I have enjoyed having Les Alexander as the owner, as he always seems to be willing to take a gamble on players here and there. But after watching what Paul Allen did last night....wow, do I wish Les had more money. I mean Paul Allen was just buying picks in the first round left and right, and our owner goes out and buys 2nd round picks. Even though there is a salary cap, it sure doesn't seem fair when owners can buy picks outright like that. If Les was a little looser with the purse strings, he could have been buying first round picks too, but I understand why he wouldn't....but dang....Paul Allen's money would be nice for the Rockets. Allen - as many first round picks as money can buy. Les - a couple of extra 2nd round picks. Doesn't seem fair...does it? DD
Life ain't fair. Les is rich enough to buy a NBA team, Paul is rich enough to buy the NBA. Unless Richard Kinder takes an interest in the NBA, there is nothing we can do.
If I had $20 and you had $1.50, I could probably buy a better toy than you; same thing different scale. This year, Houston can claim three more rich people added to Forbes magazine's annual list of the 400 Richest Americans, which was released this week. Rockets owner Les Alexander, 63, Gulf States Toyota founder Thomas Friedkin, 71, and Hilcorp Energy Co. CEO Jeffery Hildebrand, 47, all made the list with net worths of $1 billion or more #3, Allen, Paul Gardner Net Worth: $20.0 billion Source: Software, Microsoft, investments Self made http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/ 20 billion is a whole lot more than 1 billion, a swashbuckling technology innovator is different from a conservative bond trader, an owner that's team mortally embarassed him in his city is different from an owner who has two rings. The Blazers are now the Yankees of basketball. (maybe I can get a job as the assistant to the traveling secretary)
come on DD....you are seriously trying to compare allen and alexander? it sounds more like you are complaining about allen rather than about alexander.
in a roundabout way, DD brings up a good point. if Fernandez was the guy we were tarketing afterall, did we simply get outbid to buy the 24th pick? or was Les just reluctant to pull the trigger hoping we'd get lucky? you have to think the Rockets were aware Portland was making an offer for the pick to the Suns... if that's their guy, how can you let that happen? especially when your fall back plan is aaron brooks? just dissappointing
I haven't done the math, but - I am almost positive that Ray Allen saved more $ net on the nite than he spent. Millions of positive cash flow. I'm not crying for either of those guys. Allen does have a better organization in place, finally, than he had previously or Rox do now. That helps know how to spend money judiciously.
The way the draft turned out it almost makes you wonder if they thought they weren't going to be drafting at 26 so they weren't ready. Commish - "Okay Rockets what is your pick at 26" Morey - "Oh crap we weren't expecting to pick here. Our guy is already taken. Anybody have a name?" CD - "How about Brooks?" Morey - "What's his full name?" CD - "I can't remember. But he's from the Northwest. Washington or Washington State I think" Isiah - "Do you mean Aaron Brooks from Oregon? I highly recommend him. He reminds me of myself twenty years ago. Probably a future all-star"
Les will spend the money when required. The problem is...Morey's computer doesn't know how to calculate beyond a low ball $Ball number. Les: Daryl, I'm wanting to upgrade the team talentwise...you know...put a little excitment into the TC. Some athletes...maybe a little bit over priced but hey...let's take a little calculated risk. Got any suggestions? Morey: Sorry Les. Don't have any calculations like that built into the program.
I agree DD. I think it's dumb that people can just buy draft picks.. screws the cap up. You should either have to make a pick and then trade that player to someone who can take on the salary.. or you should be able to forfeit the pick and just be skipped over. Trading the pick for cash is a loophole in the cash and slants part of the game towards the richest owners.
LOL!! Or, maybe Morey could also reply: Les, you mean the kind of excitement I helped inject into the FleetCenter back then? Hooray!
Isiah might not know how to run his team, but he's always had an eye for drafting talent, so if hypothetically Isiah was involved with us picking Brooks, I'd be happy.
I've gone on the Record several times and think that we need a OWNER change... I've believed in the past 4-5 years Les has been sub-par owner... We need an owner willing to take chances and open the pocket book a little more... You invest 30 million in a chinese company because obviously you have ties ( Yao Ming ) but your not willing to get the players on your team to make a impact ..... Wake up Les Yao and T-mac are not getting any younger!!!!
That's kind of what I figured. If the Rockets were willing to move players/picks in order to move up for Fernandez, why would Les balk at a few million dollars? It doesn't even make fiscal sense because winning is what put money in his pockets, provided he truly believes Fernandez can make a difference. If I were the Suns, there's no way I'd sell a pick to the Rockets. Their window of Championship lies solely on how long Nash plays. In another words, it's likely to close before the Blazers become any good. A powerful Rockets, on the other hand, threaten them now. Even if Les comes up with more money than Allen(which he cannot), the Suns would much rather deal the pick to Portland.
