Thing is, he mentioned 20 players OR 19...unless we simply cut someone or cut and sign Sammy, it sounds like a 2 for 1 deal. My money is on Kaman, NOLA wants youth, flexibility and needs a PG...we have four of those and a ton of youth and flexibility to offer.
I think he was just tired and lost his train of thought. The Rockets will have to cut down to 15 players.
Is it true people inside of the organization are saying the vetoed CP3 trade set the team back THREE YEARS???
Yes. But - - tomorrow is another day. Say what one will I believe that DM the GM will not be outworked, outsmarted but perhaps with assistance from King David, outflanked.
The 3 year thing has to do with Gasol's 3 years left on his contract. Pair that up with Nene's 4 year deal, and it gives the Rockets basically a 3 year window before they're no longer near their primes. Regardless of whether it would've succeeded or failed, it would've given the Rockets a 3 year plan, a path to possible success. Now they Rockets are stuck with an average team with a lack of direction.
I as disappointed as everyone everyone else that the Nene and Gasol trade did not work out. I see only 2 alternatives - tanking or try to pull a Pistons like team out of the wood work. Tanking is probably not going to happen with Les as the owner. The most positive thing about tanking is that DMo is coming next year. He possibly could be a super star in this league. It really is looking like he was the steal of the 2011 draft. Everybody seems high on Morris, but I am reserving judgement till I see him play against NBA players. Will any one of the 09'ers ever pan out? Probably not, but the good thing is that all of them come off the books in 2012. Tanking we could give them serious playing time it certainly would help with the assessment of their talents. So dump Scola and Martin and hope that the ping pong balls fall our way? This would certainly be the year to do it with Drummond and Sullinger in the draft. The best thing about trying to build a Pistons like team is DMo. Defense is by far the most pressing need for this team. Trade Martin and Bud for Iggy and whatever at the trade deadline if Morris cannot step in and do a better job than Bud? No matter what we have to free up some space at the PF spot. Sign Dalembert and package up Scola for whatever draft pick we can get? The reason that Martin and Scola are not bringing back quality from other clubs is their abhorrent defense. At this point the Rockets are just sort of stuck in the mud.
I thought the same thing, maybe Dragic and Thabeet for Kaman? Gets NOLA the PG they need, and saves them about $5 million (which we can fit under our remaining cap dollars to swing the deal).
I think he just didn't want to make specific predictions about the future. It isn't easy to find opportunities where a Pau Gasol/Nene combo is attainable (whatever you think of the trade, remember JVG, who is a very smart guy with good seats at many NBA games, considers Gasol a top 15 player in the league), so it's unlikely for the next one to come along for a few more year. So, setting the team back by 3 years is probably a good guess, but it's never that precise a matter-- something could happen tomorrow, or it may not happen for 6 or 7 years, who knows? I think Sammy D is a fine addition if he'll take a short contract and not screw up 2010 cap space. It does make a difference if a team wins a good amount of games and make the playoffs and even win a round like the Grizzlies did last year. Remember, the regular season performance level of Houston and Memphis really are not that far apart, but people around the league are feeling much better about the Memphis team and, as a result, their assets will be more highly valued. If Sammy D can help the team do something similar to what Memphis pulled off last year (and in a crazy year like this, underdog teams have a better chance than in a regular year), it's worth adding him to the team. I just don't think you should overpay him and hurt your own cap flexibility under current circumstances.
Morey sounds exactly like he does in every interview I've ever head with him...Tired... And rightfully so, he's working hard.
