It certainly looks like the Rockets are on their way up. But with Cuban in Dallas throwing cash around, and not stupidly like many other teams, but actually trying to make smart personnel moves without TOO much care about the cost, what can we do to at least try to hinder his constant acquisition of talented players? He's already shown that he is willing to exceed the salary cap and pay the luxury tax, as long as this strategy continues to be profitable. He's got a hot property on his hands right now, but how long can this trend continue? Cuban is, after all, a businessman first and foremost. So if and when this wild spending becomes too expensive for him, he will put a halt to it. So how can the Rockets help accelerate this process? We should try to up the bidding on the players Cuban wants. We know that he badly wants Rashard. We now know he badly wants to keep Najera. He is also looking at picking up Popeye Jones. IMO, even if we don't have any serious intent to acquire any of these players, I think Houston should at least make some overtures to their agents. Najera is a restricted FA. So Cuban will likely match any offer that comes Najera's way. Let's add a few million to that guys contract for Cuban to pay. Popeye Jones is still a valuable player. Let's get involved in the bidding, and up his price too. Let's even start sniffing around Rashard again, just so that Cuban might make one of his back-room deals and make RL some wild promises for when he gets his Bird rights, maybe by that time he will have become so expensive that he has to cut loose someone like Nash or Nowitzki. Heck, we don't even really have to have any serious interest in these guys, as long as Cuban wants them, he won't be willing to risk not getting them, so he would probably overpay. And that's a good thing for us, I think. It looks like it's going to be Us and Dallas for the next several years fighting it out for the Central, and maybe the Conference, and every little advantage will help. Just wondering what anyone else thinks about the idea. Ciao
I don't like Cuban period. I will admit that he's a great team owner, but he embodies every stereotype of the spoiled rich jackbutt that thinks he can buy anything and everybody. He's cocky and has an ugly mug of a face. I can't stand the guy! So cause him to spend more $$ than he has to? I say do it, but probably still wouldn't put a dent in his ego.
<blockQUOTE>Originally posted by Nero He's already shown that he is willing to exceed the salary cap and pay the luxury tax,</blockQUOTE>Actually, he has yet to pay a penny of Luxury Tax, and he even is quoted as saying he knew very early last Summer that no Luxury Tax would kick in this year. So, one cannot say that he is willing to pay the Luxury Tax if he knew (as a businessman advised by his accountants) that there would be no Luxury Tax.
If we could trade owners and a "Les for Cuban" deal were on the table, I'd do it. Having said that, I like Les as an owner...The low profile thing works for him, and he allows the basketball guys to make the on-court decisions.
I know I'm gonna be fried for defending Cuban. If you hate him simply b/c he is Maverick, then by all means. If you hate him for his ownership style, then I say he actually has done something good to the league. For one thing, he is one of the few owners (if not the only one) who see basketball as something fun rather than a money-making business or an ego-boosting tool. If I am not mistaken, he is not from a very wealthy background. He is an instant billiionaire by catching on the Internet craze at the right time. So he is not a "spoiled rich jackbutt." He is more like a guy who suddenly has the money to buy a toy he'd always wanted to play with. Sort of like the guy (I forgot his name) who won the lottery and recorded his own opera-singing CD. I think it's a good thing to make bball a game (rather than a business) again. (I am not saying he has no business intention in the Maverick. I am just saying that his PRIMARY reason for owning an NBA team rather than doing other business is b/c he thinks it's fun.) That's why I'd take a Mark Cuban over a Don Sterling 11 times out of 10.
that strategy won't work, these players aren't up for auction. If we up the price and then don't sign those guys, they have no choice but to sign for what Cuban offers unless somebody else comes with a higher offer.
I initially thought Cuban was refreshing but the novelty wore off quickly. Some posters use the logic that since he is a self-made billionare then he shares something in common with the Joe Q. Average fan. Anyone who thinks Cuban has an "ordinary" personality like the rest of us hasn't a clue about the all-encompassing mindset of a competitive business person. The fundamental difference between Cuban and the rest of us is ego. If you haven't figured that one out, I don't have the time to explain it.
I would make a trade with someone who thought Bradley was better than Ming any day. I am sure we can get a steal out of it.
its really stupid. and classless just to up the mavs offer. nice long stupid post. the mavs aren't that great. against the kings defense, for the first time, i thought they didn't have a game plan. now the rockets, we have yao ming, who is undefendable one on one. he's gonna open up the court for our guys. i dare don nelson to put up 7-6 bradley on ming. that'll show everyone who's been comparing them simply based on height.
Ummm . . . I guess you are right. Damn, I thought I'd finally found a team owner that didn't have big ego. Next time let me know if you see one.
Ask yourself the question. Would you like it if Cuban was as passionate about the Rockets as he is for the Mavs? Would you like him if he owned the Rockets? I find it hard to believe that most here would dislike Cuban if he owned the Rockets.
First I think you can give up any notion of ever getting Nash or Dirk. Second, this proposed idea won't work with these players. First Houston can only offer Rashard the exact same as Dallas so that idea won't work for him. Next, Najera is a Restricted Free agent so Dallas can match any offer, and since Houston is already near the cap that offer won't be much comming from Houston. Then there is Popeye ... he would be more of a luxury for Dallas, and if he got some crazy a$$ offer from Houston, Cuban would more than likely just let the Rockets have him. Don't get me wrong, I see where you're comming from it's just that with these players it won't work, and the risk to the Rockets financially would be too high. Not to mention it wouldn't put the Rockets in the best light when comes to free agents they actually want to sign in the future.
What if we accidentally end up with Najera? OU sucks and I can't forget that he played for them. In fact, if we signed Najera, I will stop being a Rockets fan, but only when Najera is playing. Hook'em Horns.
I'd love to have Mark Cuban as an owner. He's the closest thing to a fan-owner that this elague has, and the key is that he's willing to do whatever he can to get his team to win. But, he's not our owner, and les really is not that bas compared to the rest of them As for the original topic of how to thwart Cuban, we may not have to do anything. Let him do it to himself. What Cuban has done over the last couple years is acquire and re-sign players to large, long-term deals. He's able to do that with or without regard to the salary cap. But, he's also rolling the dice big-time that these guys will be able to live up to their deals. The problem for Cuban will come when he wants to make deals in the future and he can't b/c of salary cap constraints. 1. He will never bring in a big-time free agent b/c he'll always be over the salary cap. 2. S&T deals will be very difficult b/c he will have to try to unload a big contract and refuses to break up his core. 3. Trades will also be difficult b/c teams prefer small contracts and don't want to trade for guys that are overpaid, which many of his players will be. Cuban's powers are limited by the NBA's CBA. And that's what separates Mark Cuban from George Steinbrenner all tams with good management a shot against the rich guys.
Nero, At first I didn't like Cuban. He was too cocky. But, then I started listening to him on the radio shows, interviews on BDSSP, and ESPN. I liked him after that. I especially liked the comment that Cuban made regarding Phil Jackson and the Lakers; Cuban said that the only reason that Phil Jackson has won is because he's always HAD THE BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE (or at least the most dominating). This is true. And after reading some of books that Phil Jackson reads; The Art of War...I come to the conclusion that Phil never will compete against anyone unless he has a COMPLETE and TOTAL ADVANTAGE. It's one of the rules of ancient war.... nevertheless this is another topic. Back to Cuban,.... well, you said that he's a businessman first. I disagree. He's more of a fan to me (albeit a billionaire team-owner fan, but a fan nonetheless). I think that Cuban wants to win more than he wants to make money. He's has billions. He knows how to make money. This "Basketball thing" seems to me to be a passion of his; hobby. We all know about Bud Adams (Oilers), right? He was not a fan of the game. He, on the other hand, was a "business man first." He was always looking to cut corners and make a buck. He couldn't have cared less about wining as long as his team made money. Well, he was booted out of Houston. Now, this being said about Cuban...I do think that the Rockets do have an advantage over Cuban. For one, Rashard WANTS to come to Houston; regardless of the money that Cuban offers him to play for Dallas. This is important for the long term. I mean, a guy that plays from the heart is always better than a guys that plays from the wallet. We all heard that "money can't buy love?" Well, money can't buy chemistry. And just because Cuban opens his check book to bring in talent means nothing if the players don't mesh well. I think the methodical planing technique that the Rockets scouting staff uses is the best method. P.S. Calvin Murphy and Mark Cuban are good friends. You can always catch Calvin chating it up with Mark during Dallas/Rocket games.
Ok I dont mean to be rude, but do you have like a link or a quote you could show were he or his agent said that, cause I heard he wanted to play in Dallas. Otherwise a well written post!
Sofine81, This is more a collection from thought....or, rather, a hunch. Remember when we passed on taking Rashard a few years ago? Lewis promised revenge against the Rockets for not taking him... That tells me that he was hurt that we didn't take him. Now, years later, the Sonics are on the way to rebuilding and he wants out. Dallas and Houston are options. Now, this is perfect opportunity to "kiss and make up." In the past, we would have seen a (spoiled) player take the money and run. But this is not the case. The Sonics can offer him the most money; yet he still wants to leave. This is a good sign. Add, that Dallas can offer Lewis more than the Rockets. Yet, he still hasn't signed. This too is a good signal that Lewis wants to come to Houston regardless of price. I do worry about this....Let's say that you are Rashard's agent. You talk to Dallas and they offer a seven year, 50 million dollars contract. Then, you talk to Houston and they offer a 3 year, 10 million dollar contract. Do you, as the agent, tell Rashard about the offers? Or do you just tell Houston a resounding, "NO WAY." Seems to me a good way to sabotage all chances for Rashard to "leave the money and run." See, an agent has a responsibility to get the biggest contract possible. But, what if Rashard doesn't care if he gets the big bucks and just wants to play in Houston. Don't you think that this would make the agent mad? Don't you think that the agent would do everything in his power to influence Rashard in saying, "no." Don't you think that the agent would do all in his power to make sure that Rashard DOES NOT take the HOUSTON contract. All this would would make less money for the agent. Something tells me that Rashard has put pressure on his agent to just make a deal (as long as he plays for Houston). But the agent is stalling. I wont doubt it if Rashard's agent comes to him and says that he did all he could with Houston but he couldn't come up with a deal. But, they did get a big contract with Dallas (We're rich!). Rashard would say, "Didn't you hear what I said? I said that I wanted to play in Houston!!! I don't care if they offer league minimum!" This is his agents worst nightmare and he'll do everything in his power to prevent a small contract in Houston regardless what Rashard says... unless, of course Rashard fires him (Doh!). This is my "Pelican Brief." Heh heh...shhhhhhh.....hush, hush...quiet. P.S. If Rashard signs with Dallas, it will probably be due to his agent filling Rashard's head with delusions of grander. "You deserve better. You'll be the star in Dallas! You are da'man! You will be famous! You will be rich!"
