Martin to Morey: Treating us like assets gets you nowhere

I'm sure peace of mind contributed to this team gelling post all-star break, but you could also argue that it was the result of inserting Lowry into the starting lineup and removing AB who had become a malcontent, the emergence of PP, the strong play of Dragic off the bench, and bringing Bud into the starting lineup after getting rid of Battier.

There were a number of factors, and I personally feel like "treating us like assets" comes off like an excuse rather than a legitimate grievance...Really, unless you're a superstar in this league, you're always going to be an asset.

 

If the rockets did have such a rough start in the early season MAYBE Morey wouldn't call you an asset, Martin!

 

People who think basketball is all about business are wrong there's a human side to basketball ..

Basketball is an emotional game on and off the court ..

I am not sure how good Morey is with dealing with human side of basketball If this trend continues it might become a stereotype that scares away free agents .. which is something very dangerous ..

 

fixed

 

If you become a malcontent for your employer, you hurt your perceived market value. So, unless you're a super star, good luck pulling that stunt.

 

The hate on KM is extended to off court aspects, even when he is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

He didn´t say that this business was not about being a trade asset, what he said was, ALL THE PLAYERS IN THE TEAM, FELT LIKE THEY COULD BE TRADED TOMORROW AND KNEW THEY WERE BEING OFFERED TO OTHER TEAMS.

All the players know, that they can be traded, but non of them should thing that they will be traded the next day. Tell me the reason why Luis Scola, a player that got a new contract last summer, should fell like he is trade bait for a Melo trade??? He said himself that the trade rumors were affecting him, and he was nervous about going elsewhere.

Now let´s imagine, then before trading Perkins, or D Will, Boston and Utah went public about it, do you thing the team would perform the same way??? Just look at Melo and Denver. People think that Denver is a better team without Melo, and even tho that might be true, the team with Melo was under-performing, because they already knew something would change, so they would not give 110% like they do now.

Basketball is 50% about chemistry (and the majority of pro sports), and this team proved that this year.

As a fan, do I like knowing what DM is thinking??? Yes, I love it
As a player, would I like to know that my as... and all the other guys are being offered???? No, it is a reality, but I should not be informed about it before it happens.

And someone said that this is about how strong you are mentally, looooooool, I am sorry, but it doesn´t matter how strong you are, just look at Hayes, dude is strong mentality, but he said that he is AFRAID of free agency, because he hates the uncertainty. If you are a human being you respect Hayes for that, the uncertainty is probably the worst thing in life, if you can´t control it, you are pretty much a puppet in someones hands, and even tho that is life, you never like to be in that situation.

No problem in treating everyone like an asset, just don´t go so public about it.

In DM I still trust

Props once again to the most underrated/hated Houston player, that continues to tell/do it like it is.

PeAcE

 

Nobody like to be traded, but it cann't be accept to play bad because of trade rumor

 

I always like listening to Morey because he is very open and doesn't hold too much back, but maybe it's time for him to put up more of a wall between the fans/media and the organization.

We obviously aren't a contender yet, so moves have to be explored...but there is no need to go saying that publicly to everyone who asks, or saying it anywhere that it can leak out. Just come up with a canned statement that we are "happy" with the team as it is (assuming we are playing decent ball), and do listen to trade offers but nobody is actively being shopped.

 

I really don't care about any role players feelings.

The only players that are untouchable are superstars and we don't have any.

 

We talked about that earlier this year, about Morey talking a bit too much to the press about trades etc, and how it would have an effect on the players.

I am glad KMart told him that, Morey is still young and has some growing to do in the people management department.

Not everyone treats these things from a pure business perspective....in fact very few do what Morey does and are able to step back and look at the big picture (his job BTW)......just do it, but keep more of it to yourself, IMO.

DD

 

Exactly my feelings as well. I like Morey a lot, but when a player is commenting on feeling unwanted, it's time to hush your GM activity up a bit.

 

that's a very smart excuse.

 

Yes. We did talk about that earlier this year. I am glad Martin steps up.

 

Unfortunately, that can't happen. We heard numerous trade rumors throughout the season and Morey would talk all the time to local sportwriters about looking to make deals and upgrade. Despite all this, the 'Why u no make trade Moray!!??' brigade was out in force throughout the season. Now imagine how much worse it would have been without those rumors and interviews.

The sad fact is that most fans assume silence means inaction. Morey has to keep dropping tidbits, especially with the team's tepid performance, because otherwise he'd have (more) fans howling for his head.

 

KMart can "feel" however he wants to feel but it's just not true.

The reason the Rockets sucked in the first half was because Bud and Hill were in the stereotypical sophomore slump(although neither really had a high point from which TO slump) and AB sucked. Not a single one of those players was distraught over trade rumors.

The starters played almost exactly as well in the second half as they played in the first, with the addition of a non-terrible Hill, a Patterson who actually saw the floor, and a backup PG who wasn't mentally challenged. Also Bud started playing as well as he did last season when he (not coincidentally) got to play with Lowry.

 

These guys are professional athletes. They know that being traded is part of the job description, and they know that working to improve the team via trades (and other moves) is in Morey's job description. They know the drill, so they really shouldn't be complaining.

Yeah, I guess things got a little out of hand this season, but when your team is just a couple pieces away from being back in the title picture, there's always going to be a lot of trade talk, especially with the history Morey has.

Even if it was tough on the players, Morey is the wrong person to blame. The speculative media that clearly had no idea WTF they were talking about 90% of the time is to blame.

 

It's a fine line and Morey probably stepped over it on occasion. Referring to stashed draft picks and TEs as assets is obviously appropriate. Players, not so much. I do think that at times Morey got too caught up in playing the "influence other GMs/PR" part of his job and forgot about the team part.

Of course, every player knows it's a business and that they could get traded or waived or sent down or whatever. They see it multiple times every season. Doesn't mean you have to slap them in the face with it. Like most of us, they probably need some convenient fictions to do their best. I know it would bug me a little if my boss essentially said, "we own you and you are nothing more than a bargaining chip and we want to get rid of you for something better." That would start to have an influence on how I thought about my job.

Hard to blame the players for being human. And props to Martin for bringing it up.

 

I would agree that constantly throwing it out there (looking to cash in on a superstar) is potentially damaging to morale. However, I don't agree that constantly throwing it out there is what Daryl Morey or the front office does.

I would imagine that Mr Morey has done thousands of interviews in which he gets set up to offer his stance on this issue, though I've only seen him express the superstar sentiment a handful of times. Each time he does, it gets lots of attention on this forum.

Uncertainty is the name of the game for players and coaches in pro sports, as many have mentioned, though I would say that each player deals with it in different ways. Some, such as Kevin Martin, claim (on behalf of the rest of the players) that it adversely affects the team. Others, such as Chuck Hayes, say that the uncertainty in his career has pushed him to "fight" to develop and earn playing time and a spot on the roster. You can't please everyone, and Mr Morey's honesty seems to yield mixed results.

Overall a good thread and lots of good responses so far!

 

this team is not a great at all. stabililty won't help rox to move up to the next level. with current roster, a change is must.

 

I see a lot of people agreeing with Martin but yet a lot of people on this board said Morey needed to make a move.

Also a lot of you were mad that Morey didn't bring in a superstar at the trade deadeline. You can't have it both ways.

As for Martin and the rest of the team how about you step your game up to try and convince Morey wrong.