I wonder how the pitches to the likes of Nene and Chandler will go. This issue comes up every offseason because we are not NYK, Boston, LA. Morey has been a GM for several years now and I'm sure that he's getting the gist of it now (after multiple unsuccessful attempts). imho, most players want: 1) guaranteed money 2) the incentive of making more money 3) chance to contribute in a winning environment 4) fame 5) friends, feel special, climate, night life, etc. HOU has the whole state tax thing, Yao's connection with China in terms of endorsements, and also the increased probability of making an All-star team if you are half decent. Oh, not to forget an owner and GM that is fully comitted to winning a championship. What else do the Rox have going for them?
Galveston beach. Being treated like an asset. Owner fully committed to not pay luxury tax. Being forced to be around geeks. Rick Perry.
The no state tax thing could be a trump card, depending on the motivations of the player. If there is a superstar that wants to pinch every penny out of a max contract and can't/won't sign one with their current team, then the best/only options are HOU/DAL/SAN/MIA/ORL.
How is the player development dept of the Rox? They should follow the models of the top European soccer teams in terms of providing the players with the best training to maximize their potential.
I'm fairly certain that the Rockets have a high prority on player development. IIRC Morey once said that they among the teams who put a lot of money & time into player development, because they feel like you can't build a team via free agency and therefore have to find undervalued players and develop them. Ironic, right.
This is the same principle as high school and popular/good looking students. They just want to hang out with one of their own. Is Houston the equivalent to the chess club? lol
1st in line to Hakeem 1on1 training camp in the off-season... Tex-Mex food, cheaper taxes, More strip joints per capita than any other city in the US.
I find some of this talk dumb. Tmac and Yao are the most successful cases of athletes making money in the NBA during their time here as any in the NBA. As big market and high of an endorsement trail of money as it got. On top of notoriety in the league while always being injured. Ridiculous how the Rockets are perceived by even the fans as a middle class organization.
we can offer superstars the chance to play with a perfect supporting cast.. only thing missing is a defensive minded center(offensive abilities would help even more)
I think those guys want a payday, and I hope the Rockets aren't desperate/stupid enough to give it to them, especially Nene, who I'm predicting will be the next "what were they thinking" contract.
Same here. I don't think DM would mortgage the future for one of those guys. I think he says Nene as some that would make the Rockets more attractive to a superstar like CP3 next season or in a trade.
I think they're looking to improve the team irrespective of who they do or do not get. They're prepping themselves for that big trade if it eventuates they'll have a team ready to compete even if there's a high roster turnover. Iggy might be more likely than CP3. http://blog.chron.com/nba/2011/11/i...a-whats-plan-b-they-likely-will-trade-for-it/ A post by sixerfan1976, a Philly insider, supposedly. http://forums.realgm.com/boards/vie...1824711b33b2cea076b67d1547&start=45#p29239307
