How many owners would let their GM sign a center for 3 years/25 million who avg 3 ppg/5rpg? The Thunder decided not to offer Harden the max and offered him up to 2 teams in a trade and they declined. The Rockets was the 3rd call and it was Les who signed off on this gamble. With 20-20 hindsight it looks like a no brainer but there was real doubt about Harden as a 1st option. How many owners pay millions for 2nd round picks and several of them has never played 1 game for the Rockets. Morey gets a lot of credit and he deserves all his accolades but if he was the GM for Donald Sterling in the 90s would Daryl be able to pull off his magic? The Rockets have won just 1 playoff series in the entire Morey era but Les has always stood by his GM. In fact how many owners would give Morey the GM job in the 1st place? I hope Rockets fans appreciate what a good owner we have when it comes to spending money for the team.
For Morey as GM, I've heafrd one of the reasons is Morey being inclined as he is, is much for easier for Les, as an investment banker to understand than a basketball guy.
Don't forget Les demanding Morey sign Lin, a questionable point guard who had just undergone knee surgery. And they were smart enough to structure the deal $5m, $5m, $15m to make it just distasteful enough so the Knicks wouldn't match. Lin has arguably played up to the contract and rumour has it the revenue from Asia has paid for it many times over. The way this whole team was blown up and put together again is amazing! Props to Les.
If Alexander had a football team, we would of been champions by now. I know our owner would get Peyton Manning, if he had the chance when he was available and we missed it. We've had HOFs that have played for the Rockets from Mutombo, G.Rice, Pippen, Barkley and others.
Asik signing is hardly a risk. In fact, if it weren't for that fact that the Bulls will be in luxury tax hell because of it, they would've matched it. And I believe most Bulls fans WANTED the team to match that offer, luxury tax issues not withstanding. There have been plenty of much more WTF signings in terms of production vs. FA salary. Heck, Kelvin Cato for 6yr/$42mil after some nice preseason games ranks way ahead of the Asik signing.
A careful examination of the Rocket's performance history since the championship years (which Les had nothing to do with) including signings, contracts, and on court results speaks to an opposite view. Throw in the recent TV network debacle and it is more than reasonable to come to a different conclusion about Les. Yes, last night was a high point for the team and the city. I was overjoyed beyond words, but not enough to think that Les is a great owner. I even think the jury is even still out on Morey. Besides the Harden deal, there was a lot to be concerned about. The constant shuffling of players without appreciable progress was a real red flag. The jury is still out on the Lin deal. Asik has surprised, but if he was "perfect," the Howard speculation wouldn't continue to exist.
