The one thing we be learned over the recession is a lot of rich people are just as dumb as anyone else. They are way too leveraged. The stars of this league are getting paid through this lockout. no one really cats about the mediocre players. The NBA takes a lot more skill than football. How many undrafted player turn out to do anything.
This. Since when does Les have to spend stupid money like James Dolan in order to be considered anything more than "cheap"? The criticism of Les on this BBS is disproportionately irrational and illogical to other members of the Rockets. And THAT's saying something.
You aren't seeing cracks in the owners camp because Stern fines them for speaking about the lockout (see the Heat owner). It's clear that there are a set of owners that want to have a season.
exactly. And conversely, the players are free to talk; there are 450 of them; and how many "cracks" are we seeing. Essentially none. The Jason Whitlock piece is just garbage. Stern even disagrees with it.
I'm starting to side with the players. I'd say that the owners need to offer a 52-48 split and the players nick another .5 percent off of their concession and call it a day. If the owners want more than that, call it a season. See you next year.
If the new CBA is onerous towards being over the cap, I would seriously doubt Les would spend to get them. I don't like Les as an owner, I find him fake - lots of talk, very little action. And as a former trader, I think he just might like money more than winning.... Just my .02. DD
This is from two summers ago, http://www.chron.com/sports/rockets...-content-to-keep-roster-unchanged-1723218.php
HP, I know that is what he says...he and Morey say a lot of things, but actions speak louder than words. Follow the actions not the words. DD
Actually, I am far from alone. I don't mind people believing the PR spin that Morey and Les give you, that if fine. I don't believe anything until I see them act on it.....so far......never have they done that.... DD
"they" We are talking about Les. Les has been the owner for 17 years. He has most definitely overspent on many, many occasions. Given his history of overspending for mediocrity, I'm believe him when he says he'd allow Morey to pursue a max player without regards to tax implications.
No. I think they will pursue Howard, and if we are lucky to land him will try to put low cost alternative players around him to minimize their risk. DD
So, you think we would get rid of Scola and/or Martin for garbage if we landed Howard, to get back under the tax line? What exactly do you think Les would make Morey do? You know the team. Tell us in specifics.
DD, by saying the above, are you really saying, "I will NOT believe it UNTIL I see it"??? If not, then you are correct, and I share your sentiments. When I see it, I will also believe it. It just so happens that I will also probably believe it before I see it and that I will most definitely believe it after I see it. If so, . . . come on, man! To use a fairly crude analogy, this is like having a friend who's a male p*rn star who says that he'd totally have sex with Angelina Jolie if she was willing. You KNOW he's got the nerve to do it. It's just silly to tell him, "I will believe it when I see it."
DD, I actually agree with you here . . . to some extent. I believe that Les would be willing to pay a ton in luxury tax . . . for a while . . . in order to get Howard and compete for a championship. Over time, however, I could see the Rockets letting large contracts expire (as opposed to "dumping salary") if there was a low cost alternative that would not create too large a drop-off for the Rockets to continue to contend for a title. For example, if the Rockets managed to add Dwight Howard as a free agent in 2012, and if they also re-signed Courtney Lee to a long-term deal for a fairly substantial sum, I could see the Rockets going to war with a Martin/Lee SG combo to try to win a title. However, when Martin's deal is up in 2013, I could see the Rockets simply not re-signing Martin . . . IF Lee was clearly capable of filling the SG spot on a title team. But to say that Les would slash payroll to avoid tax at the expense of contending, I just don't buy it. Les is a competitor who will spend money to win. All he's shown so far is that he doesn't want to needlessly spend big money on mediocrity when he can achieve the same result for less money.
