Pee, I agree. There is definately a mob mentality on this bbs. The more you post about a topic, the more worked up you get and the more you loose your perspective. The Rockets should be in no big hurry to spend a lot of money on AD, Robinson, Jackson or even Webber. It sure is easy to give someone else's money away, whether it is Hakeem's or the Rockets. It is business. As for hurting team unity, what a bunch of poppycock. Do you think any of the other players think that Hakeem shouldn't try to get the best deal he can? I don't. The only thing I personally think different, is that it won't take until September or October. I think something will happen within a month. On this very day, either side can say,"well, we can't officially do anything until the 18th". Once that deadline passes, Hakeem looses some leverage. Looking at it from strictly a basketball point of view, there are very few centers I would rather have than Hakeem, even though he is at the end of his career. There is the business of getting him signed, just like any other player, only he happens to still be one of the best at one of the most important positions. ------------------
He knows where I live, he owns a shovel and he has lots of family around him these days. Anyone got a place I can hide out until that weather tower from Nigeria calms down a bit? Crispee, can I hang with ya at a tavern somewhere? Doc can I go to work with you for a couple of days? Jeff, isn't your studio sound proof????? What in God's name possessed someone to drop off a scathing posting on Dream at his house??????????????? Oh well, I'll always have Peurto Vallarta. 8-} LOL Cheers. (PS: Hakeem knows how we feel.) ------------------
What? You need someone to hide behind when Dream finds you. No thx. You're more dangerous than FranchiseCat, now. I can help you change your name, though. hehe
As much as you guys think differantly the dream is definitly in the teams hands. No other team will sign him for that amount. I am sure he will finish a Rocket. Yes this slows down the teams rebuilding but its not always about winning and doing anything to win. When you got a hero you honor him. U don't set him aside to get new heros...you wait till he himself fades off. Most of you don't think Hakeem worthy of this but believe me millions do. In Rockets history Hakeem will always be a household name. When you r finally lucky to get a franchise player sometimes you treat him with bonus. I don't care if he deserves it or not. No one else is stupid enough to sign an old guy.... but this old guy brought us two championships. team sport my ass...with out hakeem there would have been no rockets. I might have never loved this game. I got faith in the behind the scenes guys....They do some questionable things but they always seem to pull through. As much as we want to dump Hakeem...he is the only player that is worth giving a little bonus to...no way rockets will give him full amount but they will reward him. And Hey!!! If they do ....Aight....Its really ok... We get to see A Dream of Basketball for our city fade away until the Dream is gone and there is no sign of the old rockets or anything left. Then we can start the new era and get our new heros. The Rockets will then liftoff once again. ------------------ yeah aight whatever
Renounce him!!! I don't agree with the party line (spewed by his agents no doubt) about bad PR. As a long-time Rockets fan, it won't bother me one bit to renounce Dream. Loyality begats loyality, and Hakeem hasn't shown much loyality to this organization since the day we decided to "run and gun". I'm disgusted with Dream's TRADE-ME DEMANDS, his Scottie Pippen-like whinning "I'm not being used properly in the offense", not to mention his sick-days lasting almost half a season over the past two years. It almost appears that Dream decided to play well in the second-half of last season because his contract was up for renewal (where was that in the first half of the season---we could have made the playoffs). MY vote is to renounce Dream and go hard after David Robinson (if nothing else it will make the Spurs a weaker foe) or Nazr. Dream, its been real and its been fun, but it hasn't been real fun lately!!! I'd fully understand if the Rockets organization decided it was in their best interests to take this team in a different direction, and if it was me, I'd do it sooner rather than later. Best wishes to the Dream! ------------------
Thursday AM: - This sure turned into more of a "Hate Hakeem" thread than I anticipated. (I think maybe I am now feeling a little sheepish about it. Well, maybe not.) It's true I am pissed at Hakeem's seemingly 'laissez a faire' attitude. I want him to make up his mind, more importantly to be reasonable ... and if he has to go, then just go. Stop all this gamesmanship. It's beneath him. But make no mistake, I want him on our roster this coming season. Just not to the detriment of the whole team. Anyway thanks guys for the support of the thread. ------------------
The problem is NOT this year, it is all the years following that matter. It is simple really. If signing Hakeem hurts our future, then don't do it, renounce him NOW, and get on with getting guys who WANT to be a part of the future. Hakeem has been great, but that was then...remember him...yes....forget him...never....let him go....YES !!! DaDakota [This message has been edited by BahDakota (edited July 12, 2001).]
Swami But Dream was right. They weren't using him properly. This was shown by the success the rockets had after his "b**chin". Dream can still play. I would much rather pay Dream 20 mill over 2 years than 60 million for AD. AD had similar numbers as Dream last year with a few more rebounds and a lot more playing time. ------------------
oeilpere, I certainly don't "hate Hakeem" far from it. If he wants to return, I'd be thrilled to see him in pen stripes! If he had demonstrated even half of the enthusiasm towards the organization and our recent draft that Mo Taylor did, I'd be elated about the prospects of him at center. Quite frankly I'm very suprised that he isn't licking his chops to finish his career here with a weak side shot blocker and rebounder like Eddie Griffin to help him down low. But just reading the signs, he seems to me to be INCREDIBLY AMBIVILANT about returning to the Rockets. Under these circumstances, perhaps we should make him our very best offer, tell him we'd like nothing more than to see him finish his career here and give him a few days to think it over. If he and Feagan are just to DAMN BUSY to pick up the phone and hear our best offer, and are perhaps only interested in hindering any other efforts to improve this team, then I wouldn't be upset as a Rockets fan if we renounced his rights and began to look elsewhere. I think the most important thing is that we sign a center who actually wants to be here and can help contribute to the team for a playoff run. If that is what Hakeem wants, then by all means I'd love to see him here, but you have to admit, he sure isn't acting like that is what he wants! ------------------
We want Dream at a price that doesn't hurt the team financially now or later and in a timely fashion that allows us to sign our other FA's. I believe the FA's are seeking Hakeem out, too, or already know what He wants and are waiting patiently to see what pans out. ------------------