Rockets Are At A Crossroad

[ghettocheeze]

For 12 years now the Rockets have been flirting with playoffs success. A decade ago, many thought Steve Francis and Mobley could get us to the next level with only 1-2 major moves. Then we landed Yao out of pure luck but we were still shy one player away from truly contending. Along came Tracy McGrady and everyone thought this was it, now we must compete on the big stage. Well, 5 years later we are still looking for that elusive moment where all the stars align in our favor and we breakout in the league to put our name in ranks and file of the elite.

Sorry but this journey of the past decade and has been one of biterness and joy at the same time. Perhaps the thing that makes me truly happy about the Rockets is that we finally have a system where our GM and coach both make wise decisions and let players flourish. It wasn't too long ago the Rockets had a terrible payroll with huge bloated contracts and drafts picks that were either traded away in lopsided deals or just thrown at the end of bench to play cheerleader. The transition the the Rockets have made the last few years of reducing our excess number of players having the same role and shaving off a sizable portion of the payroll in the process is quite remarkable. Gone are the Maurice Taylor, Juwan Howard, Stromile Swift, Bonzi Wells, Jim Jackson etc...Replaced by the talented Shane Battier, Aaron Brooks, Luis Scola, Carl Landry, Kyle Lowry.

In short the Rockets drifted around for about 10 years with no real sense of direction until we found Daryl Morey and Rick Adelman.

Now we are at a crossroad where a lot can happen in 1-2 years that could decide which direction this team takes for the next 10 years.

Summer 2009

Ron Artest - At this point if he demands more than 9 mil a season for more than 3 season then the Rockets should just walk away from him. He has been a tremendous player this season but we caught him on the downside of his career.

Tracy McGrady - Do not trade him just for the sake of wanting something in return. Unless something really good is available don't move him especially if we get bad contracts in return. Nope just let him become a free agent next summer.

This brings me to my final point which is CAP SPACE.

T-Mac has huge cap number which will come off next summer. Now most people on this board think we need to use him as a chip in order to get some value in return, I say no to that proposition. Please remember what wonders cap space can do for you. Anyone remember Orlando 2 years ago?

I am not saying we unload our team to make a run at 2010 Free Agency but it would nice to see us keeping our options open to perhaps making a real splash. Even if we don't, Brooks, Landry and Scola are gonna need to get paid sooner or later. Look at their contracts its ridiculously cheap right now for Rockets.

In the mean time, I love the way Morey is going out and outright buying draft picks. Who knows, we might find another Brooks type gem late in the first round. See that is the type open free thinking that eventually leads to success.

Those who still speak of the "invisible" window of oppurtunity for Yao to win a ring have no idea how many top 50 players never won a ring for that very reason. We need to stop this Win now or bust mentality. 5 years ago, T-Mac was young, dominant and athletic. Instead of wasting our time of acquiring the "OLD" veterans role players like Jon Barry, David Wesley, Bob Sura, the Rockets should have built some young talent around the nucleus of McGrady and Yao. Imagine if we had taken some young players in 2004 and spend real time and effort in developing them. Perhaps by now in 2009, a rookie from 2004-2005 would be fully developed and ready to contribute in his prime.

This is the crossroad I am speaking off, its time to make some tough decisions about the future of this franchise. We cannot be blinded be the simple desire to win now at all cost.

GO Rockets!!!

[danny317]

bone bone bone bone bone, bone, bone, bone, bone

see you at the crossroads so you wont be lonely, see you at the crossroads so you wont be lonely...

[tim562]

See you at the Crossroads.....

[MattM]

i'm gonna miss everybody, im gonna miss everybody, im gonna miss everybody

[REEKO_HTOWN]

Now tell me whatcha gonna do when there ain't no where to run
When judgment comes for you, when judgment comes for you

[BMoney]

Is it here:



here?




or here?

[FLASH21]

As fun as that ^ was I agree with 99.9% of everything you've said. I just wished that all that woulda been realized by maybe half our management, then maybe we could possibly have a RJ, Rudy Gay (eh), or even Brandon Roy at our core. **sigh**

Too bad. Thank gawd we are in good hands!

[Depressio]

That's some cheap fuel!

[Dave_78]

This thread got really funny quick-like.

[tim562]

Originally Posted by Dave_78 This thread got really funny quick-like.

Almost as funny as the OP's monkier...

[Mr. Space City]

so this ghetto cheese......is it ghetto?

[DaDakota]

THAT is the real crossroads !!

DD

[B-Bob]

I agree with the OP that we are at a crossroad, (singular), meaning there is really no major choice to make. We just have to schlep along.

[JusBleezy]

I agree fully with everything that you typed. I had the "crossroad" comment in my sig for about 3 or 4 months now so we're on the same wavelength here.

My only problem is Yao. Great guy and great player, but I don't think he can stay healthy long enough to lead the team to a championship with the years that he has left in his prime. Even if he does stay healthy, can he actually play well enough to lead a team to a championship? I'm not sure, but I'm leaning towards to no.

To be clear, the only problem I have with Yao is health related. If he could stay healthy through a year, I'd say ride with Yao and see where he takes us. After 4 years of his injury issues, I'm tired of it and to me that is a large enough sample to suggest that his health problems may always be prevalent.

What do you do with him though? That's the question. Do you trade while his value is high right now with the knowledge that he may actually have it in him to remain healthy and lead a team deep into the playoffs? Do you take the risk that he will always be injured and stay with him? Do you you hope for the best in terms of health and if he does have even more injuries; do you then try to trade him with his diminished value?

I'm looking at Chris Bosh honestly. Do I think he will lead a team to a championship himself? No, but he is a big that I believe can be a huge part to a championship team however. That's just my opinion, though.

Difficult choices that will determine the direction of the franchise for the next 10 years or so like you've stated.

[Sweet Lou 4 2]

I don't think we are at any kind of crossroads.

We were at one in 1998 or 1999.

But not now. All we have to do is get healthy...if anything, watching the playoffs is a realization that with a healthy Yao and T-mac, and back-up center - this team can definitely win the championship.

[ghettocheeze]

Originally Posted by Sweet Lou 4 2 I don't think we are at any kind of crossroads. We were at one in 1998 or 1999. But not now. All we have to do is get healthy...if anything, watching the playoffs is a realization that with a healthy Yao and T-mac, and back-up center - this team can definitely win the championship.

What I meant by the now almost ridculed term "crossroad" is that we have to decide what our team identity will be for the next decade. Yao and T-Mac combo has imploded, sorry but that is truth. McGrady is nothing compare to what he was back in 2004 when we first got him. Yao is still a keeper but we need a new nucleus around where I can see Brooks, Scola, Landry and maybe Lowry. Everyone else is tradable or worth letting go especially Ron if his price is too high. I seriously believe McGrady has played his last game in a Rocket uniform and will not be part of this team anymore. So now the Rockets have to decide will they keep the good core of young players they have or use them as trade fillers in other boneheaded trade in order to appease that win now at all cost attitude.

I have so much trust in Morey right now that even if McGrady and Artest were to walk away without anything in return, Morey will be able to quickly find cheap and efficient replacements. Imagine giving him decent cap space to work with next summer in the free agency market. I love the fact that Morey unlike his predecessor CD, will not overly commit to a player and just handout huge paychecks. Look at the best contributors on this team: Artest, Battier, Scola, Landry, Brooks are all very cheap contracts compared to market price for similar players. Time and again Morey has proven he can get talented players for a very low price.

I now believe that the continuity of system (GM and Coach) are more important than any player on this team. Moreyball is taking over this league and you saw a preview of that in the 7 games against the Lakers where our role players and bench outplayed a 65 win team juggernaut.

The point, is do we start packaging some of our hard earned talented young players with McGrady in one last ditch effort to salvage this sinking boat or we let things play out and make smart moves with the players we have and develop our own talent. I have said before Aaron Brooks is a future All-Star in this league much like Tony Parker and Jameer Nelson most recently.

[Sweet Lou 4 2]

Originally Posted by ghettocheeze What I meant by the now almost ridculed term "crossroad" is that we have to decide what our team identity will be for the next decade. Yao and T-Mac combo has imploded, sorry but that is truth. McGrady is nothing compare to what he was back in 2004 when we first got him. Yao is still a keeper but we need a new nucleus around where I can see Brooks, Scola, Landry and maybe Lowry. Everyone else is tradable or worth letting go especially Ron if his price is too high. I seriously believe McGrady has played his last game in a Rocket uniform and will not be part of this team anymore. So now the Rockets have to decide will they keep the good core of young players they have or use them as trade fillers in other boneheaded trade in order to appease that win now at all cost attitude. I have so much trust in Morey right now that even if McGrady and Artest were to walk away without anything in return, Morey will be able to quickly find cheap and efficient replacements. Imagine giving him decent cap space to work with next summer in the free agency market. I love the fact that Morey unlike his predecessor CD, will not overly commit to a player and just handout huge paychecks. Look at the best contributors on this team: Artest, Battier, Scola, Landry, Brooks are all very cheap contracts compared to market price for similar players. Time and again Morey has proven he can get talented players for a very low price. I now believe that the continuity of system (GM and Coach) are more important than any player on this team. Moreyball is taking over this league and you saw a preview of that in the 7 games against the Lakers where our role players and bench outplayed a 65 win team juggernaut. The point, is do we start packaging some of our hard earned talented young players with McGrady in one last ditch effort to salvage this sinking boat or we let things play out and make smart moves with the players we have and develop our own talent. I have said before Aaron Brooks is a future All-Star in this league much like Tony Parker and Jameer Nelson most recently.

I think that's why were are not at a crossroads really. Not this year at least.

We have a strong base of a team for some years to come. Brooks/Lowry/Scola/Landry have a lot of game left in them. Yao should be productive for at least a few more years, and barring injury, probably another 4-5.

T-mac is a one year gamble. If he pans out, you keep him, if not, you have a lot of cap space to sign another guy. I think it's pretty straightforward...but that's my opinion.

[leebigez]

I think the rox are in a bad spot. I think they're in the same boat as the hornets,mavs,spurs,and suns. All the teams are thinking health or minor moves can get them to where they want, but in reality, they're just as close to lotto land.

[yuantian]

Originally Posted by DaDakota THAT is the real crossroads !! DD

:D there are so many things about this duel that don't match the theme of the movie.

[BlastOff]

ahhhhhh....Jami Gertz.....