[Feigen] How Rockets could get better quickly after lockout ends

I want nothing to do with Lewis. Even at a minimum salary, I'd rather the young bucks had the playing time.

 

All I'm saying is Morey obviously believes the best way to get a superstar is through the draft (whether it be outright, like Durant, or drafting a great young prospect and trading for a star, like the Nets did with Favors). That's why he's trying to buy high draft picks.

The problem is, that's not an ideal situation. There aren't many teams that are willing to just give up their high draft pick. And that's where Les comes in. I imagine that if it were up to Morey, he would have already started the entire rebuilding (aka tanking) process. Les Alexander doesn't want that, though, so Morey's hands are tied.

The people that are begging for a season of tanking need to get it out of their heads. It isn't happening. So with that in mind, I think Morey's done a great job with the team. Only time will tell if he can convince someone like Howard, Paul, or Williams to come to Houston, though.

 

RE: The buying of picks.

Yes, Les has done that, and they have bought picks, those are low cost moves, that do not expose the team to luxury tax, and all that money was covered by Insurance payments of Yao and Tmac's contracts.

It will be interesting to see if they continue to buy picks since that well had dried up.

DD

 

What's the chance Lewis signs a minimum deal? Even if he isn't worth his current contract, he's still worth a damn sight more than the minimum. He still would be raking in cash and has the luxury of picking on other criteria, but even then he should be able to get an MLE contract. Or, if he wants to sacrifice to stack his team, half an MLE. That could be in Houston, but why not Chicago or someone else who has a sexier market and a chance to contend and enough money in an MLE to make him yet richer?

 

I would rather let Chase and Morris fight it out for the SF spot, Rashard's time has come and gone.

Go young and live with the results....

DD

 

True enough. I was only saying that I'd like for him to take the minimum. You are most likely correct, though, that he will command (and demand) a much higher salary than that.

Still, barring an amnesty cut of Thabeet, the Rockets should be eligible for the MLE this offseason. Who knows? Maybe they attempt to use some/all of the MLE on Rashard Lewis. (I'm not saying that I would approve of such a move; but I'll defer to Morey on whether that makes sense, cap-wise.)

 

That, too, perhaps. Man, one of my biggest frustrations on the Rockets not being able to work with their current players this offseason has been about the team not being able to see how Morris does playing at the SF spot in summer league, workouts, etc. If for whatever reason it turns out that Morris just doesn't have the chops to play the 3 in the NBA, the Rockets will be mighty thin at the SF position.

 

Amen Bima...AMEN !!!

I was really hoping for a year of youth and low expecations - sometimes that is the most enjoyable thing to do, watch the growth of the young guys and project out where they might be in a year or 2.

What does excite me about this team, is that players usually prove in year 3 what they will be or won't be...and this team is LOADED with 3rd year players.

Thabeet, Flynn, Hill, Chase, TWill, Dragic.......

Either the light bulb goes off, or it doesn't......I have heard that Thabeet is working out with David Thorpe and Kevin Martin and the light bulb has gone off.....I really hope so and that would be a HUGE help to this team if true.

DD

 

If Morris can't play the three, I feel like we wasted a pick on him and Morey made a mistake. We should have gone with Leonard then. We already have 2 undersized 4's already in Patterson and Scola, drafting a 3rd stringer with the 14th pick. smh.

 

First off, I agree that (in my personal opinion) the Rockets should have taken Kawhi Leonard over Marcus Morris. I just think that Leonard is a more prototypical NBA small forward and could potentially become an elite defender. However, Morey apparently is going for a guy (Morris) who he thinks has a chance to be the best player who was available at #14. If Leonard becomes the next Shawn Marion, then Morey may look foolish for passing on him. But if Morris turns into a lower-middle-class version of Carmelo Anthony, or if Leonard flames out, then Morey will be vindicated.

Second, I disagree with the notion that either Luis Scola (6-9) or Patrick Patterson (6-9) are "undersized". Sure, Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry are undersized, but not Scola or Patterson. They just aren't OVERsized, like a Pau Gasol or a Kevin Garnett.

 

Morris is the big risk/reward. I think he has more potential than Leonard, but there's also the big risk that his hybrid style doesn't work in the NBA.

 

He looks like a taller Mike Harris to me.....similar games.

DD

 

Morey has said over and over that he wants to compile assets to land a star via trade. Whether that is trading up in the draft or directly for someone like Deron. He views trades and the draft equally, and spends equal amount of time and resources on gathering info about both.

Morey does not need to make bad trades in order to tank. McHale can do the tanking. I don't see why you think Morey wants to blow up the team and Les won't allow him. I actually have never heard anyone else on this website say that before.

I must be misunderstanding you.

 

HP,

The problem is that philosophy of wanting to gather assets to trade for a superstar rarely works.

It is far more likely to get one it the draft.

DD

 

You are not following the conversation that i'm having with UTAllTheWay. The conversation is about the claim that Morey wants to tank, but Les won't allow him. You're off topic.

 

Assuming that the cap doesn't go down and we can move Scola for expirings, would it be possible for us to keep Martin and a few other pieces and have enough to sign CP3 and Howard.

 

Assuming that (much like Lebron and Bosh last year) CP3 and Howard do not demand the absolute non-Bird max salary, then this should be possible. However, I don't think you dump a player like Scola just on the CHANCE you can sign two superstars in free agency several months later. The odds of getting two superstars to sign is fairly small, as a practical matter. You try to line those superstars up first, THEN you dump whatever pieces you need to, at any cost (like the Heat did with Beasley).

 

I think he’s referring to what Morey said on the radio back in June. Here’s the thread on it: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=206154

Maybe what you’re saying is right that Morey also believes in Les Alexander’s mandate. It’s just interesting how Morey says tanking is the easier, far more proven way and also specifically said Les won’t let the team be bad. Do you really think Morey likes making his life way more difficult? Maybe you’re right that McHale will do the tanking. Maybe Morey convinced Les that McHale would be good, while knowing he wouldn’t be, since Les won’t sign off on trading the veterans.

I personally HATE the idea of tanking, and would much rather we make the playoffs next season. But if it just so happens we suck really bad for a lockout-shortened season, I can admit it might not be the worst thing for our future.

 

Play-offs without a reasonable chance to make noise makes me hurt. Losing makes me hurt. I have held out hope for amnesty having a positive effect on Rox, but I don't see it in the form out there in reports. Not even Haywood.

If this team does tank, and the character of the Scolas and Lowrys et al belie that from the team, then what's the best position in the draft (without a ping pong windfall)? Probably 9th +/-. Fifth I'd say, 'go for it'. We just are not that bad.

 

The super stud has to demand his way here, and I don't hear that rumbling from any difference maker, do you?

On the other hand, there are a few teams with depleted rosters and a narrow time frame to put together Team '11-'12 (let's hope '11 is included) then a 3 or 4 - 1 might maybe possibly somehow come together?