I just turned it on and caught the tail end. When I turned it on, I think they were saying something about the exception (I think the 2.25?) and said if they could get a player like Shandon last year, they would, but they're not sure. My thoughts-Rockets don't have anyone in mind with it. I personally think Adonal Foyle would be good use, but that's just me. CD said that he often talked to Wally (Sonics GM), and Wally said that resigning Rashard was top priority. He said he'd love to have Rashard, but Seattle can match any offer. He went on to say the only way we could get Rashard is through a sign and trade. My thoughts-The Rockets want Rashard, but have next to no chance of getting him. CD was also somewhat disgruntled with the CBA. He said it was counterproductive with the restricted free agency only on 2nd rounders, that teams could only match up to a certain amount, said that in conjunction with Rashard Lewis and Cuttino, but then curiously, also mentioned Brad Miller after that. My thoughts-CD seemed dissapointed. For some reason that gives me a bad feeling about the Mobley situation. It also seems to me that CD may want Miller. Anyone here more of it? ------------------ The more lefties on your team, the better. Collier is Seven Foot and Left Handed. How can you go wrong? Trade or bench Kenny Thomas. [This message has been edited by NIKEstrad (edited July 10, 2000).]
Rudy and Rockets management have done everything possible to cultivate Mobley's development, make good use of his talent, show him faith and respect, and send him signals that he will be properly compensated. If he's determined to walk anyway, he'll walk. There's nothing more we can do and nothing to feel bad about. It'll be in his hands, not ours. He'll show us what kind of person he is, for good or ill, and that's the end of it.
I hate hearing the part about Cuttino Mobley as it hurts my stomach to think that we wasted this draft in order to keep him happy. However, the ideal summer for me would be the following: 1) Re-sign Cuttino Mobley 2) Trade our exception for Rashard Lewis 3) Sign Adonal Foyle with our exception Olajuwon/Cato/Collier Foyle/Thomas/Collier Lewis/Williams/Bullard/Langhi/Rogers Anderson/Mobley Francis/Norris/Drew (if not traded) ------------------
I would not blame him for leaving and taking a better offer. It is about cash in the NBA, and if Cat is worth more, he deserves it. DaDakota ------------------
One note about acquiring Rashard. Free agent signing period starts August 01. A team must wait 60 days before trading someone else's free agent (I'm not sure what the relevance is of a 3 year player picked in the 2nd round). October 01 is 61 days after August 01. October 01 is also the first day of training camp. There are logical ways of acquiring Rashard Lewis. These ways are not pragmatic, but... 'things happen'. ------------------ The ClutchCity 500.
There's nothing wrong with valuing 4 million dollars higher than team loyalty and such. 4 extra million dollars can provide much more charity, benevolence, philanthropy, and good for the real world. If I were Mobley, I'd go for the money, but it's his choice. I just think it's wrong to ridicule him if he decides to go. It's HIS job, HIS life. It's sports entertainment, and Mobley's decision will not show us what type of person he is-that, we should not judge. His decision is in the basketball realm. If he goes, it doesn't mean he's a bad person; and if he stays, that doesn't necessarily mean he's a good person.
Clutch, Will, Jeff, etc.: Is it possible to get transcripts from the 610 interviews? ------------------ The ClutchCity 500.
Something's seriously wrong if Cuttino is offer 8 million dollars a year. CD also mentioned that he believed that in restricted free agency, teams should be able to match ANY offer, not just the average salary, that was his main grudge. ------------------ The more lefties on your team, the better. Collier is Seven Foot and Left Handed. How can you go wrong? Trade or bench Kenny Thomas.
DaDakota: Attitudes like yours is why many people are starting to frown on sports. Its no longer about playing for a team, but about money money and more money. Then yet we scream because players make too much and the ticket prices skyrocket. As fans, is this what we want to encourage? ------------------
Hey Ghost, I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but the NBA is a business and its players are employees. Why should a player have any allegiance to a city unless he was born there or has always been a fan. If someone offered you three times what you're making you would probably pack that night. I think people understand that a professional athlete only has a short time in which to make his money for life. Why should we hold a grudge if player wants more somewhere else. It's easy to point to players who have taken less to stay put but that was a personal decision based on many things not related to the sport (kids in school, teammates, happy with current neighborhood, etc.). Let's all stop this nonsense that we would not do the same thing if given the opportunity. Besides, "What's wrong with sports" has very little to do with whether or not Cuttino stays or not. It has a lot more to do with whether or not we can get Rashard Lewis. ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight
There is no way that I know of to get a transcript from KILT. They aren't that web savvy yet. Space: I recognize your argument, but put yourself in a player's shoes. If your boss offered to keep you with his company for the same salary (say $50,000 for grins) and you were comfortable there and you liked it ok but another company came along and offered you $200,000 and a very good chance at not only earning more but making a name for yourself, wouldn't you want to do it? I agree that salaries are skyrocketing, but it is hard to resist a good offer from someone especially considering the short careers many of these guys have. ------------------ "No one gets out ALIVE!" SaveOurRockets.com
Is it our place to discourage someone making more money, and having better oppurtunity, for something as intangible as loyalty? ------------------ The more lefties on your team, the better. Collier is Seven Foot and Left Handed. How can you go wrong? Trade or bench Kenny Thomas.
No, we shouldn't discourage him from taking a better offer, but if he leaves, it would sure leave a bitter taste, considering how we screwed up the draft to make him happy, and how many trade offers involving his name were turned down. I still think he's staying, but.... ------------------
One note about acquiring Rashard. Free agent signing period starts August 01. A team must wait 60 days before trading someone else's free agent (I'm not sure what the relevance is of a 3 year player picked in the 2nd round). October 01 is 61 days after August 01. October 01 is also the first day of training camp. There are logical ways of acquiring Rashard Lewis. These ways are not pragmatic, but... 'things happen'. Achebe, Here's the quote from the Salary Cap FAQ regarding when you can trade a free agent that you sign: A player cannot be traded until three months after signing a contract or December 15th of that season, whichever is later. If the player is playing under a one-year contract and will have Larry Bird or Early Bird rights at the end of the contract, he can't be traded at all. Lewis wouldn't be eligible to be traded until Dec. 15th. ------------------
Something in this system has to change. The June moratorium and The Draft, the July auditorium, and the August signatorium is a sequence that screws the teams up. Oh yeah, it's great for the players. The poor babies only have a few years to make what the rest of us slobs make in a lifetime. As John Stoessel would say, "GIVE ME A BREAK!" I propose that the draft be moved back until mid August to give the teams a chance to (at least) calculate their chances of signing free agents before dictating their draft strategy. I'm afraid we have been screwed this year. I liked the Rockets draft as it played out assuming Cuttino would be back. If he doesn't come back, we coulda/woulda/shoulda done something different. ------------------ There are 3 kinds of people: those who can count and those who can't.
Thanks aelliot for the correction... I mistakenly ass-u-med (remembered) that there was a '60 day' clause when dealing w/ others' free agents. ------------------ The ClutchCity 500.
How much money is enough? The average, non athlete, working stiff earns about 1.25 million in their entire lifetime and most live a pretty good life. True, they may want more things in life than they can afford, but they have to live within their means. Taking this into account, these athletes make several times over in one year what the rest of us make in a life time. They work maybe 6 months of the year. And don't tell me that they have to spend the rest of the year working out, because so do we if we want to stay healthy. Now, I realize that this is a business and as such, we are talking about millions and millions of dollars exchanging hands. But, I defer back to my original question. If an athlete makes 4 million a year for 5 years, thats a total of 20 million.(I can add too.) At 5% interest per year, that's 1 million dollars a year just from interest. Once again, the average person only makes ~ 1.25 million in a LIFE TIME. So, why can't there be some loyalty from the players towards the fans who actually make it possible for them to live the American Dream. Especially if the team has a reputation of treating the players with respect and paying them what they are worth on the open market, even though it might not be right now.(The Rockets) Is it all about greed? So, How much is enough? ------------------
Hopefully after the NBA implements its minor league, the next CBA (CBA as in Collective Bargaining Agreement, not Continental Basketball Association) will become more friendly to teams trying to keep their 2nd round talent. ------------------
I have heard or seen nothing on any news bulletin that any one has offered Mobley a fatter check yet. If there is some confirming report then shoot me apparently I'm reading the wrong media. Last time I checked there was a ton of quality SG's & SF-SG's available for teams to make offers too. Guys who could easily demand & get more than Cuttino Mobley let alone get more respect, guys Like Eddie Jones, Jalen Rose, J.R. Rider, Glen Rice, Ron Mercer & Dereck Anderson come to mind. I think we are all spending way too much time sweating Mobley as if he has already departed for big money to team X..... There are as more suspect reasons for him to stay than there are for him to say goodbye. Money is a big motivator but 1 year deals for less look good when you get more (allot more) the next year.... Matt Maloney is that you???? ------------------
The more players that sign with their original team, the worse it looks to keeping Mobley. If Chicago gets shut out by guys like Jones, Rose, and McGrady, it will have tons of $$ to overpay Mobley with. ------------------
