He may or may not be a "piece of that puzzle" depending on how things play out in free agency the next few years, but he isn't preventing us from doing anything. If anything, he makes the people behind him work harder to earn playing time. I am not sure how you have convinced yourself that having Hayes here somehow inhibits us from putting a championship team together. Thabeet, Hill, etc are not going to turn this franchise around. Any piece that is, is not on the team right now. You suggest letting other people play to increase their value, however Chuck himself has value, and here you want to just let him walk? Doesn't really make any sense.
Chuck is a young player, just now entering his prime. He could very well be the same player for another decade ala Kurt Thomas. Daryl Morey is not trying to go the Thunder route, he is trying to go the Celtics route. We will make a trade for a star, and we will be SO thankful that we still have Chuck Hayes in the mix, on a reasonable, longterm contract. Scola will go before Chuck does... Also, You do NOT let a YOUNG team captain WALK, when he can be had for a reasonable price. Chuck's attitude IS the Rockets. Don't lose the attitude. Make the young punks earn their spots like Lowry, Scola, Landry and Chuck did. Gifting positions is a quick way to becoming the Warriors/Wizards/Knicks... Keep it tough...
http://www.ukathletics.com/blog/2011/11/from-the-pressbox.html Once Patterson got to Houston, another Kentucky connection paid dividends as former UK star Chuck Hayes proved to be a valuable mentor. "Having Chuck there was great. I looked up to Chuck and he was like a mentor to me. He helped me out everyday, kept me positive, kept me straight and I felt like I could continue playing at this level with how he was talking to me and giving me advice and like I said, looking out for me," Patterson said. "I was thankful Chuck was on the Rockets while I was there and hopefully the lockout ends so he can re-sign a contract and keep playing with us."
LOL - he sure is...... If Morey signs him and Chuck wants to stay here, fine with me....I would prefer we go young, but it is not up to me. DD
The greatest trick that Chuck Hayes ever pulled was convincing Patrick Patterson that he did not exist.
The league's latest proposal includes a new $2.5M exception that allows under the cap teams to use all their cap room and THEN add a player for $2.5M. At first blush, this would be perfect for Chuck Hayes. Sign Hayes to a nice one-year deal. Next year, renounce his Bird rights if the resulting cap room can bring in a star. Then, after the cap room is used, sign Chuck to this $2.5M exception.
But, knowing now that this exception exists, what if the Rockets offer a lucrative (over market) one-year deal, communicating the "hope" (wink, wink) that Chuck re-signs for the exception in 2012?
Chuck Hayes take wink wink deal now. Next year he screw Morey and take lucrative free agent contract from other team. That's the logical thing to do. Best Regards, Carlos Boozer
