Had the Rockets made that deal, they would probably never have made the deal for Francis. The entire team would have been different. I am glad they avoided that deal, and I truly hope that Hakeem stays. ------------------ Protrolls.com! "I want to be like Olajon." -Sagana Diop has the right idea... Keep the ???? alive!
This is one big pipe dream to think we can unload Dream on Toronto for Keon Clark - they love his game, and at only a couple mill per year, they would be utter imbeciles to part w/ him. Past performance has indicated that as much of an ass Glen Grunwald is, he is no fool. ------------------
Hey ZRB....by mid-season when our offense is out of whack b/c Hakeem won't get out of the way for #3 & #5 and we are losing to the paperclips and nugz at home, you will be starting "This team sucks" threads again!! Hakeem must go quietly into the night once and for all!! ------------------
True, they probably do love Keon's game and would not WANT to part with him...but if Clark was part of a trade for Hakeem I bet they'd do it in a second. Toronto has been pursuing Hakeem for almost 3 years now. Add Hakeem to the same team that lost to Philly by 1 shot last season, minus Oakley, and they would have a very good shot to get to the finals. Clark didn't even play much in the series.
Here's a link to ESPN about Toronto's interest in Hakeem. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2001/0718/1228065.html">Link</A> ------------------
Pippendagimp- Tell me, how many games did you watch last season? Judging by your post, it sounds as if you didn't see much Rocket basketball. I saw every single game, and let me tell you, that the Rockets were at their absolute best, when Hakeem was fully involved in the offense. Having a true low post option made the Rockets an elite team. Hakeem's presence took pressure off of "number 3 and number 5", allowing them to play their best. The Rockets played well when Dream was involved, and most of my negative posts reflected frustration with the Rockets for not using Hakeem MORE. Watch a game before you judge. The Rockets are a fringe playoff team without Hakeem, and a contender with him. ------------------ Protrolls.com! "I want to be like Olajon." -Sagana Diop has the right idea... Keep the ???? alive!
Props to Lance Z for breaking what seemed to me to be an amazingly unlikely story!! The whole issue of Toronto's cap space sure had me stumped, but Lance Z was correct. Can we swing a sign and trade, do we resign the Dream and he stays a Rocket, or do we just let Dream go to Toronto and save the cap room for a possible future deal at a later date that is just too good to turn down. It will be interesting from here on in! ------------------
I don't see how the Raptors have any cap space ? ...suckas !! ------------------ "I find that the harder I work... the more luck I have" -- Thomas Jefferson "Weezie !!" -- George Jefferson
Hey ZRB.....Thanks to my beloved digital cable/NBA League Pass, not only did I watch about 75 of the 82 games, I taped about 35 of them and watched those a few times a piece! Now, as far as Hakeem fitting into the offense like a glove, I guess we have differing opinions from what we saw. It happens. ------------------
Here's the latest from BSKBall.com (I know its a questionable site - don't shoot the messenger): 07/19-RAPTORS TARGET THE DREAM- Reports from ESPN and Toronto say that Charles Oakley was moved out so the Raptors could make a pitch to Hakeem Olajuwon. Rumor has it the Raptors have tendered a 3 year offer using their median exception, offering roughly $17 million over 3 years. The Houston Rockets are rumored to have countered that offer with a reported 2 year $20 million deal, with a 3rd team option year. The Raptors have tried to acquire Olajuwon several times over the past few years, and almost had him draft day 2 years ago, when Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich pulled the deal at the last second. Hakeem has been very quiet as the summer negotiations have taken place. Hakeem hired agent Dan Fegan to work his deal this summer. Fegan has been known to leverage clients to get better deals, and this may be exactly what this is. Hakeem has said several times since the season ended, the Rockets would have to convince him he was wanted, and if they did not want him, he would have no reservations playing elsewhere. With almost all of the significant free agents having agreed to new contracts, the Rockets may have little choice but to reload the roster they had last year. ------------------
BimaThug: I thought Wally went No. 5, and Bender was either available or went No. 12 Hardwood: Maybe funny looking. I'm with you on the contract, as long as we can somehow trade Cato for Brad Miller (2 years left on his deal), and free up Tim Duncan type money for the summer 2003. Maybe we could sign SA only to a two year early bird deal, and renounce him in two years, too. ------------------
OMG 2 years at $20 million? Please no. His contract has kept us from signing FAs in the past couple of years during the retooling process, this will continue to hamper the Rockets ability to acquire young talent through FA. Apparently its just about the money so let him go to Toronto. ------------------
Check out Nikestrad's post on a related BBS topic for an answer to your cap question. IMO, Nike is not only a good BBS poster, he is a cap guru for us! Thanks Nike! http://bbs.clutchcity.net/ubb/Forum3/HTML/013992.html ------------------
If the report is right about the counter offer of $20m over two years, then I am satisfied that CD knows what he is doing, as usual. ------------------
2 yrs at $20M!!!!!????? That's an awful lot of change to ante up for abt 1yr's worth of play, if that! I remember Les back from his days here on the Street. I do not believe him to be such a foolish businessman. Hakeem will not get any such deal. ------------------
For what it's worth, espn has posted an article backing this **** up. http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2001/0718/1228065.html ****... ------------------ dude.. I'm peakin' tacoz!
------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
I hope it's not 2 yrs 20 mil, that is way too much! Dang I hope Gream comes back but I'm hoping more for 13-15 mil for 2 years.
Dearrock, CD knows what? How to be a total idiot!!!! 20 million for 2 years for a player that can only play limited minutes, and probably wont even play half the season (let alone next year, like OP stated before), CD will go down in history as the stupidiest person in NBA history, if he offers that kind of money out of loyalty. Just remember, if Hakeem gets that 2 year deal, then there will be no big free agents additions to the Rockets roster for at least 8 years (unless we trade one of our young stars). Are you prepared to wait that long? out of loyalty to a whinny, b****ie Hakeem? ------------------
