This didn't convince me Fertitta is "cheap". He made some business decisions, as any business person would, but in your very long story, you clearly mentioned several times that he spent a boat load of money. Your best case was the Jerrett Allen argument, but they were executing a rebuild strategy (that worked) and Allen was just a casualty of a business decision made in the broader context of the rebuild. You may say that was him being cheap. I say it was him being smart and executing a long-term plan (that worked).
Great post! Yep. Every great accomplishment in human history had never been previously accomplished. That's what makes it great. And before the thing was accomplished, there was a long list of people that said it can't be done who turned out to be wrong. That's literally the whole point of sports ...to watch things that are unlikely to happen.
Good one. For years on this very BBS, Robert Horry was not a winning type of player. Then his nickname. The irony.
Trade Player ______ if you don't like him, as if the other 29 teams are eager to haul your garbage away for a bag of chip.
JVG, Udoka: “He’s great for defense, but doesn’t know anything about offense!” Adelman, D’Antoni: “He’s great for offense, but doesn’t know anything about defense!” McHale, Silas: “He’s clueless at everything except telling guys to play harder.”
lol. Isn’t it exactly 30 years or am I doing my math wrong? He might as well have said it’s been 100 years if he’s going for hyperbole.
Didn't realize Tillman had the rep of being cheap any more. In 2020 during Covid things were looking very rough w his industry, and the leverage you use in that industry was the perfect storm for disaster. It was assumed he used a ton of leverage to buy the team, and him using cups w Westbrook on them the season after he was traded, and looking desperately for synergies between his restaurants and the Rockets people made assumptions. Given the roster moves people made assumptions he was cutting costs. I think after buying the team, he hit a rough spot financially. I think his delivery service deal w his bff Rich Handler (Jefferies) failed, and he was looking to restructure debt, a lot of stuff seemed to be going wrong, but he seemed to ride it out. I believe he was looking to sell off a valuable asset in the online gaming industry to raise cash. This was not something he would have normally entertained selling. Fast forward to 2025, he is crushing it. I believe he is in the top 4-7 wealthiest owners, and he has businesses that are generating a ton more income than Les ever was. Bought the most expensive piece of land ever in Vegas, the team's value has nearly doubled since he bought it (upgraded team plane, investment in new practice facility), if anything given his age and him being a fan of the Rockets and wanting to win, I am more afraid of him being impatient and recklessly spending and getting us stuck in cap hell than I am of him just being outright cheap.
I do not think cheap is the word right now but in 2019 it was a different time back then...... Giving up on a near Championship team with MDA being at a high since Phoenix was viewed as being unwise....... Pressing to trade for Westbrook because he liked his relentlessness......IDK ....
Interesting thread. Both in the scope and watching the conversation/name-calling unfold. Normally I'm not all that interested in criticisms without thoughtful solutions, or at least creative ones. That said, I did think it might be interesting to see what the NBA players themselves thought about things and found the Athletics anonymous survey from this year 2025. 158 players responded (~1/3 of the league). Here's a few Rocket related takes: When asked: The best organization? The Rockets weren't in the top 16 orgs listed. Though they did receive a smattering of votes. The worst organization? Not in the bottom 10. Best coach? Ime was no. 8. Right behind Pop. So now he's no. 7? Worst coach? Not on the list. Most over-rated player? Dillon Brooks got a few votes. Was like no. 20 or something. Player you would least like to fight? Steven Adams no. 3. Hell yea! That's it. Most interesting was that, at least among the 158 players who responded this year, the Rockets WERE NOT among the top 16 organizations. Even Utah made the list. I guess they haven't learned about the practice facility or free Rainsforest Cafe GCs.
