Really? You don't see how a quick 7 footer with an elite post game and a good 3pt shot fits? I mean we are rolling, like where we are, but we are WOEFULLY short...which will cost us in the playoffs. Even if we lose DMo (likely) we need to find a center, who can compete with the Goberts, preferably one that can shoot from the outside and open up the paint. DD
Not at all. Wasn't my intent to be hostile or mock. It's just that 9 Mil is a LOT of money, even to savvy billionaires. That's how they became wealthy, by managing their money wisely and making good decisions. Your suggestion to simply bring him on board to 'see how it goes' is a wreckless idea. I was simply inferring that if YOU had some big dollars of your own money at stake, and some skin in the game, you'd likely want to do your due diligence as well, wouldn't you? It's easy to pretend this is just a board game because it's someone else's money. You might think different if it were yours. That's all I'm sayin. I don't know enough facts to be on either side. But when we're pitying a player because they are 'only' going to make $31 Mil, we've pretty much lost touch with reality. It's Millionaires vs Billionaires. Hard to feel sorry for either one. I personally feel that athletes are WAY overpaid to play a game. But that's another discussion for another day
"Joel Blank: It's playground stuff. Childish on both sides. At the end of the day, both sides had issues with the language. There's a lot to be worked out. Sides are still talking. D-Mo is hurt & wants this to be done. He's worried now that word got out...you can be labeled damaged goods. If you're labeled damaged goods, any team taking a shot is a one year deal, an extensive physical & have to prove yourself all over again." Joel Blank, we get that Dmo is like your buddy and all but what you're saying here doesn't really make much sense, man. I mean, why should the Rockets or any other team take a shot at a guy whose health has been in serious question and can't even pass a team physical? He failed in Detroit, too. Was that the Rockets fault? It really sucks that the guy seems to have a serious issue with his back but that doesn't entitle him to a juicy contract. Back issues are a dirty business.
Theres really a lot we dont know, as outsiders all we really is the stuff being told us we have no idea what is going on behind the scenes. If it hasnt been handled quickly and eadily then there's probably a reason for it, the Rox arent exactly a joke franchise they wouldnt **** this up without any reason. We also dont know the extent of DMo's troubled back, what if the doctors sre saying its a miracle DMo can still run around by now? Failing a physical is serious business because this season the Rox are actually gelling, if we use up all the cap to sign DMo and he is a no show due to injury we blew our chance to improve at the deadline, all trades would have to exactly match or the league wont allow it. To me a healthy DMo is worth losong that flexibility but I dont know how injured DMo really is by now
Nobody really knows. Reports from the Dmo camp are saying that Dmo showed up for his physical but the Rockets sent him home, others are saying he failed it.
Maybe I got a part wrong and Morey is negotiating as you said in good faith. That still leaves the fact that Morey and the Rockets wanted Dmo gone one year ago. They traded him to Motor City. I am not saying Morey is the devil but part of the problem is he went public with saying 'They are all assets'. No other GM has done that this to this extent. That has to be said. Batman, I think you are good guy but I feel that this aint our fight. I took the side of a Euro whose NBA years might be numbered. This might be BJ's mess, might be his own back's fault, one thing is for sure, the Rockets have a thing to say about DMo's future. I am sure DMo isn't trusting Morey, and you might be right about the whole thing, but it is about the player really. I am not defending my emotional outburst but this Lithuanian millionaire is in trouble. It will not change. I only hope Morey can help him along the way, not as a GM of a ballclub but as a mentor who drafted him. BTW any news yet?
@daywalker02 When Morey stopped treating players like assets he got burned by it. Let's not forget that players treat teams in the same fashion, its part of the nature of professional sports business. It's also dudes least favorite part of professional sports. But, Dmo had his chances here and Morey didn't do anything to Dmo that others teams wouldn't have done.
Sure. The thing has to get resolved somehow, right? I hope the league will do it thorough and do it quick. That said I would not have sided with any player. This year at Xmas time just with this Euro dude. A time to come together on good terms.
Saying that (only) Morey treats players like assets is just hypocrite, Ainge traded away against his will his 30/32 year old franchise player (Pierce) when he got a great deal on the table, Riley got a pay cut by Wade when he needed it, and he forced him to leave when he didn't need him anymore...just a couple of examples...
Or, like when Cuban completely dismantled his championship team in order to save money. Let's also not forget Jerry Krause who was the GM of the Bulls when they won 6 championships in the 80's/90's. A lot of people hated that guy, Jordan included because he often made moves that went against the grain and was known for being a staunch negotiator and treat players like assets, similar to Morey only without the analytic side. He traded Charles Oakley away for Bill Cartwright and was ripped to pieces for it by Jordan and the Chicago media, yet Cartwright ended up being the piece they needed to get passed Detroit. The whole Morey treats players like assets thing is way overplayed and people just don't understand how pro sports is a business, players know this. BJ Armstrong knows this. And ****ing Dmo knows this.
Funny. If they all knew it why this deja vu, circle jerk of past events, rinse and repeat. I do not understand why the Rockets want him back when they have repeatedly said he would be special player and then once tried to TRADE HIM. What is the thinking here? Morey did not contribute enough to clear him from his 'damaged goods' tag either. To conclude, Morey is well aware of the risks, he still chose to sign him, and still tried to lowball, still tried to guarantee only 1 or 2 years. Either you let him go or you waive the physical, let him heal his back whatever until he does his time and can be an unrestricted free agent. The guy just wants to play, and play for another team, a new team. What is there not to understand? I am thinking he wants to trade DMo again, the only reasonable thinking here, the new contract being team friendly above anything else, the player would have no say to another trade. It would benefit the team for sure, no doubt, but doing that to a player who was drafted here twice, I do not think DMo would ever want to have anything to do with the Rockets. It not only means burning bridges, but is ethically incorrect. You just cannot do that to a player even if his agent BJ has been a grade A a-hole all this time. And I can understand him being worried. PS: I do not care whose fault it is at this time around, just be done with it.
Well, even if he does want to play for another team that's not how RFA works, man. The other team has to make an offer and the Rockets can choose to match it which is same exact way it worked for all the other RFA this year. Also, how is it Morey's job to prove that Dmo isn't damaged goods? From all indications it appears that Dmo is in fact damaged goods. Detroit failed him too. The Nets passed him but they had nothing to lose because they're under the cap floor so there is virtually no risk for them to sign him to that team friendly contract they offered. Because the contract was so awful, the Rockets chose to match it and now they've changed it to an even more awful contract for Dmo. Can you see how the nature of **** has just been going like in a downward spiral for Dmo? Ask yourself, do you really think this is all just some conspiracy against Dmo? The guy is damaged goods and the contract the Rockets offered was spot on, we give him the first year guarantee and the rest are team options. If he has another back injury it will likely mean the end of his career and do you really want the Rockets to be on hook for that? I would hope not, but then again you've proven me wrong before with your Klay Thompson love fests.
Well, if he cannot prove DMo is damaged goods, he cannot be traded as a whole, he must be packaged in a larger deal and the other side would have us by the balls. Does not make sense in a trade when you have damaged goods so I do not understand his thinking. Another theory would be that Morey is trying to squeeze another 1 year of good production out of Dmo and be done with him. That would be just a tragic end. Conspiracy it aint, but Morey is not helping someone who needs a fresh start, either. Lol Klay Thompson love fest because of one measly thread? You had to be kidding, you can do better. You circle jerk around a bit, why would I want the Rockets to be on hook for an injury? I wanted them to cut ties with Motiejunas completely and a long time ago because he is a glorified, talented scrub, but a scrub nonetheless. But as a scrub he is still a human being, a person with rights. Clearly the Rockets are not trying just to do that, they want to circle forth and back with it, they want drama. So be it. Drama happens on TNT, Rockets FO should be more on it.
That's business - you want to get players on the best deals possible. If a guy has back issues and ISN'T a superstar, you can bet that pretty much any GM would want to construct a deal that is very team friendly with team option, as little money as possible guaranteed, etc. Look no further than the initial NETS offer that was matched. Why would they do that? If he did in fact not pass his physical that's not on the Rockets. Maybe his back has got worse or they discovered something this time that they didn't catch last time (that's all speculation, as I am not aware of what exactly the issue was with his physical) If the guy wants to play - he could have played!!! He could have taken the QO and he would be a mere 7 months away from UFA - on top of it he would have received quite a few pay checks already. If he wants to play for another team - well nothing he can do...he didn't get that mega contract that he wanted..barely any teams showed serious interest in him. Again he could have signed that QO to become an UFA next year. If he is really healthy, he could have increased his value by playing (and hopefully playing well) on a winning team. Sure he might want to trade him again - or maybe get 1 year guaranteed and team options. That's Morey's choice - he's acting in the team's best interest. Dmo will negotiate what's best for him, DM will negotiate what's best for the Rockets. The longer it drags out, the harder it will be for Dmo to negotiate from a position of strength...and that IS his camp's own doing.
None of what you said here makes a lick of sense. It's honestly not worth responding to and dude almost never replies to people like that. You cannot use your heart or emotion to describe what is happening to Dmo, you need to include a more solid rotation of logic and common sense in your repertoire. I think whatever you're smoking is much different than mine, should probably find a better street pharmacist. But, dude still loves you anyway.
Fine. We end this. And one thing you want logic and you call yourself dude, referring yourself in the 3rd person well, you are more wack than that king in the kingdom. And there are more than one dude here, I am not worried. Have fun, no harm done. Cheer for the Rockets, all we want.
