ROCKETS: Q&A With Daryl Morey: Rockets' GM Talks Shop

[reupdadj1]

Rockets' GM talks trades, Trevor and Russ vs. Wilt


Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer

HOUSTON - The Rockets recently passed the quarter-pole mark of the '09-'10 regular season, so it seemed like the perfect time to catch up with General Manager Daryl Morey. What follows is the transcript of our converation, one which touches on a variety of subjects including the club's stockpiling of assets, team building philosophy and Morey's unique spin on a nickname which he can't seem to escape (no matter how much he tries).

DM: Yeah, I mean this is the third biggest trade discussion time of the year. The trade deadline is the biggest obviously, then the draft and also now since as of two days ago almost all the players became available. So, yeah, a lot of phone calls and I do agree that we have a lot of players that teams want. We can provide financial relief, we can provide players who can help you win now, we can provide players who can help you for the future – so we’re sort of like Target right now in that we can provide everything under one roof. We can give it all and handle any need. Obviously our goals are high though, so I’d expect nothing will happen. But if the right thing comes along and we can upgrade the team then that’s why I’m here.

JCF: Of course. But when you say nothing will happen are you just talking about right now? DM: Yeah, I’m just saying nothing’s imminent. I guess our history would say that something will happen between now and February but it’s probably going to be small. We usually do small things, so…

I think its a good read but if already posted or mentioned please delete!!!!

ROCKETS: Q&A with Daryl Morey: Rockets' GM Talks Shop

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Its my first post so enjoy

[Carl Herrera]

I found this part hilarious:

JCF: OK, let's look forward a little bit. You’ve stockpiled quite a few assets now. I’d say there are a lot of guys who are currently outperforming their contracts – guys like Carl, Aaron, Luis… DM: Well it’s early still, so we don’t know. Guys are playing great but you have to do it the whole year to know if someone is outplaying their contract.

Translation

DM: Screw you Jason Friedman. Don't make me say anything that will get quoted back to my ass when I sit down with these guys' agent in the offseason. Ask me this again and you are fired.

[Hayesfan]

My favorite answer... and why I continue to adore Daryl Morey...

Yeah, I guess, but I don’t think of them as pieces – they’re people. That’s the other reason trades don’t happen that often. These are people who are part of the community, part of everything. So even though we have all those things, it’s going to take a lot for us to say, ‘Let’s break apart this really solid group.’ It’s going to have to take All-Star like talent coming our way for us to say, ‘This is something we want to break up.’ We like how our guys are growing together. We like how our guys are progressing. We think some of the guys on our team could develop into All-Star level players. So I think it’s going to take a lot and that’s why I think there’s probably not a lot that’s going to happen. It will take a lot for us to break this up.

That makes me happy.

[Depressio]

Highlights for me:

Originally Posted by Daryl Morey DM: Well, we’re going to win 14 games at least – that’s one more than Charles Barkley predicted we’d win for the whole year. So we might only win 14 but we’ve happily proved Charles wrong (laughs).

Originally Posted by Daryl Morey DM: (laughs) Ouch. I don’t think that’s accurate, actually. I’m much more under the radar and stay out of the spotlight. I think I’m more like the Dork Cat Stevens. That’s what I want to be. (laughs)

Originally Posted by Daryl Morey (on Ariza) DM: Exactly, and he’s actually been better than he was last year. We’re throwing a lot at him and he’s going to go through some ups and downs but we believe in him and we’re thrilled – I hope he is. And everyone who thinks he’s shooting too many threes should just blame me. We want him to shoot them. We want Trevor to either take threes or drive to the hoop. And I love that some broadcasters are like, ‘Stop shooting threes!’ Well we shot 39 percent from three yesterday. But certain announcers complained more about it yesterday than anytime this year. Also, they had the brilliant advice that we should just take them when they go in - because they don’t ever complain about them when they go in, they only complain when they miss. Why don’t we complain about all our other shots that miss? That would be some brilliant analysis: if we shot 100 percent every night we’d be great – we might even be able to win the title if we shoot 100 percent. In fact, I’m going to recommend to Coach that we only take shots we make from now on. That’s going to be something I recommend the next time I see Rick.

[Hayesfan]

The other comment that struck me was when he's talking about the broadcasters saying "stop shooting threes".

Who was he talking about? Bill and Bull? I must have missed that because I muted the tv to work on homework while I watched. I guess I need to go back and watch the end again.

[Depressio]

Originally Posted by Hayesfan Who was he talking about? Bill and Bull? I must have missed that because I muted the tv to work on homework while I watched. I guess I need to go back and watch the end again.

What are you, a COF (Clyde Only Fan)?!

[Hayesfan]

Originally Posted by TSchmal What are you, a COF (Clyde Only Fan)?!

I'm confused on exactly what you mean there??

Are you asking because I muted the tv when Bill and Bull were on?

No I had a final and I was trying to study while I semi-watched the game and chatted with the fine folks in chat. Listening to B & B makes it difficult to do all those things at once.

[rockets934life]

If the Rox are Target, what are the Knicks.....Ross???

[durvasa]

Its interesting that he went with Russell over Chamberlain. Maybe he just didn't want to anger Bill Simmons. But if adjusted +/- is the key measure he looks at (taking his response on that particular question semi-seriously), then perhaps that's what he's going by when he said that Ariza is better than last year?

[abc2007]

My favorite one...

JCF: OK, let's look forward a little bit. You’ve stockpiled quite a few assets now. I’d say there are a lot of guys who are currently outperforming their contracts – guys like Carl, Aaron, Luis… DM: Well it’s early still, so we don’t know. Guys are playing great but you have to do it the whole year to know if someone is outplaying their contract.

[bjshot]

in term of team building, I understood what Morey did now and then. Find the winners. I can't agree him more. How do we define the winner?

1, play it right way (high BBIQ, play hard always)
2, healp the team win (make teammates look better)
3, young players will develop best and fast in a winning environment (once a loser, always loser.)
4, Shane Chulk and Luis is on the top of the list of winners. (which is the 3 Rockets whom I like most)
5, adjustable +/- will be the better stat to define a winner.

So clutch fans, forget about gay and randoph. Forget about the freakish atheletic. This team proves that BB is a team sport. If you play harder and smarter, you can win a lot of game even in NBA. if you play hard and smart with a superstar, you will win the WC.


In terms of team building, I think the team building has been the same. We just like to get guys who are winners. It’s pretty simple. We like guys who play the right way and focus on the team and on winning. I think what’s really been the story of our start is that a team full of those guys can really make an impact.


DM: But I think we’re making that ambiguous term real. With $40 million not playing, we’re still winning and still 14-11 against the hardest schedule in the league. So I think, even though it’s a nebulous term, it’s also factual. It comes from Coach Adelman and his philosophy, as well as my philosophy and the captains of the team – Shane, Chuck and Luis. It permeates from the top down but those are the kind of guys we like.

DM: No, I've got a real answer for you. One thing that sticks with me is a conversation I had with Jeff Van Gundy early on and it’s really true; as usual, the best things are simple, right? Obviously you want to develop players but I think what we’re doing now is what he talked about that day: we were talking about having valuable players, like a high pick in the draft with a lot of potential. But there’s also another way to have players be valuable in this league and that’s to win. If you just win, then people realize that your players help you win, so I think in terms of the team building strategy, we just decided, ‘Hey, we’ll just win.’

[bjshot]

Originally Posted by durvasa Its interesting that he went with Russell over Chamberlain. Maybe he just didn't want to anger Bill Simmons. But if adjusted +/- is the key measure he looks at (taking his response on that particular question semi-seriously), then perhaps that's what he's going by when he said that Ariza is better than last year?

Adjusted +/- is obviously the best stat that show your ability to help team to win.

[Depressio]

Originally Posted by Hayesfan I'm confused on exactly what you mean there?? Are you asking because I muted the tv when Bill and Bull were on?

Yes, that.

... but a joke.

[durvasa]

Originally Posted by bjshot Adjusted +/- is obviously the best stat that show your ability to help team to win.

Sure, assuming you can determine each player's adjusted +/- accurately.

[Carl Herrera]

Originally Posted by durvasa Its interesting that he went with Russell over Chamberlain. Maybe he just didn't want to anger Bill Simmons. But if adjusted +/- is the key measure he looks at (taking his response on that particular question semi-seriously), then perhaps that's what he's going by when he said that Ariza is better than last year?

Remember he was also a former Celtics employee?

[crash5179]

Originally Posted by reupdadj1 Rockets' GM talks trades, Trevor and Russ vs. Wilt Jason Friedman Rockets.com Staff Writer HOUSTON - The Rockets recently passed the quarter-pole mark of the '09-'10 regular season,

I wish someone would explain to Jason and every reporter or columnist that if you don't understand horse racing lingo then don't use it. The quarter pole starts the last quarter of a horse race not the end of the 1st quarter. Sorry just a pet peeve of mine.

[vince]

Morey is a great interview to listen to. Very open to answering questions.

[pmac]

Originally Posted by durvasa Its interesting that he went with Russell over Chamberlain. Maybe he just didn't want to anger Bill Simmons. But if adjusted +/- is the key measure he looks at (taking his response on that particular question semi-seriously), then perhaps that's what he's going by when he said that Ariza is better than last year?

Is Ariza's adjusted +/- higher or lower this season than it was last year?

[Hayesfan]

Originally Posted by TSchmal Yes, that. ... but a joke.

Gotcha.. just wanted to make sure I understood.

[durvasa]

Originally Posted by pmac Is Ariza's adjusted +/- higher or lower this season than it was last year?

I don't think the difference, as per the basketballvalue calculations, is significant enough to answer one way or the other.