We definitely didn't lose Horry or Cassell, but it sure is going to feel like it when we're watching Dorsey and Smith try to carry our offense off the bench this year.
You are an idiot if you think Dorsey and Smith will be carrying our offense. In case you forgotten, behind Harden and Howard we have: - T-Jones - Ariza - PBev - Daniels - Cannan - Johnson - D-Mo - Everyone else basically If we are relying on Dorsey and Smith to carry our bench, something has gone horribly wrong already.
Screwed up? Morey managed to get rid of $30 millions owed to two bench players and in the process upgraded a first round draft pick. Asik had value but understandably wanted out as since he had already demonstrated the ability to be a quality starter in the NBA. Lin had been underwhelming and by avoiding paying him $15 million the Rockets got out of what will likely be one of the worst contracts in the league next season. Spin it however you like, but Morey's ability to get rid of Lin and that weighty contract he signed him to was impressive. All the more because he was able to do it on short notice and without surrendering additional talent. At the end of the day Lin is gone (to the delight of countless Rockets fans). He is the Lakers' concern now. Harping on his departure from the Rockets is pointless.
You make is seem like it was almost addition purely by subtraction. If those guys were so bad, why did they get major minutes last year? Now financially, those were nice moves. We still have a trade exception too, so we'll see what happens..
1) by moving our overpaid role-players to our competitor without receiving any incoming salary in return (suckers!) 2) by being able to replace our overpaid role-players production with cheaper alternatives (brilliant!) To the rockets, the Jlin,CP,Asik offseason moves were all pros and no cons! ' '' ''' '''' ''''' '''''' ''''''' or so it seems?
The fallacy in that logic is that overpaying is only something fans and cap hits are concerned with. If there is NO ramifications why do you care how much Asik and Lin got paid? Asik was a valued Center and certainly provided stellar defense when Howard was on the bench. Lin for all the derogatory remarks was a spark off the bench and Parsons was once thought of as the Rockets next shining star. It's not your money and apparently not Bosh's, Melo's or any other player that will get the Rockets to the next level.
Point taken. I probably should said, "player first fan" instead. Technically that's what I was with Jordan, because watching him play in the 80s is what drew me into a lifelong love of the game. I was a Bulls fan after that, not just a Jordan fan. As for the Lakers, I'm not so sure this will be definitive proof either way. Kobe is as big of a ball dominator as Harden. Probably more so. If he's healthy do we see the Lakers letting Lin run the show? Has anyone aside from Kobe been the focal point? I can very easily see Lin taking a third role on that team. How will his fan base handle that? He may not have been placed in the perfect situation for him to succeed in Houston, but few players are. You have to make the best of what you're given. Lin did that at times here, but failed at times also.
I think that was the biggest concern. A cap his is a major ramification and limits flexibility. Lin and Asik were going to eat up massive amounts of room as bench players. Both of them had their strengths, but it's a case of weighing cost vs. value. The cost was just too high. This was taken to the Nth degree with Parsons. There is NO way he's worth a max contract. He out kicked his coverage. Good for him, bad for the team. And probably bad for Dallas when his cap number becomes a burden.
We share the Jordan PFF. I still rooted for the Knicks but would watch any and every game with Jordan. I actually watched (on TV) the 2 Wizards games where he dropped 51 and 45 later in his career. Amazing thing about that was he only hit 1 three-pointer between the 2 games. And you're probably right about the Lakers situation.....and thank you for your thoughtful responses!
Where I struggle in the Parsons situation is that it seems like he practically begged Morey to re-do his deal prior to all this and Morey was stoic in his stance to not get anything done. My guess, and like the Lin situation in NY, Parsons could have been re-signed for much less, probably closer to the deal that Ariza got. I guess it comes down whether you like Ariza or Parsons. Personally, I think Parsons has upside and from all accounts was a great locker room guy.
Apparently I CAN be a GM... • A new "renegotiation and extension" provision allows an existing contract to be renegotiated so the player is paid a smaller amount over a longer period, but the player's salary cannot decrease by more than 40 percent. Renegotiations previously could only increase a player's salary. http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7329408/new-items-added-nba-collective-bargaining-agreement
I would imagine it does, I think the one they signed in 2011 was to run thru 2020-21...and as far as the Parsons thing. I'm pretty sure someone posted it in the GARM regarding Parsons trying to get more money from Morey who basically told him no. (I'm assuming that's what you meant by speculation).
I wouldn't take hearsay and provide it with any legs to run. He gave Parsons his first opportunity to get paid, much to the detriment of this years team and potential cap numbers (if they matched). One thing is clear, at the end of the day Morey's best interest remain with the Rockets, while the players' are a lot closer to their own chest.
No question but that doesn't absolve Morey from blame if he messes up. Maybe he didn't value Parsons as much as he or others allegedly claimed he did. The verdict is out on all this but one thing I'm pretty sure about is that the team needs to make it out of the first round this year for McHale's sake, Harden's reputation, Howard's demeanor and maybe even Morey's job (although he'll get more leeway).
