Can you cite one source that blames Dell Demps for the trade being cancelled? I have never read anything suggesting that he should have seen it coming. If you want to argue the trade was bad as constructed, that's fine. That is a completely separate issue, though.
DM and the league were given Dell Demps to negotiate with not Stern. If Dell Demps says the deal is done and he is the GM then why would any logic dictate that Stern would step in and remove Demps from negotiations. All blame (not some or just most but all) falls squarely on the league for the way the negotiations went down. Period
The deal was done and it had been submitted to the league office. Could Les have killed the deal at that point? Could Buss have decided against it? No, in both cases... for Stern to kill the deal, from a position of 'de facto owner' of the Hornets was wrong, out of line, one of the worst examples of conflict of interest ever perpetrated in sports.... cant hold DM accountable for that. Rudy Gay, Batum, .....have at it...
If the whole point is to hold morey accountable because Demps also was, then there has to be some proof showing Demps was held accountable in the frist place. Otherwise, this thread is pointless and should be locked.
My criticbof morey is he has the same players two fold. If we could combine the players together, then we would have better players. If you could combine the size and explosion of dragic with the savvy of lowry, you would have an all star caliber player. If you could combine parson size and defense with chase and his offense, all star caliber player. If you could combine scola in the post, patterson tenacity,and hill size, again, all star caliber player. Martin and lee combined equals a really good player also. The unfortunate thing is, we can't and thus we're left with 1 sided solid role playe. Its ok to have a couple of guys like that, cassell and smith, but not a whole team like that. That's why they will continue to be average.
Have you ever criticized Morey for anything? Don't play verbal gymnastics. It's a direct question and the answer needs to be direct as well. Yeah, that inefficient scrub Rudy Gay struck again last night.
Except for the fact that our franchise center was still on the roster. It was in the best interest of the organization to contend with Yao. People seem to have forgotten that Yao actually played games last year. Morey did the best he could to compliment him even after McGrady went down.
Mark Gasol beat us last night. In any case, CD technically made the move for Battier. Rudy would not have fit well on an immediate contender. When you have an opportunity to contend with Alston, Mcgrady, Battier, Scola, Yao, you take it every time IMO. We still never saw what the team could truly do.
Actually we were a decent bench and a 28 yr old Mutombo away from being in the Western Conference, possibly Finals.
I never said he couldn't be criticized, but what he is criticized for in the OP is silly. Morey should be held accountable for the failed trade simply because Demps was held accountable (allegedly)? If Demps was held accountable, then how so? No mention of the Lakers GM needing to be held accountable? The Lakers had the most to lose (CP3) AND their trade target ended up on another team on the other side of town in the same conference!!
I think if Yao doesn't go down, or if we had another center to pair with Mutumbo, we go to the finals. If Yao doesn't get injured, we probably win. If Tracy doesn't get "injured", we probably win. I still get mad just thinking about that team, a solid point guard tandem, a top tier shooting guard, a dominant big man, the best wing defenders in the league, and a deep and competent bench. Plus, that was the year Garnett was injured, and the Magic beat the Cavs. Looking at how we would have matched up with the Magic, we would have easily beat them. Yao negates Dwight both offense and defense, Artest and Battier easily shut down any perimeter plays, forcing them to rely even more on the 3 ball. They probably stop Brooks, but they have no one for McGrady. Plus, we had the deeper team.
