I respect Hakeem as a player and a man. He has been this franchise and brought the greatest moments in Houston Sports History to us in his illustrious career. However, the Rockets are a .500 team with or without his services. With the salary cap rules as they are, the Rockets would have to take on within (IIRC) 10-20% of Hakeem's cap space to deal him to anyone. What they would get in return is high priced crap. Crap that would, BTW, relieve the franchise of playing in the FA market for the next few years, most likely. Give the man what he wants. Waive him. Continue to let the kids we have now grow together. And use that cap space next summer to go after a Chris Webber. Bringing a Bryant Reeves or the like does nothing but cripple this team for years to come. ------------------
Hey Zipper!!!! You hit the nail right on the head. Hakeem has been my favorite, and most dominating player in the league during the last decade. However, I know that his time has past, and that the minutes and touches that he is getting this year are exactly what he should be expecting. Hell, 25% of the wide open touches he gets, he kicks the ball back out. Why the hell doesn't the take that open jump hook???? I'm stumped as to why he thinks he is getting robbed of PT here in Houston. He's putting up good numbers, and as soon as another team give him more PT, he's going to come down with some other freak breathing problem, or anemia (sp), or some other reason that he can't play. When he's not on the floor, he's no good for anybody. I would like to have him on the floor, becuase he still provides a good defensive presence. And in a time where there are only a couple of good C's in the business he is a good comodity. Straighten up your attitude Hakeem, and fly right! ------------------ In the end there will be no judges...only witnesses to my greatness.
That would be like GIVING him away How long before he CLEARS waivers and someone can pick him up for practically nothing? After Waivers doesn't he goto lowest team? Rocket River Lakers for the playoff run ------------------
I agree with Jamma. Just look at Portland. They gave us Clyde for our championship run. A few years later we return the favor and give them Pippen. On second thought, our karma may have taken a hit on that one. ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight
Why waive him. I would rather see him play the rest of the season as a Rocket. Don't you think Dream would be inclined to play as good as he could for the rest of the season so that he could show some value so some of the better teams would be interested in him. If he doesn't show he can still play, why would anyone want a player that has been injured or ill for most of the last 2 season and in between has not shown alot. I mean other than he is 7ft (6'10") tall. ------------------
All of what I have read are good posts to why we should and shouldn't waive Dream. I would do it so hopefully he could help a contender go all the way to the finals. I mean the Heat mainly. All they need is a center period, Dream would be way better than any options they have had all season. In my opinion, this wasn't going to be his last season anyway(maybe in a Houston uniform). I say...since Dream wants to go elsewhere you can't blame the Houston Rockets for letting him go. Believe me I don't want to see him go but if he wants to leave...let the best player Houston has ever had leave on his terms. I really hope he gets waived b/c there is no way to trade him. I also hope he would go to the Heat, Dream would make them unstoppable in the Eastern Conference with the exception of the 76'ers. I'd like to see him win another ring and with the Kobe's team having problems its the best case scenario for the Dream. ------------------
H.O.O.P. ------------------ Ceo of the Walt Williams fan club. Web site coming soon atheistalliance.org
andyzipp.. first off I love your site. It is great to be in a city with the best 3 fan sites on the net. astrosconnection.. houstonprofootball and this one. You make some good points and I agree with them. I think unless we get some great talent in return it probably woudl be best to let him play out the year or just waive him. ------------------ Shane "Save Our Rockets" "Life without basketball in Houston........without an arena that is what it will be"
andyzipp.. first off I love your site. It is great to be in a city with the best 3 fan sites on the net. astrosconnection.. houstonprofootball and this one. You make some good points and I agree with them. I think unless we get some great talent in return it probably woudl be best to let him play out the year or just waive him. ------------------ Shane "Save Our Rockets" "Life without basketball in Houston........without an arena that is what it will be"
Hey Andy, I'm a big fan of your site. Keep up the good work. I agree that Hakeem should be waived as long as they put the right spin on it. Everyone needs to know that the Rocks' were doing the right thing by ltting Hakeem go to a contender. I doubt any possible trade would make me happier than letting Hakeem shine a little longer. I think between FA market and our abundance of picks we should have a strong team next year. Let's build this team the right way instead taking other people's cap problems off their hands. Back to the Stros'. Don't spend too much time around here. Your need to spend all you energy helping to spread the word about our dynamic rotation. ------------------ "Stranger things have happened, but none stranger than this" - Commentator after a parachutist landed in the ring of a Holyfield fight
I believe that, once he clears waivers, he can sign with whoever he wants to sign with. The new team would pay him the minimum and the Rockets would pay the difference. It would save Les a million bucks and make absolutely no change in our salary cap situation. The only reason we'd do it is as a favor to Dream, if he wants to try to help a playoff team win a championship. I don't see why we shouldn't do it, once we're convinced that we won't get anything beneficial in trade. Maybe our team won't be quite as good as it was with Dream, but I don't think we're going to make the playoffs anyway. And if he goes to the Lakers and helps them win the championship, what difference does that make to the Rockets, who sure as hell weren't going to win it themselves anyway? However, for Olajuwon at the end of his career, I'm sure he doesn't want to be in a rebuilding project he won't see the end of and would like to contend again before his career is over. Personally, I'm speculating that Olajuwon will be waived in time for him to clear waivers and sign with a contender. The Rockets will try to find a good trade for him first, but when they can't find one (it'll be hard), they'll do him the favor of letting him rejoin the championship hunt. ------------------ RealGM Rockets Draft Obligations Summary Gafford Art Artisan
I agree with JuanValdez. This team isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I would love to be able to watch Hakeem in the playoffs on a team that has a chance of winning. I am sick of being bored at playoff time. Whoever Hakeem plays for will be my second favorite team in the NBA. It would be nice to have two teams to cheer for. Long live the Dream. ------------------
Not only that, but you could very well get some "future consideration" out of this. Nothing offical, but payback does happen in the NBA if you play your cards right. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
