a top 5 pick. But, every time the playoffs come around I'm reminded of how important it is to find star players. And, these star players aren't just found in the top 5 of the draft. SGA was pick 11, Halliburton 12, Donovan Mitchell 13, Booker 13. This draft will have all star players, historically every draft does. There's a decent chance we draft one of them at 9. At this stage of the Rockets' development, I would only move a lottery pick if it's part of a move to bring in another star player. I'm not worrying about playing time or how we keep them all, those are good problems. If they're all great enough that we're in cap trouble then we'd also be having championship contender conversations. Otherwise, the cream will rise to the top, and the others will be move along unceremoniously.
I wouldn’t be so quick to think Shepherd will be better than Dillingham. Shep is a better pure shooter but Dillingham is a beast off the dribble.
I believe the knock on Dillingham is no defense. Shep has great defensive stats. Whether those stats will translate to the NBA is suspect. I think Shepherd’s skill set is a better fit for the Rockets.
Rockets need a sharp shooter. If they can turn the #9 pick into one, it would be amazing. I know there is a slight chance it could be higher or lower, but in the 9 pick area, you can be at a place where you can find a specialist or trade for one.
If Knecht is there at 9, it's a no Brainer. He'll have a very solid 10 plus year career... Need a shooter/hustle type... He's that.
