I know there were some postings on some boards about this, and some speculation by some media, and so I made a couple (actually several) phone calls to Toronto. Finally spoke to an old friend of mine who in turn confirmed this morning with the following (Vince Carter) family source information. I trust this guy's sources. Wed.AM: - When Glen Grunwald came to Houston this week, he did not come empty- handed. The Toronto Raptors GM was there to have a few questions answered and to solidify his team’s bid for the services of Hakeem Olajuwon. He spoke with the Houston free agent briefly and asked a couple of important questions. Are we still in the running? Yes. Can we do anything else to help you decide? No. Would you (Hakeem) accept a phone call from Vince Carter? Yes. The Raptor GM had arranged a somewhat private call from Vince to Dream. (No, it is not clear nor was it asked whether it was a cellphone call or a landline. ) The busy Raptor lead man (he’s chairman of some very prestigious charity events in the coming days and in high demand) wanted to reiterate and assure Hakeem that Toronto was a great place to live and work even if in a temporary basis, and that the Canadian team is a class organization. He aparently told hakeem that he was abot to sign a long contract with them and he would not do that if he felt the Raptors were less than competitive. Vince said he had spoken to a number of guys (presumably Toronto team members) this week and they all had glowing things to say about the prospect of playing with Hakeem. Hakeem surprised Vince by telling him that he knew people there and had some contact with some relatives who have lived there. Carter also wanted to let Hakeem know personally that it would be an honor to play alongside him and that was why he wanted to speak to him man to man. He said he felt the Raptors would go to the finals this coming season with the addition of Hakeem. He said he (Hakeem) would be the missing piece to take them over the top in the Eastern Conference. According to the family member source, the call was brief and mostly one sided with Vince doing most of the talking. They said Vince was encouraged and thought that Hakeem was pleased about the call. The only thing Hakeem told him was that he would decide this week, and that he would call Vince personally and let him know his answer regardless of what was decided. Vince felt this was a “class thing” to say. Carter kept shaking his head and saying “Man, Hakeem. Man, that would be fun!” and words to that effect. More as I get it. ------------------
This doesn't sound that big of a deal. Grunwald met with Dream, and obviously tried to get him to speak to Vince as a sales pitch. Is there a big deal here?
btw oeilpere....it is *very cool* you were able to get this info though. I don't mean to downplay your contribution. I'm jealous, indeed.
I heard Cassell talked to Hakeem about Milwaukee. But um Im just Ziggy and I don't even believe me. Once again thanks for the scoop oeil. ------------------ "banging Shaq is a whole different expirience"-Pete Babcock Behold the power of quotation
Finally something to chew on. Thanks Pops. ------------------ It's Clutch's City and we're all just living in it...
Thanks, OP. It does sound like standard sales pitch stuff, but I'll bet it is exciting for Hakeem to feel courted by a contending team. We'll miss him. ------------------ I'm so amazingly cool you could keep a side of meat in me for a month. I am so hip that I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis.
When reading this all I could think about was how NBC (all media really) is going to go ape dookie with all the hype of the legend playing with hot shot. There will be none stop comparisons to Shaq and Kobe...East vs. West. Now, becuase Dream will be playing with Vince, he will some how be a better player for leaving Houston. Walton is going to be slobbering all over himself. ------------------ In the end there will be no judges...only witnesses to my greatness.
Crispee, Zig, et al .... I think my intention was to answer for myself if any contact took place, especially in light of the fact that Hakeem has been largely incomunicado with his own teammates for some time. Then secondarily, to confirm the tone or "feelings" of Vince Carter towards having Hakeem on board. I know we all look at these things with a somewhat biased eye, simply because we assume someone of Hakeem's talent would be welcomed anywhere ... but in reality, sometimes that is not always the case. ------------------
Nice scoop, Ojopadre. By the by, will we renounce Dream or will we get a draft pick? I ask this because the draft pick points to, "Make sure you guys low-ball Hakeem so that we can take him off your hands, and we'll S&T using the exception; you'll get a draft pick for your trouble." Do you think Marc Jax is our target? It would make some sense. ------------------
And that's different than normal, how? ------------------ "If you don't understand it, don't try to understand it." -Carl Everett
Never thought this day would come. So is this race just between the Rockets and Raptors, or are the Pacers etc. still in it. ------------------ "Larry Johnson, who spent the last 48 hours railing against the world, what a pathetic performance by this sad human being." -The one and only Bill Walton
I think ESPN reported that the Pacers are now out of the Dream hunt, and instead are focusing on Marc Jackson. ------------------ This post contains no smilies, you must judge my seriousness on your own...
Roxy, et al: This is just my feeling/speculation on what is/will take place. 1. I think Hakeem feels has to eat crow if he wants to play with the Rockets this season. He has to accept this final offer, and the unsaid .... that is ... the ultimatum presented by the Rockets negotiation team: (1)Yes we want you with us. Yes, you are important to us. (2) But No, you are not the future of this franchise and No we will not deviate from our plan to focus on the youth and a more "run and gun" type offense. Now decide please. I think there is a greater chance he will balk at this (for the reasons above) and decide to not sign here. I will put it to you - do you think Hakeem will abducate the position he has maintained throughout this affair? Answer: Nope. Too prideful. 2. I think Toronto is the only other viable alternative. The Pacers and the Knicks are not in the running. It will be Toronto (and his perceived intention to "show" he is his "own man" and will make his "own future" at a new franchise) over Houston (and the perceived lack of respect for "his worth" by the Rcokets). Houston Versus Toronto. 3. If Hakeem decides to go elsewhere we will sign our free agents as designed, with the possible exception of Shandon Anderson. There is still some doubt there, and believe me Fegan will not knuckle under twice to the same team in the same off season. Because of the state of free agency, the dwindling prospects and the shrinking team options, Shandon may decide/agree to a sign and trade. 4. We will persue Mark Jackson for the simple reason that he is the most accessible of the available pivot free agents. Contact and negotiative in-roads have been made prior to this, but he will be vigorously sought if hakeem leaves. I still think that the goal was LaFrentz all along ..... but the chances of that happening now are slowly fading. 4. I think Marc Jackson will NOT be offered an extended longterm contract as he is requesting (5 to six years with some guarantees). He will be offered a contract in the neighborhood of 4 years maximum. The only way he would get a five year out of CD is if the overall price tag remains around the 4.5/ year aggregate. In short, I think the Rockets organization will easily accept a $4.0 - 5.0 M/y for four years demand and will extend to five years if the aggregate remains the same. 5. With all things being equal, Marc Jackson will take an offer from the Houston Rockets long before Golden State, Seattle or Indiana. 6. If things do go the way the Rockets want them to go, Golden State may be (forced, invited,cajoled) into accepting a sign and trade with us unloading some redundant manwear. Although Golden State has some hefty guarantees on the roster and something like eighteen players still listed, they will still have a hole at the pivot with the absence of Jackson. But the long and short of it is (and I know Crisp and aelliott and others will correct me here if I am wrong): By my calculation I think we can sign Marc Jackson outright without requesting a sign and trade to accomadate the move. I think Golden State is in a bind. ------------------ [This message has been edited by oeilpere (edited August 01, 2001).]
Pops- Thanks for the scoop! I begin to think more and more that their is something missing in the chemistry between Stevie-Dream. If Dream does leave I wish him well. He wants to feel important which the Rockets didn't do last year. Maybe calling it Stevie's team upset Dream more than he showed.
You know, I live in SF, and tickets to Alcatraz are damn hard to come by. My wife's grandmother is coming in two weeks, and we have been on a waiting list for tickets. Do you want to know what the waiting list is for an opportunity to see mediocre centers play bad basketball in Oakland? Zero minutes. In summary, we should take Jackson whether or not Hakeem stays, just cause we can and Golden State will have another good player they let go (Webber, Chucky, etc.) Can you imageine what a hero Hakeem would be in Houston if he took our offer? He would be considered sooooo charitable, loyal, wise and sacrificing. It would be hilarious. He should stay just to see himself elected Mayor by write-in. And why doesn't Jim Mack / Gallery FUrniture offer Hakeem $4 mil per to stay and do one charity thing per year? Then Mack and Dream would be even more locally heroic. Waiting for the Bay Area to get a pro team, CBFC ps. no way, Adonal sucks ------------------ Join the Chucky Brown Fan Club [This message has been edited by CBrownFanClub (edited August 01, 2001).]
Sabonis: Last I heard was a week or so ago from a source in LA, that Sabonis was talking about returning to Portland for a single year at exception money then retiring. Read a few days later in a press relaese somewhere, where this was being reported to the media also. Clarence: LOL Alcatraz Tickets scarcer than Warriors tickets ..... go figure! ------------------
I think the truth is somewhere between what Oeil & driver8 have said. GS isn't quite head over heels about who they have up front without Jackson, but they're not desperate to avoid "losing him for nothing," either. As Warriors GM Garry St. Jean said a week or two back, Jackson "is a nice player on an NBA team." As that implies, though, he's not much more. As a center he provides very little defensive presence, which is why Seattle just chose Booth instead of him. He's not better than a healthy Erick Dampier, although I would play him ahead of Adonal Foyle. (CBFC is right, Foyle is overrated. Whatever matchups you thought he "was formidable" in, oeilpere, I'll guess they were against someone 6'9 or shorter ... or that he looked "formidable" blocking a shot or two while being scored on most of the time.) The thing is, GS has 14 guaranteed contracts already, and Jackson -- or whoever they signed with their $4.5M exception instead -- would make 15. And if they extend Jamison and Hughes for anywhere near the maximum, they're looking at the luxury tax next year. If they could unload, say, Bobby Sura's contract first, they'd be more enthusiastic about re-signing Jackson. ------------------ "I personally wouldn't give up my college years for anything. It was the funnest time I have ever had. But with the money they are getting, you can't blame a kid for coming out." —Jazz forward Scott Padgett, demonstrating the value of a college education [This message has been edited by Swopa (edited August 01, 2001).]
