[Chron] Leslie: I have enough money, but I don’t have enough championships

Les going head to head with Mark Cuban!!

 

BS. Mark Cuban has gone over the LT like every year. Les has done it once and that was like 700k.

 

Two separate articles about the Rockets being willing to spend money two days in a row??... hmmm...

Obviously there are talks going on behind the scenes, and this makes me think that the Clippers/Celtics talks are very real.

If the Clippers are serious about trading Griffin and Bledsoe to get Howard to LA, Id have to say that IF Howard would rather team up with CP3(& possibly Doc/KG) than Harden/Parsons/McHale, Its very possible that the Lakers would much rather do that deal than anything the Rockets could give them outside of their core players.

If the Rockets deplete their core in a S&T with LAL to trump the Clippers offer, Dwight might not be as enticed to sign in Houston without the likes of Asik, Lin, and maybe even Parsons(if he's needed to get the deal done).

So basically, Les/Morey & co. are trying to convince Howard that signing with them as an UFA is better because they have just as good of players right now, and are willing to go deeper in the lux tax to sign veteran players that can help them compete now.

IMO, its a worthy pitch that I would pay attention to if I was Dwight. The Clippers look to me alot like the Lakers on paper with CP3 being the one major acception. However, CP3 is no Spring Chicken anymore, and really can be just as demanding as Kobe in alot of ways.

Houston resembles a clean plate and a fresh start. A team on the rise who can compete not just for 2 or 3 years, but for another 8 or 9 years if kept together. The Clippers, IMO would be a good team, but have the ability to be a super bust team in the playoffs if KG declines as fast as most bigs his age do, CP3 can't stay healthy, and the cast of veteran minimum role players play like veteran minimum role players.

If Dwight goes to the Clippers than so-be-it. They might be better off in the long run than the Clippers anyways.

 

Les Alexander is getting desperate in light of his advancing age and impending mortality. He needs to win another title before he passes and hands the team over to his idiot son, Jimmy Alexander.

 

Leslie meant to say, "Money isn't a problem but the lack of championships are causing me nightmares."

 

I still don't think the Clippers will pull the trigger if this even becomes an option.

Blake is their baby and they've already stated that half the organization was against even talking trade for DH12 last time he was being traded from Orlando.

If anything they try to come away with Dwight without pawning off their "star" PF. If they do end up making it happen, there are going to be a lot of upset people in Clipperland.

 

Always bringing the laughs, Amigo lol

 

Best owner in Houston sports!

 

Show me the money. Talk is cheap.

 

NOW, after riding Yao, playing the Lin card, and banking it in the Far East for years, Les is ready to win again....

Okay, Bossman....Show us the money!

Put a product out there that has a legitimate title window.

Thank God for DM the GM.

 

If Blake and Paul aren't seeing eye to eye, then Blake is gone. It's that simple.

Let's face it, if Dwight can join Chris Paul in LA, he's probably going to jump on that, and I'm not even worried about it because I think the Rockets are smart enough to save their cap for 2014.

 

Maybe Les is sure Dwight is coming and this is a message to vets and role players. He could be telling them, “Hey I have a sense of urgency to win and I am willing to go over the cap to sign or trade for you. I am willing pay you (vets) to come help Dwight, Harden, 3rd star, and Parsons win a few championships before you and I leave the league in a few years. I have the same desire and sense of urgency as you.”

 

This is so awesome. Les is sounding more and more like Buss, the greatest NBA owner ever!! I am a MOF but Morey would not be Morey without Les. Rockets' future is very bright indeed with an owner like Les.

 

Cuban has been all talk no action otherwise he wouldn't have disbanded the 2011 team. Let's see what he does this offseason.

Les, on the other hand, had shown that he was willing to pay for what/who he wants last year. So when Les says he will be willing to pay the luxury tax, I am more inclined to believe he will follow through with actions to match his words.

 

Has Les said how long he planned on keeping the team? He is currently 70 years old.

 

I don't know, but most owners don't want to die while they own the team, unless they are passing it to their heirs. It is a tax/estate planning issue and is why Drayton sold the Astros. If your kids don't want the team and/or your estate can't handle the taxes of passing the team to your kids, you sell it before you die.

 

Love the passion, but Les says this same thing in different words every year.

Believe it when I see it.

UFA's not signing isn't his fault....but the bait needs to be better?

Harden signing was the first step and a great move, lets hope that pays dividends for UFA's to want to play in Houston.

All it would take is a Howard and BAM...everyone wants to play in Houston now!

...only issue is Howard and what he truly wants.

 

I understand the skepticism from some of you posters, but honestly, there is no point in going over the LT if you don't have a team that can benefit from it. If we have the stars in place and we are just looking to build around them for a championship run, I have no doubt that Les will be willing to spend money. Going over the LT without that core of star(s) however, is just dumb IMO.

 

Les is milking the LIN cash cow and is going all in.