NBA Mock Draft Update: Will Houston Rockets Consider Darius Morris?
by Tom Martin on Jun 10, 2011 4:52 PM CDT
in NBA Draft
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Oh, the horror.
I looked up a slew of NBA Mock drafts today (okay, four) and came across NBA Draft.net's mock. There, sitting at number fourteen, was Michigan PG Darius Morris. He's still there, unfortunately.
While he's a talented player, various other mocks have Morris barely sneaking into the first round. I like the guy - he's a big, versatile guard with creativity on offense - but if the Rockets take a point guard at number fourteen, mark my words, some team had better have offered Houston the trade equivalent of Christmas morning in exchange for Kyle Lowry. There are too many better options to be had at positions that Houston needs to shore up.
Anyway, here's the latest from the NBA Mock Draftosphere:
Pick No. 14:
ESPN.com- Bismack Biyombo
Biyombo is in the conversation as high as No. 5, but the general lack of information about him may cause his stock to slip. He's got the physical abilities to be excellent in the league, but he's a wild card.
The Raptors, Wizards, Pistons, Bucks and Jazz all will give him strong looks. I doubt he slips further than Houston. While small forward is a big need too (they like Marcus Morris, Jordan Hamilton and Tobias Harris there), at this point Biyombo is more reward than risk.
A poor man's Marcus Morris.
DraftExpress - Jordan Hamilton
NBA Draft.net- Darius Morris
Pick No. 23:
ESPN.com - Nikola Vucevic
Even though we have the Rockets going big at No. 14, don't be surprised if they do it again here. Vucevic has helped himself as much as anyone in the workout process. He's got size, toughness and skill. He's not going to be a superstar thanks to a lack of explosive athleticism, but he'll be a very solid addition to the Rockets. Mirotic, Justin Harper and Darius Morris are other possibilities.
SB Nation - Josh Selby
Darren Collison with Nick Young's conscience. (Which is to say no conscience.)
DraftExpress - Tyler Honeycutt
NBA Draft.net - Tyler Honeycutt
----
Brief thoughts:
1. Bring back the Tobias love, please. I'm still on the bandwagon.
2. Biyombo at fourteen is a must-take.
3. Honeycutt is intriguing, but Houston can do better at SF in this draft.
3. When I first look at Nikola Vucevic, I wonder what it was that I thought when I first looked at David Andersen.
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Jesus
You beat my fanpost mentioning the same thing by all of 5 minutes. Good work.
Check out nickandroll.blogspot.com
Other thoughts
Although Biyombo scares me a bit, I would support picking him at 14. Just read today about him having a triple double at the Nike Hoops Summit. Granted, this was against inferior(see younger, maybe) competition, this was the first time anybody had done this at this game, and the shot-blocking presence is something we obviously lack.
Also, I’m not really sure how Tyler Honeycutt fits into a lineup with Chase Budinger and Terrence Williams ahead of him, but I love taking UCLA players. Ben Howland usually teaches these kids how to play defense, and I would love to see what he can do.
Also, if some of the guys we are targeting at 23 are gone, I wouldn’t mind taking a look at Trey Thompkins.
Check out nickandroll.blogspot.com
Ahead of K. Thompson, Biyombo, Singleton and Harris?
I’ve never seen Morris play, but those 4 consistently seemed to be ranked higher.
McHale seems fixated on big men (like I), so I think that would dictate Biyombo. Also the Draftexpress guy said in a recent podcast that he sees Biyombo and Irving as being the two all-stars from this draft.
But with Kanter #1, T. Thompson #6, Marcus Morris #8 this whole mock seems to be trolling for attention.
Being from Michigan..
I watched a few of Morris’s games….generally, I think I would pass on him. The scouting reports peg him as a true PG, but I didn’t get that feeling watching him. Also, the defense is lacking and he is more of a project than anything.
Check out nickandroll.blogspot.com
walterfootball.com also has good mock drafts
Any Morris twin would be TERRIBLE in my opinion…
Darius Morris would give us the freedom to trade lowry and has the upside to mold into a Russel Westbrook type player…
I honestly think we could get the same scoring productivity from Chase Budinger as we would from Jordan Hamilton and I think if we take a SF, we should trade up for one like Jan Vesely or Derrick Williams…
And Vucevic is a really underrated player with a rising stock, he could go in the top 20
A poor man's Marcus Morris?
That’s way off. Maybe in terms of scoring, Markieff is inferior, but everything else, absolutely not. Markieff is the better defender, shot blocker, and rebounder. Markieff also has the better NBA body at 6’9" 240. Marcus is 6’8" 228. They are much different players.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
by bone31crusher on Jun 10, 2011 6:12 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Weird how Biyombo is falling, and not Thompson.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
by bone31crusher on Jun 10, 2011 6:17 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
I'd like Morris at 23
I’ve always preferred bigger PG’s because of the versatility they bring. At 14 Biyombo should be taken. You cannerver have enough bigs in the NBA so you take them when you can. Have them compete for playing time the way Brooks and Lowry did. It’s a win win situation.
Me against the world is a mismatch in my favor.
not for brooks it wasnt
But at the end of the day so long as it makes us a better team, who gives a damn
"Never underestimate the heart of a champion"- Rudy T, all up in that azz
by ShookednShanghaied11 on Jun 10, 2011 6:38 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
You take Biyombo at 14 mainly because he'd be a great value pick at 14.
Same thing for Morris at 23.
Morris’ ceiling is a good enough reason to take him at 23.
They are both project players, so I doubt we’d take Morris at 23 if we take Biyombo at 14, assuming he falls.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
by bone31crusher on Jun 10, 2011 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I like to think Morris is ready now
He’s a high character guy and he was a leader on his team. He can come in and contribute immediately if asked to do so. I thing he would be good insurance for all of our guards.
Me against the world is a mismatch in my favor.
I agree with you on that.
Biyombo could contribute right away, because he’s already solid all around defensively, but he’s a huge liability on offense.
Morris could contribute right away, but he has holes in his game that may prevent him from doing so.
“I think he would be good insurance for all of our guards.”
You take insurance at 23? Not sure about that, especially since we are 2 deep at PG.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
by bone31crusher on Jun 10, 2011 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Insurance in case we trade one or more of our guards
We have a ton of talented guards and one of them is bound to be traded. That’s where Morris comes in and gets a chance.
Me against the world is a mismatch in my favor.
This is my current board, assmung Biyombo doesn't fall:
1. Thompson at 14
2. Harris at 14
3. Trade up for Biyombo
4. Mk. Morris at 14
5. Jordan Hamilton at 14
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
Just watched tape on Morris,
and I liked what I saw.
Positives:
-Great in the open court
-Terrific balance
-Great handles
-Physical player on both ends
-Can post up smaller guards
-T-Will-like vision and passing skills
-Multi-dimensional player
-Good rebounder
Negatives:
-Sometimes forces it
-Can be turnover prone at times
-Somewhat lazy on off-ball defense
-Jumper needs work
-Has ball so much it’s too hard to tell how he plays off-ball
-Can hold on to the ball too long
All in all, this guy reminds me of T-Will. He’s not quite as athletic or explosive, but they both have similar skillsets.
However, Morris can play the PG spot. He has all of the tools and fundamentals to be a PG, but needs work in some areas.
He definitely plays with confidence. Sometimes, he gets ahead of himself, and tries to force it. Thankfully, when he drives to the rim, he’s rarely out of control.
He’s not the quickest guy, but he’s fast in the open court.
I would be thrilled if we got this guy at 23, even if it means we trade Dragic or Lowry.
Morris is the type of player Morey would draft, but there are a few alarms. While he still has upside, he may have peaked in some areas.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
the whole mock draft at nbadraft.net
seems pretty crazy to me
can you imagine if we got Thabeet and Biyombo
to halfway not suck and play on the court at the same time?
I used to care a lot about mock drafts and draft days when I was younger
Then I learned that pre-draft player projections are more or less a joke, especially when dealing with non-top 5 prospects. In the end, the draft is about how much you trust your front office, not about the player drafted.
Don’t believe me? Look at this ESPN “insider” mock draft in 2005.
1. MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Marvin Williams
Most scouts feel Williams is the guy with the most upside in the draft and Milwaukee’s roster puts the Bucks in good position to take him. While Andrew Bogut could help too, Williams gives the Bucks the best shot at being a contender someday.
2. ATLANTA HAWKS
Andrew Bogut
Atlanta slips a spot in the lottery but still gets its guy. The team has nothing in the middle and Bogut should be able to anchor that position immediately. Bogut doesn’t play the uptempo style that GM Billy Knight likes to play, but they just can’t pass on a legit center.
3. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Gerald Green
The Blazers wanted Bogut but are happy at No. 3 because it guarantees they get Green. Chris Paul is rated higher, but the Blazers don’t need another small point guard. Next to Marvin Williams, Green has as much upside as anyone in the draft.
4. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
Chris Paul
5. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Deron Williams
If the Rockets had the #1 pick that year, and took Chris Paul or Deron Williams with the first pick, I wonder how many Rockets fans would’ve quit on the team that very day?
Eh.
I don’t think that many would have “quit” the team. Marvin was never the “consensus” guy, either. I think all four of those aside from Green were considered interchangeable – Marvin proved to be the flop. Gerald Green’s name, on the other hand, is a surprise at number three. Dude sucks.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
Well, Well, I used it as an exaggeration. Not supposed to be taken literally
The point is, while mock drafts and speculating how a player fit or don’t fit with the Rockets, we still honestly have no clue about how these players turn out.
If you do a 3-years-later redraft of every NBA draft, mock or real, they all turn out drastically different. So it really is all about believing that your team knows what they’re doing.
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