Dream denies late visit from Rudy, CD, and Cuttino

It also appears the Rockets have evaluated Jelani Mccoy...

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/989098

Dream's departure leaves no hard feelings in his wake

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle

Rudy Tomjanovich had seen signs Hakeem Olajuwon could be gone for weeks, maybe longer. Even if he hadn't, he had to know the day would come eventually when he would be the Rockets' coach and Olajuwon would not be his center.

Olajuwon had been slipping toward the Toronto Raptors for days, and could have been pointing out of town for longer. But when the call came, they talked and an icon of Houston sports and the fulcrum of the Rockets' success under Tomjanovich was gone. And for all the warning signs, Tomjanovich could not help but feel the shock.

"For me personally, it will be the first time I've had a basketball team and Hakeem Olajuwon is not on that team," Tomjanovich said. "He's the guy behind my success. I'm not ashamed to say that. I'm proud of that.

"I thought we had a tremendous association and success. The city, the Rockets, myself, my family owe him a great debt of gratitude."

Tomjanovich, who played his entire career with the Rockets, said he understood Olajuwon's decision and that the center was leaving to chase another championship.

"This is the NBA and ... free agency is a part of it. We had a very good, positive, cordial conversation. Dream is a champion. He is a competitor. He has found a situation where he can go for another ring. He explained that to me. Even though there is a great sense of loss, to see a champion to go after it, I have to give nothing but my blessing. I respect the guy so much for that."

Tomjanovich, Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson and guard Cuttino Mobley had hoped to make a late appeal by visiting Olajuwon on Tuesday, but Olajuwon asked they not make the trip.

Olajuwon did not make his decision until after the Rockets increased their offer to a guaranteed $13 million over three seasons. But he seemed to be resigned to leaving for several days.

"You could tell from the tone of his voice that he had made up his mind," Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said. "An aura is gone. We'll have to build a new aura around new, young stars."

The Rockets' next move, however, is unclear. They have not reached a consensus of whether to pursue free agent Marc Jackson, a physical, 6-10, 270-pound center who has expressed considerable interest in playing for the Rockets.

Jackson is weighing an offer to sign with the Pacers, according to several sources. But sources said offers he has received would allow the Rockets to remain under the budget needed to sign Maurice Taylor and Shandon Anderson in the available salary cap space.

The Rockets could not use the $5.1 million trade exception they will receive from the Raptors to acquire Jackson because he could not be permitted to sign with the Warriors for that large a salary. The Rockets, sources said, have also evaluated Seattle free agent Jelani McCoy, sources said.

Jackson's agent, Joel Bell, declined comment.

Tomjanovich said he did want to make a decision yet about replacing Olajuwon on the Rockets roster, calling losing Olajuwon one of the toughest things he has been through in his career.

"It's an emotional time," Tomjanovich said. "We were always holding out that we could work this out. We made (signing Olajuwon) our No. 1 priority."

Alexander said he hoped the shock would wear off relatively quickly, especially with young players who had not played very long with Olajuwon.

"I've really enjoyed playing with Hakeem," said Rockets forward Matt Bullard, a teammate of Olajuwon's for nine of Bullard's 10 NBA seasons. "I feel like being able to play with him made me better player and helped me in my career. I'll always appreciate the opportunity to play with one of the best players of all time.

"Hakeem was the major force behind back to back championship, the first championships in the city of Houston. The people of Houston will always have Hakeem as the player brought the first championships to the city of Houston."

Alexander said he understood why the coaching staff would be so shaken by the development, but that they would not have to wonder if more could have been done to keep Olajuwon with the Rockets.

"They were there day to day with Dream. I'm not," Alexander said. "Rudy is more emotionally attached. They are together practice to practice, all the games, all the plane rides. There is camaraderie. We put all our effort into signing him. There was nothing left to do."

Knowing that they made a good run at Olajuwon could eventually help. But that knowledge, or understanding why he made his decision, did not dampen the shock on Wednesday.

"I understand, this is a good situation for him," Tomjanovich said. "He is a competitive player. He's a champion. He wanted to go for another ring. And I've got to accept it.

"Even though this thing did not turn out the way I would have liked it to turn out, I have to accept it. Even when Dream is playing for another team, I know I will pull for the guy and I hope he does get a chance to go for another championship, and I hope it's against us."

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[This message has been edited by The Cat (edited August 01, 2001).]