hey it's working for richard jefferson. he would have been another rodrick rhodes if it wasn't for kidd.
Actually, it was worse. His value was a NEGATIVE. The Rockets would have had to GIVE UP players and picks along with Griffin just to get ANYTHING in return, let alone a player worth trading for. This was a complete disaster from day one.
i don't know why carol was made GM in the first place. the only reason i can come up with is b/c he's been with the rockets for so long as an assistant and he never got to be a head coach so Less just said 'hey you know what, i'm sorry man. looks like we're never going to make you a head coach and i'm sorry for screwing you over all these years. but we still want you to be a part of this organization. lets see....how about General Manager? I mean you don't have to know how to assess talent...it's all about what Hubie calls "upside". Just get players with upside. it's ok...it's on the job training'. but hey that is too farfetch right?
The only thing that bothers me about this is that if Griffin becomes <i>anything</i> of a player and sticks in the league, which is doubtful, is that New jersey has ended up with our entire 2001 draft. I know it was Eddie's screwup, but I would've kept him around and maybe given him a shot in training camp next year to earn a spot back on the team. Of course its likely that another team would outbid for him and sign him to a nicer contract rather than the minimum, but I don't really see the point in releasing him so soon. Maybe it's just JVG's influence, not wanting any disruptions to the team.
If they think he has no or negative value, why do they sign him? I am aware that he had all the baggage and everything and also think that probably it was just better to let him go at that point, but obviously someone DOES see a value in him. I am just wondering if CD really did the best job in trying to at least get SOME value back.
If you take into account the totality of all the recent personnel moves like the Rashard Lewis screwup, Jason Collier, Bryce Drew, Boki, long-term contracts for Maurice and Moochie, I think Les Alexander just got tired for this crap. He basically had to can Rudy T just for that.
When talking about CD, I think nobody can blame him for the draft. We all thought it was great and hindsight is 20/20. BUT - in my opinion, he has to be held responsible for this: 1)As he himself stated, the problems with Griffin have been going on for 1 1/2 years 2) Many GMs, at least before all the troubles started becoming public, were highly interested in Griffin. There were rumors of possible deals for Rashard Lewis and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Not sure whether these were true, but when the troubles started, but were not public yet, action should have been taken and some value could have been gotten in return. I recently posted an article from the Seattle Times where a GM was quoted as saying he would have traded almost anyone on his team for Griffin. So it is neither the draft deal with the Nets nor the release of Griffin at that point that CD should be held accountable for. It is the fact that the trouble had been going on for 1 1/2 years and during that time, no trade was made. COMPLETE AND UTTER FAILURE BY OUR GM
His multimillion salary this year was what made him untradeable. I doubt he's getting anything now other than a minimum contract with possible incentives. I think Eddie Griffin longs for his home. Seton Hall is close by, so his family has got to be close. He will get his family to support him emotionally.
Makes sense in a way, but they would have gotten rid of just as much salary. Anyway, then we might have just gotten another headcase back. As I said, the release was not the failure, but not doing anything for a year and a half before that and just sitting there, hoping things would somehow get better. That is just bad, bad management. I am talking about CD.
I'm of the opinion that trading players who don't pan out in 2-3 years is not a bad strategy especially if there is a decent return. It's like Enron stock. The high was $85 back in late 2000. This is like the Rockets buying Enron stock at the top and waiting for the company to go bankrupt to sell.
Jeff, I don't post much around here anymore, but your comment that "[t]his was a complete disaster from day one" surprises me. As far as I can recall, you were excited about the Rockets landing Griffin in 2001 for Richard Jefferson, who most scouts thought to be too raw, Jason Collins, who was and is a branch above Jason Collier on the talent tree, and Brandon Armstrong, whose sorry butt hasn't isnt even in the NBA anymore...that says alot considering that Moochie is still suiting up for us. Without the benefit on hindsight, which was not available in 2001, I'd say that CD made a good move. Although we could have used RJ at the 3, the Rocks needed a defense-oriented power forward at the time, so the trade made sense. Don't get me wrong: I'm very f'ing upset about the eggs and laughter that will be hurled at the Rockets once the media gets ahold of the fact that EG is with the Nets. I can hear TNT Resident Jack-Ass Stephen A[-sshole]. Smith laughing about this move. The Rockets look like morons now, but the consensus around the league was that the Rockets came out on top in the draft after that now infamous move was made in 2001. My point in all of this is that all us Rockets fans need to relax. We sucked in 2001-2002, drafted Yao Ming the following year, which have happened if we drafted anybody above or below EG in the draft, except maybe Pau Gasol (No. 3) or Zach Randolph (No. 19), the latter of whom was a surpise success story that was only unveiled in summer league play after the draft at which time Mr. Zandolph poured in 39 points (vs. the Rockets?). So relax...take one of those roaches out of EG's ashtray, get lit-up, and eat some Funyons - just don't get so out of your mind that you shoot at your girlfriend, get arrested, and f'up your career. P1st, S2nd
Okay, I just want to write this down just to make sure I'm not in another dimension here: The Nets drafted Eddie Griffin, a stud from Seton Hall, but traded him to the Rockets for three other draft picks. The Rockets release Griffin, and New Jersey signs him. The Rockets had 3 first round draft picks in 2001 and the Nets had just one, but somehow New Jersey ends up with all four just two years later. Irony is kinda funny when Alanis Morisette is singing about it, but when it hits home...jeez. I'll say it again: sickening.
This is just stupid. CD was offered the head coaching job before Rudy, but he declined due to health problems, particularly his eyesight. It was CD who convinced Charlie Thomas (not Les) to hire Rudy T. If your gonna b****, at least be close with the facts.
If the rumors about SAR and Rashard are true... and they sound like they are true, then it is CD's fault. Otherwise, no one could have guessed that Eddie was going to punch and shoot his girlfriend, get busted for pot, and couldn't shoot to save his life. Screw Eddie, I hope he goes to jail.
They were true. Before Rashard re-signed with Seattle, we looked into acquiring him, but as Seattle asked for Eggie, we declined (there would have been BYC complications anyway, but as they say, no obstacle...) Also, David Aldridge reported at last season's trade deadline that the Rox had turned down Eggie for SAR. Aldridge didn't say, but we had to assume that the deal would have included Glen Rice, as to make the deal work (and the only reason for Atlanta to do it: get rid of contracts). Kinda painful when you think about it.
2001 Draft goes down as the worst draft in rockets HISTORY we had 3 picks and dealt them for #7 pick ok at the time it seemed logical and we would get a better player. Now looking back on itwe got nothing. Even worse Eddie is going back to the Nets who traded him to us. Without that trade our team would look like this. (Assuming we would have never signed CATO to that monster contract. C Ming Collins Ameachi PF Mo Tayslor, Collins SF Jefferson, Jackson, Nachbar SG Mobley, Pike PG Francis,Armstrong Would not have resigned Mooch and Cato to huge deal and would have gotten another front court player to help out maybe Howard or make a trade
