Rockets should trade for a 6'3" combo guard with excellent D and 3pt shooting.
by Xiane on Jan 26, 2010 5:42 PM CST
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Wait, it turns out the Rockets already have just such a guy. What, you say, where? How?
In case you missed it last week here's a Jason Friedmann article on Rockets.com/NBA.com Draft discussing 2nd round pick Sergio Llull . Yes, that guy. The one we took first. Turns out there's a reason - this guy's for real. Not that I ever doubted it, but wow, he's doing well in the toughest, most veteran league in Europe at barely 22.
How's 71.4% shooting and 47% 3pt shooting in Euro League play strike you?
No cursing in title. No pirated material, such as links to online game streams. Do not cut/paste entire sections of content from other websites. Thanks.
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interesting reads
but when will he ever cross the atlantic?
I think in the next two years.
Either on a buyout for next season, or on a straight signing the year after. He’s just turned 22 and Spanish league is basically AAAA – not the NBA, but a lot better than NCAA hoops in terms of complexity of play – he’ll have been running pro caliber offenses.
Also 3rd youngest guy on the truly loaded Spanish national team – pretty amazing for a 2nd rounder.
Llull does look promising
But let’s keep in mind that he’s under contract in Europe through next season. Bringing him over sooner would mean negotiating some kind of buyout, and if he still has some rough edges, the Rockets may just want him to keep playing his heart out in Madrid.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a buyout of some sort.
The Rockets played their monetary advantages to the hilt in the last draft, and since I don’t think a buyout goes to cap money, its a real possibility.
If not, the year after, I think he comes over. It’s not like there’s a HOF player manning the SG slot – its not Scola like in that way.
andersen
was a championship euro player, and i believe was even named finals mvp or something. what does he get? – limited minutes. Let’s keep in mind the drop-off between any euro league and the NBA – scola is another product of that transition, and took a good year to develop a reliable nba game. what this means is that either we should bring him over quickly (and negotiate a buyout) in order to not be put in the situation we are in with scola (in his prime, but getting old), or let him stay a little longer, and hope we can trade the rights to him for something better.
Wafer . . . again. (Marv Albert, HOU v. CLE Feb 2009)
-one of the FEW at Toyota Center who has the Wafer jersey
I'm not sure why Andersen stayed in Europe so long.
Perhaps it was Barcelona – beautiful city, beaches, food, nightlife, culture, a short hop to the rest of Europe. If I was a star there, on a top team, I’d find it pretty hard to go over to the previously woeful Atlanta Hawks. It was getting the shot with Yao out that did the trick.
As for Scola, well there was the whole Duncan thing.
So all that to say, for the Euro stars, its about opportunity – the Spanish league is good enough, and the money is good enough, that it’s better to be a star there than a benchwarmer in the US. And don’t think we’ve seen the limits for Andersen – we’re just past 1/2 a season, after all.
Andersen was held by Hawks
Andersen’s rights were held by Hawks who were in some disarray. Previous GM wanted to bring him over but was denied by squabbling owners then got fired. New GM wanted to evaluate team before bringing Andersen in,delaying another yr. It was about to get really ugly when Rockets called.
6'3?!
u hypin a 6’3 combo guard with “3 pt shooting”?! Excellent D? on who, Najera?!
LMAO
What makes you think
Llull can’t shoot or play D? Everything I read, and see, makes me think he could be something pretty special. Can you cite any contrary evidence or expert opinion?
He’s shot north of 42% from 3pt range for his career.
Given that Brooks and Lowry are (perhaps) 6’ tall, a legit 6’3" point who can shift and play SG (perhaps you’ve seen the Rockets do this successfully this year, like, if you’ve watched a single game) could be pretty nifty.
If you see Brooks or Lowry go in a trade, expect to see Llull sooner rather than later.
ite damn bro hop off his dick!
maybe he is nba-ready ite then cool. but “excellent d” overseas is prolly waaaaaaaayyy diff than nba. then again i dunno..and neither do u. Any Scout’s summary of any foreign player is most likely gonna be out of context esp. when he steps in the toyota center. this article is HYPE!!
by SlideNShuffle on Jan 26, 2010 8:25 PM CST up reply actions
Ok, "bro"
But Marc Gasol had a good defensive rep, and yep, he can play D here. I can name several PFs with much worse D than Scola.
Of course, some scouts hype could totally undervalue a player, too. Or haven’t you run across Casspi yet?
Sure, it’s some hype, but do a little reading – the stats are what they are – the translations are favorable.
Of course he’s got to prove whatever in the NBA, but Andersen keeps getting called for playing D, not otherwise. He ends up doing nothing because he’s not allowed to touch anyone without a whistle.
Maybe the Euro leagues have grown up while you weren’t looking, – some leagues in Europe (Greece) play like its 1995, not the softish way basketball is played in the NBA now.
Or maybe you know something that Morey and co don’t? Please share.
No need to swap, why not have both ?
(cue organ music, maniacal laughter, sounds of bubbling chemicals)
Perhaps we could implant Llulls shooting ability and ball handling into Ariza! Muhahaha! Then! Then my friend, we’d have…we’d have…
well, we’d have Vintage TMac, actually, with an added desire to play D. Essentially the perfect player.
And it would have worked, too, if not for you meddling kids.
And...
Why not transplant Landry’s nose for the ball and Chuck’s heart into Andersen? We’d be unstoppable,unstoppable I say.
Why stop there.
How about Brook’s speed and control into Yao, and we’ll mix in Hakeem’s shot blocking, he’s not using it anyway.
Y'all got a little carried away there huh
by RedRowdy420 on Jan 27, 2010 10:44 AM CST up reply actions
stop the ariza hate!
damn, his shot is gonna fall sooner or later!
hey fellas go read that perfect blockbuster (and more likely) trade
on the RECENT FANPOST. Looks like a good idea…LOL just read it!
Interesting that 2 Execs went to see him
Possible they’re trying to boost trade value,but more likely they’re looking at how close he is to being ready for what the Rockets want.
There may be some uncertainty in signing Lowry for what the Rockets are ready to spend. If so,they have Conroy stashed w/the Vipers and he could be fill-in next season while Llull adjusts to US.
A back-up PG who can defend 2s,make jumpers and run the offense sounds like the perfect complement to Brooks in the 2-PG sets Adelman likes.
It's very interesting.
It could be a worry over signing Lowry. It could be trade possibilities. It could be that Brian Cook’s roster spot is going to open up next year, and Llull might look good there.
More than Cook's spot could open
Yao,Battier,Ariza,Battier,Andersen,Brooks,Budinger,Taylor guaranteed.(Yao’s not opting out.)
Team options on Landry,all but assured.
Team option on Hayes pretty d*** likely.(altho I wouldn’t be suprised to see a new 3 yr deal at a lower salary and a decent signing bonus.)
Team option on Dorsey looks extremely unlikely.
Free agents in Scola,Lowry.
Bring back everybody but Dorsey and there’s only 12 players if Scola,Lowry resigned.
Room for 1 MLE+ FA,a rookie and…
I think the team will carry a combo gd next yr as insurance,as they’ll be expecting a Playoff run. Either Temple or Llull.
BTW,I think there’s a very strong chance the team doesn’t sign a FA if it resigns Scola and Lowry. The next offseason will be either strike/lockout or under new CBA and w/cap room there will be shot at some very good players at bargain prices. W/depressed salaries,Texas no-income tax status will become even more attractive.
The team is prob going to be fairly hardline on what it’s willing to pay Scola and Lowry.
There's some chatter here in Denver of trading JR Smith
for Battier. Denver is getting pretty tired of JR’s act. Would anyone here make that trade?
Sweet deal. I just bet my buddy, a Nug fan, the gas for our road trip this weekend. Looks like my chances of winning are getting better.
Miss-placed Houstonian living and going to school in the wilderness of Wyoming. Fresno St. 28 - Wyoming 35 (2 OT)!!! Hands down best game I have ever been to.
Don't spend your money yet
Nugs 3-2 without Melo this year, including wins against the Jazz on the road and against the Cavs.
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