What EVIDENCE do we have that Morey is doing a great/good job?

It is very apparent teams are exploiting Hill's defensive liabilities. Again you can't fault him he's not a center. I still believe minutes at center should be going to Thabeet and Dalembert

 

Many Rockets fans will be excited if the Rockets sneak into the playoffs. Losing a first round pick and being mired in mediocrity does not concern the majority of fans.

 

Yea that would be awesome!!!

 

Daryl Morey is the Job of the NBA. I can't believe people are faulting him for not having a championship contending team, after losing two star players (both inherited) to injury, and being utterly screwed over by Stern's intervention in the Gasol trade. It's a minor miracle that the Rockets are still competitive and respectable. By all rights, this should've been a 30-win team over the last couple of years.

 

He's got us Lowry, Scola, and Martin for essentially nothing. If Les would allow him to tank, I think he could reall re-vamp this team.

 

Link?

Regardless, it was a great gamble by morey- low risk, high reward.

 

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=214052

 

Yeah, I know no one takes him serious but Bill Ingram was on 1560 earlier today talking about the Rockets.

'Bill Ingram of hoopsworld.com tells us Daryl Morey may be the problem with the Rockets.'

Spoiler

Bill, how are you?

I'm doing great. How are you guys doing?

Thanks for joining us. We really appreciate it.

You bet.

You are in Dallas correct?

I am. Based in Dallas, yes.

But you are a Rocket guy.

I am. I was raised in Houston, down off basically Main and Fondren, where those two cross, back in the day when it was a good part of town. Last time I was through there, not so much. Grew up in the Hakeem Olajuwon era, loving Houston Rockets basketball and that's why Hoopsworld exists and why I do what I do.

Because of Rockets basketball. That's awesome. How much do you hate it because you have to live in Dallas?

I've done this long enough that it becomes about the people than the teams so to speak although I'll always be a die-hard Rockets fan even when they're miserably bad and their front office is questionable in the current situation. Deep down, there will be a Rockets fan waiting to erupt if this team is ever good. There are great people. I cover the entire NBA. So many great people, coaches, GMs, players, I enjoy getting to know all the great people affiliated with the game. Great to be a part of the championship run last year. Good times.

We just got off the phone with Chandler Parsons. We can't find a reason why he wouldn't be in the rookie game this year.

(laughing)Here's the thing with Chandler -Chandler when you watch games, if you're looking at box scores, he's not an overwhelmingly great player. Where he is good is when you look at the plus/minus every night. 2 games ago he was +20. Last game +10. He's usually either the top guy or last game he was tied. When you start to look at the impact a player has on the game that is beyond, and trust me, this is what the Houston Rockets are all about, its beyond box scores, into those quirky stats, things like plus/minus, Chandler has been right there. Honestly, I love Chase Budinger and the way he played after they traded Shane Battier. I thought Chase was ready to be the guy but hey, Chandler Parsons has come in and impacted the game in a way, Chase gives you better stats and a much better 3 point shooter, and there has been times in the game, where Chandler was wide open for a 3, a game winning shot, it was such a horrible shot, I thought man, if Chase was in the game that shot probably would have gone down. When you look at the intangibles, thats why Chandler Parsons is on the floor. Intangibles dont get you into those kinda....when the numbers are being put on the board and people are looking at who they'll pick for those games, its unlikely they'll put Chandler Parsons into that category.

He almost said the same thing as to why he got drafted when he did. The main criticism he got was the fact he thought people thought he should put up bigger numbers at Florida and he was more of an all-around floor game kinda guy and why maybe he slipped into the second round. Hes contributing now and its a Rockets team that up until this past Wednesday was playing good basketball. They got a pretty favorable schedule over the next week or two. I dont know, whats your take on the Rockets so far? 18 games in, they kinda beat the teams they're supposed to, lost to the teams they're supposed to, what is the ceiling for this Rockets team?

That's exactly it. I have a very good who's in their front office and we were chatting for quite awhile yesterday about the state of the team. Honestly, they only expected to win 3 of their first 12 games or whatever it was because they played the Thunder twice, the Spurs twice, the contenders, at Orlando. They were playing a tough schedule. They managed to beat San Antonio but Tim Duncan was sitting out. Really when they looked at it before the season started, they lost games they expected to lose. Samuel Dalembert wasnt in playing shape, and didnt have training camp and was a last minute addition and he is just now getting shape. You mentioned Chandler Parsons is a part of the rotation and wasnt even there. Lots of changes have taken place. A new coach. Kevin McHale is using a lot of the Adelman offense but he is making tweaks here and there. I have seen...Kyle will run down and run an Adelman play even when thats not necessarily whats being called but its successful so they dont argue with him. I'll tell you this, the driving force behind winning 7 games in a row, Kyle Lowry is having a fantastic season. This kid, every night, is flirting with a triple double. He is such an emotional, powerful player on the court. One thing the Rockets say internally is that this kid is capable of dominating games. Kyle knows hes good but they dont think he knows just how good he is. When you watch him, if you're not watching games and look at box scores, its ok, some nights he looks good, some nights not but actually watching the game and you see him hitting threes 4 feet behind the 3 point line just when the team needs it at the end of the game, hes doing things that are just great player material. You look at Kyle and think he has the potential..even though he has been in the league a few years and wasnt a full-time starter until last year, he showed he was ready to be that guy. I still think the sky is the limit for Kyle. He'll be a real factor in whatever success they have. Whatever success they have, Kyle is the guy that makes them so good, so tough, that heart and soul and has stepped in to fill that void with Shane Battier gone.

Daryl Morey not extending Courtney Lee. I dont think the other guys were an option. Can you evalute the job, because there are people who are differing on Morey here in Houston. Evaluate the job he is doing and the way he is going about it to get the superstar to compete in the league?

Daryl walks around like hes the smartest guy in the room and actually I probably think he is. He is very, very smart but what he's done has spent a lot of time accumulating assets that's what they call it, accumulating assets, accumulating lottery picks. They're never bad enough to get a lottery pick so they have managed to acquire them via trade like Hasheem Thabeet, Terrence Williams, Jordan Hill. They have acquired these lottery picks. In retrospect, no one would make any those guys lottery picks. Hasheem Thabeet, that's a joke. The Rockets even joked about him. I sat with Daryl and some of the guys at summer league the year Hasheem was drafted and everyone was joking how bad he was. When they acquired him, I was really shocked. I joked with Daryl, I said "You just traded your playoff berth to Memphis.". He said "We dont think so." but yes, thats exactly what he did. And in fact, it ticked off Rick Adelman to the point that when they offered him a new contract, he said no because he didnt believe the front office was commmitted to winning with moves like that. You're taking away one of my best players and giving me a guy I cant even use. So you've accumulated these assets. Now he's calling around the NBA, right now, calling around to get Terrence WIlliams, Jonny Flynn, Jordan Hill and Courtney Lee, anyone that will take them, of those guys, I was speaking with another GM yesterday, we kinda joked that Daryl overvalued his pieces. He said "Yeah, a draft pick would be overvaluing a couple of those guys", but Courtney Lee, that's the exception. Thats a really good kid. The Bulls were extremely interested in him last year. Really wanted him. Scouted him several times and even called the Rockets asking what it would take. The Rockets asked for Omer Asik or Taj Gibson. The Bulls were not willing. Thats a bit of a stretch. They're shopping him again. Courtney's camp has actually asked for a trade because of the way this has all been handled. On the business side, the numbers, and drafting, Daryl has been fine but he doesnt understand there is a personal side to the game. You have to have a personal relationship with these guys. You have to understand they're people, not just stats on a page. I have heard from guys like Shane Battier, Chuck Hayes, Carl Landry, guys who have been in the Rockets organization and have moved on, that they felt like they were stats on a page. There was no concern for who they were as people, there was no belief in them. It was strictly, you are these stats and you are easily replaceable. Agents dont want their players to be in Houston. Dan Fegan didnt want Nene in Houston because he doesnt like the way Kevin Martin is being handled by the team. Those things have reprucussions. That is the weak spot, the blind spot in Daryl's management style and he doesnt see that.

Thats interesting. Hes obviously doing all these things with the big goal in mind of landing a superstar player at some point and not extending that 2009 class and Courtney Lee all done to make sure they got max cap space heading into this offseason. With all that said, have you had a chance to look at what the market looks like for free agents next year? Who exactly are they clearing cap space for to go get?

They'd like to have Dwight Howard. They'd like to have Dwight Howard so much that they were waiting to see, everyone thought SVG would be fired after last season. They didnt fire him and that was a good thing because, SVG is the opposite of the key to getting Dwight. SVG would ice the fact you arent getting Dwight but they didnt understand that. Thats the guy but Dan Fegan is Dwight Howard too. When you treat one player, one agent in a poor way, in an unprofessional way or in a way that leaves a bad feeling with that player and agent, thats going to come back around. Yeah Dwight is your top choice but his agent doesn't like the way you've handled a couple of his other players. Hes not gonna want his star player there. Thats the plan but the reason they struck out on Bosh, Nene, Chandler, M. Gasol, M. Gasol was different but so many of the guys they've targeted, the reason they havent managed to get them is because some of those little personel things. When they meet with a FA, if I'm the Rockets and Im meeting with someone who I think needs to come to Houston, first of all, sitting right next to me, the first person to meet that person when they walk in the room is Hakeem Olajuwon. No question. 2 rings, greatest center to play the game, just an amazing player. You take Hakeem into the meeting, you say "Look, you're going to play in Texas, no state income tax. 48 games in Texas. The way contracts work is you pay tax everywhere you play. You'll play 48 games in Texas where there is no state income tax. Then you'll go out to River Oaks, go out and show them beautiful parts of Houston, and talk about the cost of living. Houston is such a great place to play basketball. Such a great place to be a pro basketball player. If you're a Dwight Howard, the community would, you would not be able to go anywhere without hugs and high fives, and seeing your name and people in your jersey. The community of Houston is dying to embrace a superstar athlete. We're short on that. Look at the way the Astros have been handled and the way the Rockets are being handled. That outlet is waiting to erupt. You bring a Dwight Howard or a superstar to the town, he'll be mayor of the city. You could sell a player on that. Hakeem could sell a current player on that concept and bring them to town but thats not the way the Rockets are handling their business. The way it is right now, the big name FAs, they look at Houston and go ehh, maybe I'll go to Dallas. At least Mark Cuban is passionate and fun and thinks he can win a championship every year.

Dwight Howard, like you said, all the guys they tried to bring in here, my wife wanted Brad Pitt but settled on me.You gotta go and get someone you can actually go and get. Everyone wants Dwight Howard. The Lakers are going to get Dwight Howard. Why not get someone that you can actually get in here?

You need an executive that says we can get Dwight Howard and delivers Dwight Howard. Look, the reason LA is good for so long because is when Kobe says I want Pau Gasol, they get Pau Gasol. Mitch Kupchak is good at that. Someone will land Dwight Howard. I dont believe, the way the Magic are talking, they wont trade him and if they dont trade him and he becomes a FA, I think he lands in Dallas. Reason he lands in Dallas, behind the scenes has everything to do with it. Dan Fegan is his agent. Dan is one of Mark's absolute best friends. Mark has already laid the groundwork. He's given contracts to guys like Yi Jianlian, who is a Fegan agent, who has no business being in the NBA right now. He'll do that because it's I scratch your back now, you scratch mine later. There is a very good chance Dwight ends up in Dallas. It's because Cuban and Nelson are good at what they do. They go out and make those deals happen. To win a championship, to be a championship team, you need someone who will make that deal. The visionary who 'Hey, we're gonna get Clyde Drexler because Hakeem cant carry this team by himself. He's a little banged up. We can get Clyde Drexler. We'll have to give up Otis Thorpe, that's tough, but lets make the bold move. Lets dare to be great and they win a championship. Those are the teams that win championships. You have to have management that is capable of making those kind of deals. If you have a GM who doesnt believe....Houston is a fantastic place for a FA to come play. The Rockets will have money, the tax situation I mentioned, the rich history, 2 championships, got Hakeem there, Clyde there for all the home games, got the guys involved from the championship era. Its a great place to play basketball. Got a beautiful arena. Its fantastic. You have to have a GM who can go to that player, get the player in town or go to that player and sell them on all those points and bring that key free agent, you gotta deliver that. If you can't deliver that, you have no business being a GM. That's your job. Drafting is one thing, hey, they're great at the draft, but landing free agents, they don't have that. You have to be able to do both. If you can't deliver your key free agents, you'll never be a great team or even a really good team and that's where the Rockets are right now.

Appreciate it. Great conversation.

Anytime.

 

^Yeah good logic here. I mean, DM is so good at getting these assets of his the Rockets can't actually be bad enough to get that highly talented player in the draft. Just like how its Lebron's fault the Cavs couldn't build around him properly, he made that team too good too soon. If only he'd sucked the first few years and didn't make the Cavs an instant playoff team, then they would have gotten several lottery picks to build around him.

Also apparently having both Kevin Martin and Courtney Lee on the roster is not enough to appease Dan Fegan. Oh no, the real key to "laying the groundwork" to Dwight Howard is to pay Yi Jian Lian. Cuz you know, making sure the Chinese Assassin gets paid is a top priority of Dwight Howard

 

If what he says is true...if agents have really told him that...and he's talked directly to players who say they were made to feel that way...then we have a real problem, no matter how much we may want to minimize it.

 

Is this excuse going to be used forever?

 

Bill Ingram hit it on the head.. can someone email this to Morey?

 

1. I think Bill Ingram questioning you is probably EVIDENCE that you are doiong a good job.

2. About his actual points about Morey's flaws (leaning too much toward asset acquisition/accumulation vs. stability, and being too objective and not personal) I think that while there is some validity to these points, overall, the approach taken by the front office has been a good one.

For example, I still feel iffy about the Battier trade (even though it did land a 1st round pick from MEM, which was packaged in the Motiejunas trade), but lets remember Morey did something similar (trading a starter for a prospect) when he dealt Rafer for Lowry. You win some, you lose some, and you never know which one of these deals will or will not pan out. But if you don't take the "asset acquisition" approach, which annoyed Adelman last year, you lose out on the chances at getting a Lowry.

Personally, I'd take on 3 Thabeets to get one Lowry.

Also, about the lack of "personal touch," I think the team can do better on this-- and bringing in Kevin McHale is a move in that direction. However, objectivity has served the team well-- at least we are not throwing excessive money at the Mo Taylors and Kelvin Catos of the world. Sure, some players don't feel too happy about it, but it's kind of a part of the business all over the league. Look, one team wins and one team loses every game. Teams need to make moves in accordance with the wins and losses and to improve their future W/L records. It's just a fact. Morey can have Kevin Martin sleep between Morey and his wife on their bed every night and this doesn't change. Besides, how does Kevin Martin think he became a Rocket? Morey had to treat Landry like an asset for that to happen, no?)

Anyhow, some people will always be bothered about something at work. Is it substantially hampering the team's ability to compete? I don't think so. After all, Sammy D seem quite happy to sign on as an asset.

3. Not suprised Fegan would prefer Courtney Lee to move elsewhere: It's his contract year and he's coming off the bench. A starting job obviouisly makes his earning potential better as a free agent (and increases Dan Fegan's income, too). The agent is doing his job and so is the Rockets front office.

 

That may be the most interesting thing Bill Ingram has ever said, commenting about the agents and how Morey treats them and their players and the possible reprecussions.

DD

 

The players have talked about it, and when you try to comment on it in the forum you get slammed......no one believes that personal decisions have an effect.

That is one of the reasons CD was so successful at big trades, he knew everyone, and they all trusted him.

I have said since Morey has been here, that he would be great as the 2nd fiddle, the man behind the man, but the jury for me is out on him because of his lack of personal management skills....IMO.

DD

 

I heard this very interview this morning and posted nothing about it because i knew how it would be received and was made aware of how Ingram is perceived. You can't dare question the GM in the GARM without being labelled a hater.

 

Where are all the "hater" accusations you keep going on about? Some people agree and some people disagree, according to the responses so far. So what's wrong with that?

 

He said that Adelman didn't want to come back because Morey traded for Hasheem Thabeet. Did you find that interesting as well?