This. On one hand, Morey hasn't traded for talented but overpriced players (Monta Ellis, for example). On the other hand, he has thrown a bit of Les' money around to bring in 2nd round value picks. Can Morey flip our aging but with value players like McGrady and/or Shane and/or Scola + any of our our low-price high-value guys into something really good? I don't know if Summer 2010 is The Plan, unless we trade away current players for picks or renounce them (and losing either Landry or Scola for nothing does not appeal). Is Bosh going to leave Toronto? Will Amare be worth his next contract (and he might just look to go to the Knicks anyway)? Wade is either going to stay in Miami or go to Chicago, LeBron will stay put.... So we might have to aim for should-be or will-be All Stars that other teams can't or won't pay. Or aim for that Adelman-type team he had in Sacramento. But even THAT team had Webber in his prime.
I'd like to give credit for the championships to Statistics. We had a 50/50 chance of winning the coin flip to have the #1 pick in the 1984 draft, which we won, which ultimately landed the first round pick, which then led to the no-brainer selection of Olajuwon, which ultimately led to our championships(no Olajuwon, no championships).
Francis. Huge drop off in his prime, but he was GOOD. On topic: Both CD and Morey are good GM's overall. They obviously have good eyes for talent and look at the long-term picture. CD made some big bust signings, but Morey will make mistakes like that too if his career is long enough. You can't say CD was ever scared to take a chance. No GM is 100%. Even Joe Dumars, one of the best in the business, wasted the #2 pick on Darko. And for those complaining that Morey hasn't gotten a star player, he got Artest for Bobby Jackson and Donte Greene. What else you want him to do? Pull a superstar out of his ass? The only superstar we've missed out on bigger than Artest is Vince Carter and I'm glad we didn't get him.
I think the topic is about comparing GM's and their decisions from good moves to bone head moves. If i remember correctly Rockets were in win now mode still no excuse to pass up on tallent or trade it off for a player who is easy to replace. Makes no sence even today with every passing year why management decided Battier over Gay makes no sence even if it was a salary dump. Other then that no major mistakes have been made between the 2 GM's besides signing Swift and Francis and those were minor mistakes compared to the Rudy Gay mistake.
People really this bored? Hasn't the preseason started? What's the point of taking shots at a retired CD? Say what you will about the guy... he devoted a huge chunk of his life to the Houston Rockets. I have nothing but respect for him.
I agree. And being the GM of a professional sports team has to be a pretty thankless job to begin with. Even when you're successful, the tumble to mediocrity is always right around the corner.
ABSOLUTLEY INCORRECT! September 1989–August 1993: Steve Patterson August 1993–3January 1994: Tod Leiweke January 1994–May 1996: Bob Weinhauer During the Championship years, CD was an assistant coach.
Let's see. One of the top defensive players in the game, a reliable 3 point shooter, the QB of a perennial top 5 defensive team in the NBA. VS Nachbar, Griffin, Drew, Turkshan, Collier... am I missing anyone else? Dickerson was the only solid player he drafted. And Dickerson vs Battier is basically a wash in my mind. I'm sorry. I liked CD for his trades: Francis, T-Mac, and *sigh* even Eddie Griffin. But drafting prowess is by far his worst quality as a GM. I think the interview post-Griffin draft where CD basically said they know almost nothing about the kid was quite damning. Compare this with Morey, who got in touch with every prospect both for preparation sakes, and for future connections.
From the moment he became head coach to until he resigned for "health reasons", Rudy T has had his fingerprints to almost all player personnel decisions on the Rockets. Les basically gave him the keys to the Rockets player decisions after Les fired Steve Patterson. CD and Rudy were joined at the hip until Rudy left, so any criticism or praise on CD during the Rudy T era needs to fall on Rudy too. And yes, CD was still an assistant coach during the back to back title years. I'll give him half credit along with Rudy T on the Drexler trade as they really pushed for that trade.
Not to keep throwing fuel on the fire, but what player haas made a all star game that morey has brought in? Yao wasn't a easy choice as it seems now. Francis was traded for othella harrington,dickerson, and trash and he was playing aat a all star level before he declined. Tracy was traded for francis,mobley,cato, and something else and he's been a top performer in this league also. Dawson made mistakes and no one can deny that, but the all star quality players dawson brought in were derived from knowing how to deal or when to deal. Its easy to say what you don't have,but turning basically dickerson into the #2 pick or turning 3 mid rd picks into another top 8 pick. Sometimes guys just know how to deal. Just like people say Kupchak got "lucky" to get Gasol. If u followed the lakers franchise, it seems like they always get lucky. Getting Parker aand Manu late was lucky too. I guess its better to be lucky than good.
