Indeed. People often forget the power of fans. I mean, do Lakers fans talk about championships or an injured player? They talk about championships of course. That's why they win. The Rockets only talk about role players and trying to get into the playoffs, that's why we're so average. This logic is infallible. I know, right? If only the Rockets talk more to the press about how to beat SA/Dallas/OKC/etc, we'd actually beat them. People don't realize the power of words. If they tell people that they'll win, then they'll have to win. I revert back to my LA example. Again, does Phil Jackson care about SA or Dallas or OKC? Of course not. That's why he beats them. What about Adelman? Nope, he doesn't have such confidence. That's why we lose. This is cold, hard fact. I agree. What kind of an organization would have a player as lowly as Yao as their 15th guy on the roster? A losing one I tell you. That's why they lose. Who does the Lakers have as their 15th man? Theo Ratliff, who played 37 games this year with the Lakers. 37 vs 0. Looking at it this way, and it's clear why the Lakers are championship contenders and we are nobodies. Look at that discrepency!!! 37 vs 0 But alas, this board is filled with fans who doesn't understand what truly win games.
Theo Ratliff played 8 games for the Lakers this year. He's played 57 over the last 2 seasons. Yao Ming played 5 games for the Rockets this year. He's played 5 games over the last 2 seasons. Theo Ratliff's contract is for $1.35 million. Yao Ming's contract is for $17.7 million. Which is the better deal for the franchise? Do you honestly believe Yao Ming will sign a contract in the range of $1.35 million to play here next season? I've heard some say we'd use the midlevel exception on him...I think I'd rather use it elsewhere than on a guy who's played 5 games in the last 164. Though it's not his fault, Tenderfoot can't play. It's over. We all liked the guy. But it's time to move on. As much as we'd like to say, "he'd simply be the 15th man on the roster, no big deal," it would never be that way...just as it wasn't when all he could give us was 15 mpg. When he's out there, he's a focal point for the offense (for better or worse) because of his reputation...because of who he is. They played vastly different when he was on the court than when he wasn't. I don't see that changing. Sometimes it's just time to move on...this franchise needs to get on with getting on.
Indeed. Your math skills are just mind-blowing awesome. It's astonishing that Les doesn't realize MLE = $17 mil. And I can't believe that Morey believes "a player making $17 mil and leading the team to 2nd round of playoffs" = "a player who missed 2 seasons and will never be dominant again". I mean, I don't think Morey or Les understand such advanced math. It's the sort of thing you just can't expect MIT grad or billionaire to know. The only thing more amazing than your math skill is your connections. I'm sure those "some people" you mention as giving Yao the MLE are really connected to the Rockets inside. Especially because the Rockets will be UNDER the cap in the offseason. So you must know some people who know the new CBA will cut 20% off the salary cap AND player salaries aren't going to be rolled back to put the Rockets over the cap next year. Damn, you should be sharing your inside info on a newly created thread. Not try to hide it here. I'm disappointed in you.
is it possible for you to have a legitimate discussion that isn't draped in and oozing with sarcasm? i'm sure you have some good points to make, but they're difficult to dicepher when it seems the point of the post is more about pissing me off and coming at me, personally, than making your argument. i never said MLE = $17 million. never said that at all. $17 million is Yao's contract value this year...$1.35 is Ratliff's contract value this year. in fact, I asked you specifically whether you thought Yao would take a contract at the $1.35 million level. i don't know what the MLE will be this year...i'm assuming it will be more than $1.35 million, but I'm not sure. the "some people" are the people in and out of these threads who are speculating...as much as i am...about the future of the organization. my point was only that if they're right...and we're talking about extending the MLE for Yao...I'd rather not.
My post is dripping sarcasm because your post resembles that of a troll. You talk about stuff that has no relevance to either my post or this thread. What does Yao's $17 mil this year has to do with NEXT YEAR? Is T-Mac being lambasted in Detroit because he made $20 mil with us last year? It's impossible to have a discussion when the point itself is irrelevant in the first place. Also, the MLE is only available to teams OVER the cap. Therefore, teams like the Rockets who will be under the cap has no MLE. And this is assuming the MLE still exist next year. Hence, anyone who says the Rockets will give Yao the MLE is talking out of his ass. And has no validity AT ALL. There, that's my legitimate response. Hopefully you're not a troll, so I didn't waste my time on actually writing logically for a couple of minutes. I generally hate writing in a logical manner.
The Ratliff analogy is flawed to begin with in my view. However, when you bring up what Theo Ratliff is being paid this year...I followed up with what Yao is being paid this year...and the expectation for both next season. I have a very difficult time believing that Yao will sign for somewhere in the vicinity of $1.35 million (MLE or otherwise) - what Ratliff is being paid right now as the 15th man on a roster....thus, I think the Ratliff analogy is flawed to begin with. Troll? Ok, meh.
Well, to be fair, what did we expect him to say while he is still under contract? "Houston sucks, I'm so done here." Ditto for Morey. I personally hope he does his foot does allow him to come back and I hope its in Houston Rocket red. Realistically, if he wants more than the vet minimum or a shot at a championship (not necessarily on the same team), it will not be in Houston. Whatever happens, I'll be a fan of his for life. Unless he signs with the Lakers. I couldn't handle that.
I'm not sure why you're equating salary with position on the depth chart. Or why Yao making $3 mil or $1.5 mil or whatever matters. So what if he gets the MLE-level money? What, are we going to get Lebron for that money? Are we going to get Dwight Howard? There are 2 centers capable of improving the Rockets this offseason. Dalembert and Chandler. Both players will command multi-year contracts. Both players will be paid a great deal of money. Both players will make the Rockets slightly better if at all(in the case of Dalembert). This free agency SUCKS HORRIBLY. So what's the cost of resigning Yao? In this case, the only cost is the 15th roster spot that could go to someone else. Hence, the 15th-man comparison. OTOH, keeping Yao for more than the veteran minimum matters in the 2012, because that is the year when CP3, DWill, and DH hit the market. And that is also the year the Rockets can free up A LOT OF cap room. Enough to sign 2 max guys with minimum menuvering. Hence, people are asking the wrong question when it comes to next year Yao. When it's 2012 offseason that really matters.
I would NEVER advocate "tanking" Carl. And the rebuilding has already started to a degree. But it seems we are straddling the line still. We could make a move for a superstar using picks and young talent ...True this move could be made with the idea of Yao being healthy or not ...But to me it would most likely indicate a timeframe that is not realistic or in our best interest. I know this won't sound popular but I really want to see Scola and/or Martin moved in the RIGHT deals. ...a commitment to the big picture as Rockets fans and yes, more patience. We're all in this for the long haul. Don't get me wrong ....Les has been a great owner,always ready to make that move or spend cheese to keep us right there over the years. But he needs to realize(and probably does) that we can't just rebound from the final days of Yao over night. Again DM has done an amazing job operating within the chains that have bound him. I'm just saying let Morey make this HIS team and see what happens.
If I were Yao Ming I would quit basketball sign up on clutchfans.net and go on this forum and talk **** to every member on here.. Basically become a troll, and laugh his way to the bank and then I would bang every wives, girlfriend on clutchfans board and then post pictures with a thread titled: HEY GUYS I'M BANGING YOUR WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS, HAHAHHAHAH!!!!
You have to respect the heart it takes to attempt these comebacks from injury after injury. He's like a good version of Sisyphus. But if he wants to keep pushing that boulder, I'll be rooting for him. Maybe it will stop rolling down hill for once.
Look guy, I recognize that posting/reading on a forum that is 95% male is going to result in reading posts that have some, shall we say, questionable content, but what you've written is unnecessary and adds nothing to the discussion at hand. Clutch has been kind enough to create a comprehensive fan site that has other forums besides the GARM within it that you can post less topical material to, such as The Dish. This will allow you to interact with many of the same people and allow you to express yourself freely, without bringing down the tone of the GARM and more serious discussions.
I'm responding directly to your post. You equated Yao to Ratliff (15th man on Lakers' roster). I pointed out that Ratliff makes $1.35 million...and that I did not expect Yao to ever accept a contract in that range. That's it. I didn't bring Ratliff or the "15th man" part into the discussion at all...just responded to you. No, we're not going to get Lebron or Howard. But my guess is we might get someone who is capable of contributing more than Yao...simply because I think it's ridiculous to expect this man to come back and play after all these injuries at his size.
