Why did Hakeem finish his career in Toronto? Did Steve Francis have something to do with it? I am thinking about it, but it is not coming to me. Thanks in Advance.
Though mostly washed up (as exhibited in his last year in Toronto) Hakeem wanted the big $$$ and playing time. The Rockets DID offer him a fair contract so that he could retire gracefully in Houston, but he opted for the $$$ and dashed across the border. It's too bad things ended on a sour note. Hakeems pride was hurt as is so often the case when a superstars career winds down. He was and STILL IS THE MAN where Houston sports are concerned.
I'm just glad he didn't pull a Malone and sign with the Lakers. I think then I would have puked if Hakeem did that. I think he really wanted some money. He deserved it for some of the years he played for us. If there could have been an under the table deal I would have hoped Les gave him some sort of compensation for the years he won the rings for us. If I'm not mistaken Hakeem wasn't being payed that much when we had him those years.
He thought he could get to the Finals again playing with Vince Carter. I think that was before Carter became injury prone, right?
What is interesting is that Toronto once offered T-Mac and Doug Christie for Olajuwon five years ago. The Rockets, however, chose to be loyal to Hakeem and kept him for another two years before eventually dealing him to Toronto for draft picks.
... yeah, and the 5/12 picks in that draft, which we could have used to take Shawn Marion, Andre Miller or Richard Hamilton, and Ron Artest, Corey Maggette or Kirilinko...
Hakeem wanted a 3 year contract, Rudy and CD were only going to give him a 2 year deal. I believe it was understood that Hakeem would not be playing the last year of the contract, only getting paid the extra guaranteed money. Rudy only thought Dream had 1 year left in him, Toronto must have thought they could squeeze 2 years out of him. j
i think it was something like hakeem took a paycut to bring in pippen and barkley and was expecting to get his money back and then some later on in his career...and when he didn't get it, he left.
I do not feel that is correct. I would like to see some proof. Olajuwon made $16m in his final season as a Rocket. His expiring contract was where the money came from to sign Mo Taylor, Moochie Norris and to SnT Shandon Anderson for an $8m Glen Rice. As well as (very) briefly flirt with a $14m Chris Webber. IIRC, Barkley took the pay cut to get Pippen.
