Per Clutch: http://rockets.clutchfans.net/1168/yao-ming-is-done-for-the-year/ Some people may be disappointed, but it is, as a former Rocket star would say, what it is.
Tanking is a funny thing. Theoretically you're increasing your team's chances of doing better in the future. However there are still ethical issues because you'd be putting out a crap product night in and night out for your fans. All for a high pick that you may or may not get, in a draft class that may or may not even be that good. It's still early in the season, and I think that lot of organizations out there are averse to tanking because it can degrade players' skills and create a loser culture. The Rockets still have a lot of pieces. They just need a star to lead them.
Adelman won't hang around while we rebuild, this is probably his last year now too, unless Morey can pull a rabbit out of his hat. They should not tank but they sure should be looking to retool, and go really young. DD
If you are tanking, you can't advertise it. There would be major repercussions from the commissioner.
morey also said he's hopeful yao will play for the rockets in the future. morey knows what to say to keep the fans happy but we all know the truth. nobody is happy with a 7th/8th seed and first round exit. it's time to rebuild and have a REAL plan. sticking with mediocrity is pointless. time to either trade all these assets for a star, or tank for a lottery pick that can hopefully land us a star player in the future.
realistically, what else could he say? that from now on the rockets will try to lose as many games as possible and that it won't be worth it coming to the toyota center anymore? this quote means absolutely nothing.
I really don't like tanking.. But, this is where you have to put your pride to the side and take your lumps, so you can have a chance to draft an elite player. We're going to have to have some bad season's in order to have a chance to get the elite talent to transform our team. If it was up to me I would change the lottery to where all the teams that don't make the playoffs have an equal chance at the 1st pick, AND no one has a better chance than other's. So this way there wont be any incentive to tank. But sadly borderline playoff teams is the worst position to be in, in the NBA... not good enough to win and not good enough to for a high draft pick..
Like you could've done better with the majority of the team's salary tied up in two always-injured stars. Yao's $17 million expiring contract is probably the biggest trading asset that the Rockets have. They should talk to Yao, and "trade" him to another team that he'll never have to play for. Then, if he's in any condition to play next year, sign him for a smaller and shorter contract with a team option for future years. Even in this dire situation, Morey's skill still shows. He has constructed a roster with flexibility, that can be improved far more easily than other teams that lose their franchise player.
It is the owner guys, Le$ won the first two years he owned the team, but has run it like a business ever since. What he does with Yao's contract will define his true motives.....if he keeps Yao, it is pretty clear that Le$ is more about the $$$ than the wins. DD
I disagree. First of all every owner is about the money. But if he does keep Yao, it's to win AND it's loyalty.
After accepting the premise that Yao is not the superstar that he was signed on to be several years ago, Yao's contract right now is a win-win situation. If the team wants to trade him, they can trade him straight up for another team's All-Star. If they "keep" him, he's off the books anyway by the end of this season.
Agree. He came to the rockets because of T-Mac and Yao. I don't see him as a rebuilding type of coach especially at his age.
I agree in a short sighted sense, but the money that Yao provides the team has allowed Les to give Morey free reign, pay Lux tax, buy draft picks etc. If he keeps continuing that it is hard to say he is just in it for the money. That being said, trading Yao now would likely be best move for the team, but if financially it doesn't make sense, and instead Les goes out and does more of what he has been, it is hard to say he is just in it for the money.
I'm glad they have a direction even if it's not the one i'd choose, as long as they have one. Everyone was tradeable before Yao, I expect that to continue so you can expect some fireworks within the next few weeks. I will say, it does bother me he'd try spinning that crap about the 7th or 8th seed being a great year. If the team was full of young guys building toward something, like OKC last year, then I'd agree but this team was not built with the intention to be a 7th seed and consider it "great".
Back to the hustle and grit, giving 110% every night, and the "us against the world" mentality. Or just see last year.
