I don't know if the McGrady trade will go through. But the fact that we've gone after it so aggressively forces me to stand up and salute our owner for rolling the dice and going for it all. Time and again, he takes risks and gives up good players for the chance at great ones. Four guys for Barkley? Didn't get us a championship, but it sure didn't cost us one, and it was a hell of a gamble. Well-timed, too, considering the size of the contracts Cassell and Horry got a year or two later. Four guys for Francis and change? Great move. We cashed out Michael Dickerson and Othella Harrington when they were still worth something, and Francis brought us tremendous talent. Three picks for Eddie Griffin? Disastrous. But none of us saw his collapse coming, and I won't play the hindsight game against a move this gutsy. If it had worked out, we'd have three top-notch players in our starting five. Now three starters for McGrady. Once again, Les sees greatness and goes after it with all the goodies he can offer. I don't think he conceived any of these deals, but he's the one who has to sign off on them, and lots of owners are too scared of alienating their fans or making a mistake. Well, we've made our mistakes. And we'll make more. But if you don't go for it all, you'll never get it. Here's to you, Mr. Alexander.
SPLASH !!! We may not have Mark Cuban as an owner, but Les sure is trying to win..... Yao + TMac is a great start. DD
Don't forget about the Clyde trade! Les has been a really great owner who's not afraid to make the big move. He's made some great risks though the years...given the situation at that point in time, that 3 for 1 trade for griffin is a good bold move IMO.
Put Pippen in the Griffin category, but a bold move nonetheless. (hmmm, they wear the same number, don't they?)
Thank you Will. I don't know what all of these "Les is a cheap b*stard" comments are based on. He has stepped up again and again. I am glad somebody with credibilty sets the record with truth.
That's because you don't have a concept of perspective. You can't know some history of the Rocket's with these 2 guiding the franchise and have those kinds of thoughts. Will just mentioned why and he forgot the trade for Pippen. Bold moves are pretty common with these guys.
Les is a great owner. I don't think he gets the recognition he deserves because 1.) he's a New Yorker 2.) he doesn't have the personality of a Bob McNair He's proved throughout his tenure as owner he's willing to do whatever it takes to win a championship. He made the Drexler deal, the bold barkley trade, the pippen trade, which at the time was great. Not only does this deal improve the team, it improves the rockets image. The rockets will have just as many if not more games than any other team on national television. If Shaq leaves LA, you can guarantee Houston will lead the pack. The toyota center oughta be packed next year too. TMac and Yao on the same floor. It's a good day to be a rockets fan. Hopefully on the 10th anniversery of our first championship we'll celebrate by making the TMac deal official
Rox should do whatever to get McGrady then you will have the McGrady/Yao combo to form a foundation for the team and then people (good players) will want to come and play for them. Francis and Mobley are not fundamental players and I had said this time and time again during the season. You need fundamental players to play the game right and Francis turn over too much and don't even know how to pass the ball...Mobley taking quick shots....i wouldn't mind giving them away. Taylor is another guy i will ship out cuz he's too one dimensional and has low IQ in the game. I would ship Taylor to Orlando instead of Cato.
Why is it when I read this title, I could hear the theme song for the "Real Men of Genuis" beer commercials?
