Just a question, since we acquired him in free agency, if Morey never did the Ppat and MM trade, would it have been harder to free up cap space to sign D12?
Yes, it would have been impossible to sign Dwight with both of their salaries (or equivilent) on the books. The trade really needing to happen at that particular time depended on the market for 2Pat this Summer. All reports were that the front office believed Robinson would be much easier to move this Summer, and had to take advange of a willing buyer when they had one on the hook. With MM, yes his salary (or D-Mo/Jones) would have needed to have been moved to clear a full max slot. I'm not saying the Rockets regret making the move that they did to move MM instead of one of the Rookies, but I do think that they might be looking back wondering if it was truly the right move. Morris, by far, gave the Rockets the best floor spacing from a true PF in the Rockets most productive non-small-ball lineups last season. Despite his reputation for being a bust.... he would have been a nice fit with the lineup they will be going with this year. Exceptional 3 point shooter, who could defend and rebound against most NBA PF's.... on a rookie contract. I think D-Mo & Jones have the "potential" to be much more dynamic players than Morris, but when you look at fit, there is no question that right here, right now... Morris would have been a better immediate fit.... but anyways... Im hoping D-Mo & Jones really squash that argument.
(LeBron) James also said he felt like Dwight Howard made "a good move for him looking at the situation" in leaving the Los Angeles Lakers to sign with the Houston Rockets. "Dwight's going to be very comfortable, he's going to be back to where he was in Orlando," James said. "Houston is a team that could be really good. They have young talent with James Harden, Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin and adding Dwight, he's one of the best big men in the league." Link
Late October cannot come fast enough. I want the season to start but want all of the Rockets to be at 100%.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Action photo from <a href="https://twitter.com/DwightHoward">@DwightHoward</a> workout. He stopped in before his China trip. <a href="http://t.co/3FYuRBjldr">pic.twitter.com/3FYuRBjldr</a></p>— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey/statuses/367048377785012224">August 12, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>One more: Dwight goes to work after watching Dream display how it's done. <a href="http://t.co/SGZL3KMn4s">pic.twitter.com/SGZL3KMn4s</a></p>— Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/statuses/367047371277881344">August 12, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Wow! He has hops! Can't wait to see him outjump guys for rebounds and putbacks. It's going to be a glorious season! Cannot wait!!!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>FIRST LOOK: Introducing the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23DHoward4&src=hash">#DHoward4</a> designed for <a href="https://twitter.com/DwightHoward">@DwightHoward</a>. <a href="http://t.co/TKiau5Oi5A">pic.twitter.com/TKiau5Oi5A</a></p>— adidas Basketball (@adidasHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/adidasHoops/statuses/367314911002505216">August 13, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bringing it all together - blue for the Magic, yellow for the Lakers, red for the Rockets. Ha, not really. I don't know.
Kinda cool they settled in on red & yellow for the primary colors. And the gold for the championship Howard desires. The blue seems pretty random; maybe a throw-back to when he played for Orlando? If so, then you'd have three colors each representing the teams he's played for. When will Harden get a line of kicks? C'mon son, gotta have somebody to replace the Kobe System. The Bearded Symphony?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Column: Unlike LeBron, Dwight Howard faces no derision after decision. <a href="http://t.co/7il9vAugp8">http://t.co/7il9vAugp8</a></p>— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/KBergCBS/statuses/367747559743565825">August 14, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>