The Rockets' Approach This Offseason Might Not Involve Using Cap Space

The organization didn't fail to notice what Dragic did and what he could be. They traded your boy Brooks for him even while he was having a bad season in Phoenix. They also played him substantial minutes (around 20 mpg) even while Lowry was healthy. He simply wasn't as good as he became in the late part of the season, and was not as good as Lowry. Dragic's shots were not falling at the time and the team often struggled while Lowry sat. Dragic simply didn't show his abilities in the early part of the season (the team would have LOVED to give Lowry more rest. bit Dragic's struggles didn't allow them to do so), so what is there to notice? They gave Dragic all the minutes that his play warranted.

The organization is actually quite good at noticing good performance by a guy coming off the bench. For example, when Lowry outplayed your boy Brooks coming off the bench in 09/10, the Rockets matched a full MLE offer for him even while many here screamed about the team overpaying a career backup. The team then wisely chose not to give Brooks a contract extension.

 

Oh, I do not say that Nene was a guarantee, far from it. I think it is pure conjecture, but a lot of reporters and people close to the organization say it is true, including Bima here.

So, while I have my doubts, I do respect that they may have information I do not.

Of course - the Rockets are known for their "Almost" deals, they like to leak those so the masses can think...golly gee Beav, we almost got another one.

DD

 

Was it the full MLE, or just below?

Either way it was wise to match that for Lowry, no argument there, and Brooks when traded was playing like crap (of course he was injured), kind of seems a bit like the Lowry situation, now doesn't it?

The org does not recognize talent well....

Witness Twill - Yuck

Witness Ariza - Hey, maybe that 10 game playoff run will translate into him being a stud number 1 option....

I think the org is reactionary, rather than one that gets folks BEFORE they break out.

They find decent guys late in the draft that translate to nice role player, but they seem to avoid guys with much higher upside to go for the sure and steady thing.

Now, maybe Morris was a shot in that direction - but if you are going to do that, then you need to commit to playing them - which also seems bizzare.

Morey goes out and gets guys and the coaches sit on them....it just seems to be discombobulated around the org these days.

How is that whole "Predatory" thing working out for them?

DD

 

Nobody can say what the consequences of traveling back in time to change history would have been. Nene might not have suffered the same injuries had he been traded. He might not have sat out as many games as he did as a Wizard had his team not been in tank mode. Nene and Gasol could have meshed better than they did with their Denver/LA teammates. Pau could also have gotten caught in bed with Nene's pregnant wife and gotten beaten to death by Nene. Dragic could have been either great, mediocre or horrible in New Orleans. Jeremy Lin might have gotten testicular cancer had he not gone to New York.

 

Yeah, no one could have seen Nene would miss significant time in a regular season, that has NEVER happened before, or has it?

DD

 

How would death like that affect the cap?

 

Fair enough dude! Thank you.

 

Come on now Bima, not everyone will leave the board because of it.




Let me ask you something, you are a lawyer, right?

Doesn't part of your job require you to do some risk assessment and alert your clients to the positives and negatives in any situation?

Then your clients will weigh that data and make their decision about how much risk they are willing to take, or to avoid, right?

So, would you have recommended paying Nene $55 million over 4 years - knowing his injury history and medical situation?

Would you honestly have recommended that the organization take that risk?

In my business, I listen to the risk assessments from professionals like yourself and then make the call as to which way to choose, hell, I rely on people like you to help, but I still make the ultimate call.

So, put yourself in Morey's shoes - you know the risks, would you, if you were in charge, have done the deal and signed Nene?

And for the record, I would not have...but I think you know that.

DD

 

God that was an absolute nutso reply. LMAO!

 

And just to make it perfectly clear - if you have any more nutso thoughts I would love to hear them!

 

Ariza's playoff run was 20+ games. The organization also didn't sign him to be the first option-- they certainly didn't pay him first-option money. They offered him a chance to expand his game, but that doesn't mean "Go play like Kobe." In any case, the Rockets turned Ariza into a very useful Courtney Lee, so I'm not sure what you are complaining about. And Ariza has actually been a pretty good role player in New Orleans.

Every team makes mistakes. NBA decision making is not an exact science. The Spurs spent some big money on Richard Jefferson. OKC acquired a first round pick to use on DJ White. The defending champ Mavericks gave up a first round pick to pay Lamar Odom a ton of money. Simply listing examples of successes or failures is a pointless way of arguing. The issue is whether you do better or worse in spotting talent than most teams would do in their given situation. The Rockets have been batting above average given the hands that they were dealt.

As for spotting guys "before they break out".... Hello? Did the Rockets not trade for Kyle Lowry BEFORE HE BROKE OUT? Did the Rockets not trade for Dragic (and getting an EXTRA FIRST ROUND PICK IN THE BARGAIN) BEFORE HE BROKE OUT? It's all well and good to have opinions, but lets based them on reality, shall we?

 

I will give them Kyle - but Dragic was jettisoned as a throw in before this season, which leads me to believe they did not see this coming.

Agree that it is hit and miss, but the misses are sure piling up around here.

DD

 

I really don't start arguments, I just state the obvious facts. And then back them up with citations.

 

Thanks for the reply, and I respect your position, but you did not answer the question, would you, as GM, have taken that risk in signing Nene to $50+ million over 4 years, knowing his history?

DD

 

DD - you have great sigs. Don't let the door knob hit ya ... Both classy and dirty at the same time. Kudo's.

 

It is meant to be funny in a biting sort of way....sometimes they work, sometimes not.

DD

 

Bima - do you think that signing Nene was any more than the speculation of the unwashed masses? I personally do not.