According to the Houston Chronicle: Keep the balloons and farewell gifts in the closet for now. Put the bon voyage party on hold. Hakeem Olajuwon is not ready to say he's going anywhere just yet. Just five days before the start of what was believed to be his final NBA season, the 37-year-old Rockets center said he wants to keep his options open concerning retirement. The former two-time Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals also said he understands the franchise is in a rebuilding mode with a younger lineup and would hold no grudge if the Rockets chose not to extend their relationship when his contract expires next spring, freeing him to sign with another team. "It is so early and we haven't played a game yet to see how things will work out," Olajuwon said. "Why close the door?" Olajuwon informed head coach Rudy Tomjanovich of his decision following Thursday's workout at Westside Tennis Club. "We had a good talk about our relationship, which was very good," Tomjanovich said. "He told me. I respect his decision. But I told him I was surprised. "I don't like to speak for people. I didn't think he was thinking that way." After commenting publicly on how much he was looking forward to retiring at the end of his 17th pro season, Olajuwon said his change of heart is related to how good he feels physically less than a year after suffering through one of his most difficult seasons. He required surgery to repair an inguinal hernia and was sidelined by a case of asthma, playing in just 44 games, averaging 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds, all career lows. "I have enjoyed training camp so much," he said. "I came into it not knowing if I was going to be able to play at all. I was concerned about the asthma returning. But the doctors have gotten the medicine working perfectly and I've trained to get myself in great shape. I feel better than I have in years. I'm pain-free and I want to see what that will allow me to do before I make any final decisions." Olajuwon is also uncomfortable with the notion of making a "farewell tour" through the NBA this season, saying it would be "embarrassing" for him and a distraction for a young team that is trying to carve out a new identity. "I don't want to be getting rocking chairs like Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar)," he said. "That's not me. It's not my personality. I don't want to have to do news conferences and talk with the media in every city about this being the end for the whole season. If I decide that it is the end, I would like to just have something in Houston, a celebration where I played and for the fans who have supported me." Olajuwon stressed he does not want to burden the Rockets with a sense of obligation to him beyond his contract, which will earn him $16.7 million this season. "I told Rudy that I appreciate everything he and the organization have done for me throughout my career and the last thing I want to be now is disruptive," Olajuwon said. "I told him that he can use me any way he wants to use me this season and see if I can help. "Honestly, I don't think they expected to see me back this season. And I don't know if I thought for sure that I would be back. If you asked me last season during all of the medical problems, I would have said, `Definitely no.' If you asked me over the summer, I would have said, `Probably no.' "But with the way that I feel, with my health back and my legs back, it has given me a new outlook. I feel fresh. I feel good. I still like to play basketball. I would just like to see how well I can play. "If I play well and the Rockets want to talk to me about next season, maybe we'll talk. If I play well enough to satisfy me and they want to go in another direction, that is fine. I'll wish them well and consider the possibilities. Maybe somebody would want me to help them." It was as recently as the lockout-shortened 1999 season that Olajuwon played in all 50 games of the compacted schedule, averaging 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and shooting better than 50 percent from the field. "I think I still have something to give to the game and I think I can make a contribution to this team," he said. "I just want to play and find out. "If I say I'm retiring now, then it's over, it sounds final. Then I'm in the position of saying I changed my mind. I don't want to do that. I could know in a few weeks or a few months, definitely by March or April, if I can do this anymore or if I want to do this anymore. "I just want to leave the possibilities open." -------------------------------------------- I think this will be very good for the team because if Hakeem decides to stay that means he still has the love for the game. It also means that he is in good shape and we will be able to keep a high quality center. This shouldn't hinder the team at all. As far as the organization not resigning him if he wants to stay, they aren't going to say "he's played with us since 1983, but I don't think we need him anymore, so I think I'll tell him to get lost." The team will feel obligated to sign him or I would think less of them. I couldn't imagine Hakeem in any other jersey than our p.j.'s. It will probably come down to him retiring at the end of the year. However, the idea of him playing for Vancouver is still up in the air. Anyone have any thoughts? [This message has been edited by DaneB (edited October 27, 2000).]
That's great news. I always thought there was too much pressure on Hakeem to retire. I hope he either resigns with the Rockets, or joins a contender in need of a center. ------------------ 2000-2001 Rockets Game Formulas: End of 1st quarter: "They're playing so well!" 2nd: "What a great game!" 3rd: "Theres no way they can lose now!" 4th: "What the ******* **** happened?!!" Vote Gore to keep our planet green! Rocket's Championship 2001!!
Thanks a lot DaneB! Its really good to hear that Hakeem really wants to play and as long as he knows he can play I know he can play. Its all a matter of how many minutes rudy gives him now. I couldn't really imagine basketball without Hakeem but at least now I can still have hope that he may come back now. Great news!!! ------------------
Um, where would all of that put us if the Rockets did decide to keep him next year (if indeed he chooses to play another year)? I don't want to see Hakeem in another uniform, but neither do I want him to kill any hope of picking up free agents or retaining our own, for that matter (i.e., Mo and Shandon). Could the Rockets renounce their rights to him and then sign him to a lower contract? Does any of his salary from this year "count against the cap" next year since he's a free agent (if he doesn't retire or the Rockets don't renounce their rights to him)? How much of his salary this year is calculated as counting against the cap next year if he doesn't retire and/or the Rockets choose not to renounce their rights to him? Those are some questions that are raised in my mind about the whole thing. ------------------ [This message has been edited by TraJ (edited October 27, 2000).]
I am all for hoping that Dream is healthy and a good contributor this season, but I think Olajuwon is being overly optimistic about his health this year. I think when the season is up, playoffs or not, he will be bogged down with breathing problems again, and maybe even something else depending on how hard Rudy plays him. I still think he will be retiring after he is reminded once more of the rigors of an 82 game schedule. But then again, I may be wrong. ------------------ "Nothing is certain but the unforseen." Some Dude
The only considerations regarding salary cap are:- 1. Until re-signed or renounced, he will count a whopping $20mil plus towards the salary cap. Under that scenario, no free agents could be signed using cap space 2. If he signs with another team or is renounced, he is completely off our books. 3. We can re-sign him for as little as $1mil (approx. There is no obligation to sign him to a larger amount based on his previous contract. ------------------ Maybe all the rulers are wrong. Current Rocket's Salary & Contract Info
Charles signed for 1 million because he wanted the Rockets to be in a position to acquire talent so he could have a decent shot at a ring. Dream has 2 rings and would probably be less inclined to settle for 1 million. Mango ------------------ Test Your NBA Trade Ideas 1. Put new topics in the proper forum. Things happening in the rest of the NBA 2. Use clear wording for new threads. 3. No duplicate threads 4. Conduct yourself as an adult. The Serious Police are watching. Donate Blood or be assimilated!
That quote is incorrect. Olajuwon was really quoted as saying: "I told Clutch that I appreciate everything he and the BBS have done for me throughout my career and the last thing I want to be now is disruptive," Olajuwon said. "I told him that he can use me any way he wants to use me this season and see if I can help with Dreamcasting." If he continues this waffling, the cc.net crew said that Dream's impact on the board this year could rival the championship years.<font size="-6"><font color="f7f7f7> [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited October 27, 2000).]
I was very disappointed to hear this,I was hoping Dream would "ride off in the sunset" and retire as a Rocket.He has meant so much to this city and organazation that seeing him in another uni would not do him justice.It would be like seeing Joe Namath in a rams uni,Johnny U in a chargers uni.I hope Dream realizes that he would be better off retiring with his dignity and 2 rings and let us give him a farewell season that is unparalled for any Houston athlete. ------------------
This is not good to hear. I understand that he wants to retire on his terms, but cmon, he should have some more pride and hang it up after this season. He's already accomplished just about everything: 2 Championships MVP 2-Defensive Player of the Year 2-Finals MVP 12-All-Star First-team all-NBA Gold Medal He should leave the game so people remember his dominating days, not the days he plays 20 min. a night and scores 6pts and 4 rebs.I don't want him to go out like Robert Parish or Dominique Wilkins. Olajuwon is the greatest athlete in the history of Houston. Unfortunately, age has caught up with him. Retire now Hakeem,in Rocket red. ------------------ "Oh No..." -Bill Walton in 97 just before Stockton's buzzer beater
Here's a scary thought: What if he went to LA to be Shaqs backup? Even worse, what if he went to LA to be thier PF? ------------------ RocketFuel is dead! [This message has been edited by SpaceCity (edited October 27, 2000).]
Wow, I just asked a question on this topic about two weeks ago. If Hakeem is healthy, we will be contenders. Rudy will do his best to keep his man, no question about that. I am pretty sure they could make certain kind of arrangement to work this out. So the question to the capologists... aside from a measly $1M exception, is there some way of signing Hakeem, Shandon and Mo to reasonable and fair contracts? I think this CBA thing is flawed in terms of keeping all teams competitive. The market value of premier players is at a very high level while the CBA limit is very restrictive. Can you imagine all teams except Bulls and Clippers are over the salary cap, doesn't that tell you something? How fair can that be especially for small market teams that could not offer other enticements to free agents if they are already over the salary cap and trying to play within the guidelines of the CBA? I think Hakeem felt good when he matched up against Ewing and realized he could still play this game at a high level. ------------------
Vacillating back and forth about your impending retirement in your final year is nothing new for athletes. It seems it is sometimes almost a requirement. I think Hakeem was sincerely worried about the future when he seemed to be both physically affected by last season, and and emotionally unsure about his role in this coming season. I think both of those issues have largely been answered to his own satisfaction this offseason and preseason. And that is what prompted this recent wavering about retiring. I best guess is he will retire after the end of the season, but this situation begs for speculation doesn't it. The alternatives are: 1. He retires. He is comfortable and the building process continues at an even faster rate. 2. He stays a Rocket at a much-reduced team salary burden (probably in the highly visible, extremely appalaudable $1-2 Million dollar range) and pridefully ends his career perceived as the team veteran/teacher/coach added to his previous superstar label. 3. He requests and is given a trade opportunity to play in any number of places, but most notably in Vancover. The sign and trade is beneficial to all and we end up with another peice to our puzzle, while Hakeem provides vigor and star-quality to a bland (as perceived outside of Canada,anyway) franchise. (I cannot think about Hakeem resigning with another team, without making it imperative the Rockets get something in return. Loyalty runs both ways.) (With total disregard for the "evil speculative nature" this imposes, I could in fact, see Hakeem asking for a trade (for an $8-9 Million/year price tag in a 2 year deal, third year as a player option) to the Vancover Grizz "type of scenario". Dropping Hakeem's $16.7 Million in cap space and getting $8 million in trade value the same year would be awfully tempting!) PS Sorry for the spelling. I am dyslexic on Fridays. POP/OP [This message has been edited by oeilpere (edited October 27, 2000).]
Let's see how he holds up this year, I would say the Rockets are FAR better off with a healthy "OLD" Hakeem then a healthy "young" Cato. DaDakota ------------------ All you MO-FO's better stop ripping off my lines !!
Shareef Abdur-Rahim anyone? I know, I'm dreaming, but it sure is fun! ------------------ GO YANKEES!!! KICK SOME METS A$$!!! 5 GAMES BABY!!
Damn, I was hoping we wouldn't hear anything from Dream's mouth about the upcoming season. We've all been duped the last 3 years in believing that he's in the best shape of his career, but I was getting optimistic that he was just going to keep his mouth shut and surprise this year. ------------------ When you make an assumption, you make an ass out of yourself and umption. visit www.swirve.com
I don't think Dream plays another year... He is doing this because he doesn't want the attention of a farewell tour... When you renounce someone, you can't acquire them until like 180 days or something AFTER the player was renounced... However, this was BEFORE the new CBA from 99... I remember in 96, when Kenny Smith was a FA, and we renounced him and then someone telling me Rocks can't sign him up until January... ------------------
i love dream and all, but anyone who thinks he will sign for $1 or $2 mm next year, if he decides to play again, is, pardon the pun, dreaming. ------------------
Kidrock8 I think your 100% correct. Hakeem knows that a fairwell tour will be very disruptive to this young team. I think Hakeem wants to have a good quiet final season. ------------------
