Morey is mediocre GM. Lucked into Harden and Howard, but failed to build any culture which is why Harden and Howard are leaving Rockets once their contract is up. No GM in NBA history has been so glorified while having so little success(one playoff victory in 7 years).
I understand what Morey is thinking, but at this point I wish he'd just move Lin and Asik...Go after a guy like Gasol...maybe some other solid vets...And then match Parsons. Play solid team ball... Go all in with the guys we have here and if it doesn't work, it doesn't work.
Lin and Asik trades were put together and agreed to in principle before teams knew we were under the 72 hour gun. For all they (the other teams) knew, we had a side deal with Parsons and the 72 hours deadline wouldn't be an issue. If the other GMs were to back out now and use the 72 hour gun to leverage more out of us in the trades, they would ruin their reputation and make everyone else's hesitant to deal with them in the future. Remember, the shoe can always be on the other foot...
You don't just stumble upon those caliber players! Morey set himself up by having some of the best types of assets in today CBA: Promising prospects on rookie contracts, Quality draft picks, expiring contracts, and cap space/flexibility. The prospects (Lamb), picks (Raptors and Dallas 1sts + Charlotte's high 2nd), along with Martin's expiring were used for Harden. And Cap space + a promising young core lured Howard over here. Morey's working on the second part by beefing up the coaching staff (although keeping McHale is question mark), and adding those players.
People need to relax. Before free agency started, everybody was excited, because we were in play for all the top free agents - LBJ, Melo, Bosh, Lowry, etc. Morey made all that possible. That's all you can ask for. Just because it took LBJ longer to make up his damn mind, and the ahole Cuban giving a worst possible contract to Parson, doesn't make it a bad plan all of a sudden. Those are all unexpected circumstances. Sure, Morey could have some contingency plan. But it isn't over yet. Let's just be patient and wait till everything unfolds before we tear Morey a new one.
This applies to everything Morey or any other GM does. Or for that matter, this applies to everything everyone does in their lives. There's a reason why the Rockets have contingency plans upon contingency plans, because everything they do relies on other things to fall in place. The only thing we can ask GMs, players, coaches to do is to do the best they can given their circumstances. If Morey has explored all avenues to obtain a 3rd star, but still fail, then there's nothing one can do. He would only fail if he had a chance but did not take advantage. But given that the rewards of getting someone like Bosh is exponentially more than any other target(do people seriously believe Deng at $12mil will turn us into a top team?), you don't just move on. Are the Rockets relying on a lot of things coming into place? Sure, but it has been this way for the franchise's entire existence. Heck, Dwight Howard only came because he happened to get traded to LA, couldn't play with Kobe, wanted Phil but got D'Antoni, had his team became a laughingstock, and Houston happened to be the only good team with max capspace. Needing tons of things to fall into place for something to happen is common. The only thing you can hopeful is that you don't pass up such an opportunity should it arise.
But what was the reasoning in betting with Parsons? Who forced Morey to expose Parsons to a team like Dallas who's owner is a shrewd billionaire opportunist?
Morey has done the same thing year in and year out. Think about Lowry, Scola, etc.. He has done this with almost every Rocket player. He wants the market to determine the worth.
I didn't know what Morey was thinking when he was trying to gut the team to get Paul Gasol and help get CP3 to the Lakers (thank goodness for David Stern) and I don't know what he's thinking now. I think he thinks he's smarter than everyone else...
The timeline for NO making their trade and Chandler's 72 hours doesn't seem to work. I'd be interested if anybody can show one that does. My guess is we miss Chandler's offer deadline because we are still waiting to clear enough cap space ( LIn and Asik) to actually sign Bosh. (we have to have an actual 'on paper' contract not just an agreement in principle right?)
We will never know the answer to that. Possibilities. 1. The Rockets made a gamble and thought that they could keep him at a lower price than he otherwise would've commanded in FA next year. If so, then they screwed up badly. 2. The Rockets truly wanted to do Parsons right. If so, then what Parsons did was truly betrayal like many here have suggested. Almost Boozerish. But I have a hard time believing Morey to do that. Les? Perhaps, and we all know Les does mingle in Rockets affairs at times. 3. Rockets owe Fegan a favor as he represent both Parsons and Howard. Also owe Parsons a favor for recruiting Howard. In which case, they just had to bite the bullet. In time, if we let Parsons become a RFA because of reasons 1 or 2, it may eventually get leaked later. If it's reason 3, no way anyone says anything because it would be against the rules.
I think we thought we would match any offer after we went over the cap, that simple. Cuban just trumped that assumption of rational evaluations of Chandles value with an irrational one. Less irrational for him because as much as it helps his own team, it also hurts a team in his division and throws a monkey wrench in the Rox cunnuing plans. value= help my team + screw yours= $15 million
If we miss, we miss. There's not much we can do about it. I'm of the opinion that we shouldn't match the offer with or without Bosh, anyway...
Kudos to Cuban. He made a very good move to squeeze the Rockets. Either way he would only be on the hook for 3 yrs at the most and Rockets can't even trade Parsons if they match. It's his version of a poison pill contract. Morey needs to use that one in his arsenal in the future.
THIS THIS THIS. Instead of chasing a star who didn't give Houston a second thought, why not spend the time looking for an actual coach and solid role players? Look at Carlisle and what he managed to do with lesser talent in the first round. Now we struck out on Melo/Lebron/Lowry and it looks like we might not even get Bosh and be stuck with an overpaid Parsons, disgruntled Lin, and McHale.
I feel the same way. It's very scary and strange. Every single transaction we have in mind is contingent on something else or someone else. It's madness. Logically. It seems impossible. Even when someone like Bima tries to spin things in a way where it all still works out. Impossible. But I've seen Morey pull off deals and construct contracts no one saw coming in the past. He's literally done things that no one else even thought of. I'm pretty sure the guy even created the idea of reverse protecting draft picks. Because of that, I still have hope. As strange as it sounds, usually a team's cap guy doesn't outsmart dozens of tuned-in fans and media members. Morey is the exception, he's smarter and craftier than any collection of weekend warrior, "cap experts" we can put together on the internet. He always seems to throw in a wrinkle we never saw coming when making deals. That's why I still stay positive and feel like a miracle is possible. Y'all say having Bosh, Parsons, MLE, LLE, Daniels and Jones is impossible. Hard not to believe. But Morey has pulled off so many things in the past... I'm not throwing in the towel until it's said and done.
