[SIZE="4"][color="Red"]2012-2013 Roster Preview[/color]
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As discussed before, Coach Eisley has a full roster. Most teams have a roster spot or two available to make a last minute pickup heading into the season or leave it open for a midseason acquisition via sign or trade. Unless the Rockets decide to cut somebody, this roster is intact. Let’s take a look at what Kris has got to work with.
Point Guard
Jeremy Lin – 24 – The Linsanity era in New York ended as fast as it began with the Rockets signing him to a 3-year, $25 million deal that the Knicks could not match. Lin can score in bunches as well as get teammates involved. He can be a bit turnover prone as his handles are not up to par with his passing ability. Being a Harvard graduate, he’s got the intelligence to run any system on offense and defense. He will be the Rockets’ starter for the length of his contract.
Toney Douglas – 26 – Another former Knick, Douglas doesn’t bring much to the table as a point guard. He can score a bucket or two off the bench, but his $2 million expiring contract is the most attractive part of his game at this point. He will be on the trade block immediately.
Scott Machado – 22 – Signed to a 3-year rookie deal by former GM Daryl Morey, Machado bring a great outside shot and is a capable backup point guard. His offensive skills are par for the course for a backup, but his defense leaves much to be desired. An upgrade here would be welcomed in Houston.
Shooting Guard
James Harden – 22 – Before leaving, Morey swung for the fences and acquired a star in the making in James Harden. He is an offensive juggernaut that loves to get to the rim and earn some easy points at the line. He’s a two-way player that can be a pest on the defensive end as well. He is the heart and soul of this team and will be for the foreseeable future.
Daequan Cook – 25 – Cook was a tremendous shooter at Ohio State, but that one skill he had hasn’t translated well into the NBA. He will be better used as trade fodder with a $3 million expiring deal.
Small Forward
Chandler Parsons – 23 – Parsons was a 2nd round pick a year ago and has shown flashes to be a steal. He does a little bit of everything and reminds some of a young Shawn Marion. He is signed on for three more seasons, all for under $1 million, and won’t be going anywhere unless he leaves via free agency.
Carlos Delfino – 30 – The elder statesmen of the team, Delfino brings a long-range scorer to a roster that is devoid of three-point shooters. He’s a decent rebounder for his position, but at times can get caught gambling on defense. He will be a good veteran to have around.
Terrence Jones – 20 – A first round pick this year, Jones is seen as a man without a position. He’s too slow to play the three but too small to play the four. He can do a little bit of everything, but no one skill is even above average for the NBA. He could have a short-lived career in Houston.
Royce White – 20 – The most intriguing non-lottery pick in quite some time. Royce White has all the skills to be a very good player. Some experts say on his skill set alone he should have been a top-5 pick. Unfortunately for White, he is battling some anxiety issues that at times could force him to miss games due to fear of traveling. As a player, White is considered a point-forward at times as he is a gifted passer for a player his size. The small forward position is crowded, but if Coach McHale can figure a way to utilize his unique skill set, he could carve out a niche in the rotation.
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[Editor’s Note: There will be Royce Rules in place, determining eligibility to play each and every game. These rules will be discussed in the next post.][/SIZE][/color]
Marcus Morris – 22 – A first round pick just a couple years ago, Morris has proven that he does not belong in the NBA. He will be gone very soon.
Power Forward
Patrick Patterson – 24 – Patterson is an undersized jump-shooting power forward, but plays with a bunch of energy and can help some on the glass and on the defensive end. A stretch four is useful with this team, but I would rather see a more traditional four on the roster.
Donatas Motiejunas – 22 – The Lithuanian has finally come overseas and making the leap to the NBA. He’s got some growing to do in all aspects of his game. If he shows improvement, he could stick around. If not, look for him to be moved as Eisley pursues a more polished big man.
Greg Smith – 21 – Undrafted and signed to a two-year deal, Smith is a project in every sense of the word. He is a bit undersized and not as athletic as you would like, so he may struggle to find minutes in the rotation.
Center
Omer Asik – 26 – Fresh off a three-year, $25 million contract, Asik will be the starter at center. He brings inside scoring as well as a legitimate rebounder, shot blocker and interior defender. He will be the rock on the inside for the Rockets, but will almost certainly need some help as well.
Cole Aldrich – 24 – The former lottery pick has not lived up to the billing. He is now seen as just big defender that won’t last long in Houston once Kris Eisley can find a better backup center. Unfortunately, he has a 2nd year on his contract so Houston may need to find a trade partner.
The average age of this roster as currently compiled is 23.4 years of age. Now we haven’t done the math, but that’s got to be the youngest roster in the league. With a young roster, most people would think it is rebuilding time, but the core is intact and ready to be a playoff team now. They may be on the fringe, around 7th to 10th in the West, but help should be on the way within the next season or two.
