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ESPN.com: (Van Gundy) Five-year, $25 million deal waiting in Washington

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Deuce, Jun 8, 2003.

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  1. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0606/1564419.html


    Five-year, $25 million deal waiting in Washington
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    ESPN.com news services
    Jeff Van Gundy is expected to decide Monday whether to accept a contract to coach the Houston Rockets or the Washington Wizards.

    Van Gundy spent two days in Houston meeting with Rockets officials and looking at schools and houses with his wife. But he left town without accepting the Rockets' offer.

    The Wizards have a five-year deal worth approximately $25 million on the table for Van Gundy to accept. According to ESPN sources, the former Knicks coach would not have the general manager's title in Washington, but would have significant say in personnel.

    "If money was the issue, we would be talking about money," Rockets general counsel Michael Goldberg told the Houston Chronicle. "I asked if there was anything more (general manager Carroll Dawson) or I could do, and they said absolutely not. He (Van Gundy's agent, Jim Ornstein) said he just wanted to take the weekend to think about it."

    Before leaving Houston on Friday, Van Gundy told television station KRIV: "Both sides have to see if it's the right fit. You don't want to rush anything like that. So when the time comes it'll come on its own pace."

    Van Gundy said Rockets officials made him and his wife Kim feel at home in Houston.

    "It was very nice. Houston is a beautiful city and the Rockets are a great organization. I had a great time," he said.


    Van Gundy met with Rockets officials on Thursday and is owner Les Alexander's top choice to replace Rudy Tomjanovich, the longtime Rockets coach who stepped down on May 23.

    The Rockets told their other primary candidate, Mike Dunleavy, that they will not make any other moves with potential candidates until Van Gundy makes his decision.
     
    #1 Deuce, Jun 8, 2003
  2. Batman Jones

    Batman Jones Member

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    This is the exact same base contract Larry Brown took in Detroit. Hope they're not offering the same incentives.
     
    #2 Batman Jones, Jun 8, 2003
  3. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Member

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    I just head Jim Gray on the Nets-Spurs pre-game show. He said JVG has not decided. He said Washington is offering a lot more money, plus he would be the GM, so he would have more say as far as personnel decisions.. But Van Gundy wants to win a championship, and he wants what is best for his family.

    Really sounded like a 50/50 shot to me.
     
    #3 Mr. Clutch, Jun 8, 2003
  4. X-PAC

    X-PAC Member

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    Not good if we're this far along and still haven't persuaded Van Gundy the Rockets organization is best fit for him.
     
    #4 X-PAC, Jun 8, 2003
  5. JBIIRockets

    JBIIRockets Member

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    If Van Gundy takes the Washington job, then winning to him is not that important. Simple as that.
     
    #5 JBIIRockets, Jun 8, 2003
  6. Yetti

    Yetti Member

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    #6 Yetti, Jun 8, 2003
  7. silent j

    silent j Member

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    #7 silent j, Jun 8, 2003
  8. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Member

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    I didn't really get the same impression you guys did. Jim said "In Houston he would just be coach." I'm not sure what's wrong with that? Aren't most coaching positions that way? Larry Brown is not going to have more sway in personnel decisions than Joe Dumars!

    Of course, if CD specifically pointed out that he has zero say in personnel decisions, then that's bad.
     
    #8 Mr. Clutch, Jun 8, 2003
  9. JohnnyBlaze

    JohnnyBlaze Member

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    Not necessarily, with more control in DC he might think he's got a better chance of putting together the pieces necessary to win.
     
    #9 JohnnyBlaze, Jun 8, 2003
  10. zzhiggins

    zzhiggins Member

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    Some folks would probably say " its the money stupid".. Washington was 2nd in home attendence last year, Philly 3rd, the Rockets..next to last. There is a reason they have more money to toss around.
    Rocket fans need to go to some games if we want a first class coach.
     
    #10 zzhiggins, Jun 8, 2003
  11. RIET

    RIET Member

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    Washington is misleading because of Michael Jordan. He won't be around next year.
     
    #11 RIET, Jun 8, 2003
  12. Sane

    Sane Member

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    I expect Washington and Houston attendance to be pretty damn close next season, but most probably, we'll have the better attendance. New arena, Yao Ming, Steve Francis, new coach, and new uniforms.

    How about those Wizards. They are re-building yet again.
     
    #12 Sane, Jun 8, 2003
  13. SamFisher

    SamFisher Member

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    OK, when Les signs Michael Jordan, people will come.

    On a related note, Washington's offer is 10 m less than was rumored. If the Rockets are offering between 4 and 5, and the Wiz are offering 5, that ain't sh-t, really, the Rockets contract and the increased likelihood of receiving it all makes up for the year to year difference.
     
    #13 SamFisher, Jun 8, 2003
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2003
  14. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    Jim Gray said that Van Gundy's decision will come down to
    1) Chance to win a championship
    2) The comfortability of his family.

    Clearly the Rockets road to a championship is much clearer than the Wizards. However who can say which location (Washington or Houston) is more comfortable for him and his family?

    If the Wizards are offering 5 million a season I have to believe the Rockets are offering a similar number. Additionally VG said money is not the biggest factor; he just wanted to be paid fairly. I am sure we are offering market value.

    As for GM duties, Jim Gray said that Van Gundy would have a SAY in who the Wizards GM would be, but would not be the GM himself. If Van Gundy and CD are on the same page with how they view the team then there shouldn't be any problems if VG does not "officially" have player control. Because if he sees a problem and he and CD see eye to eye then they will work together to correct the problem.

    I really think at this stage of the game it is ALL coming down to how JVG's family is comfortable with living in Houston or Washington. I don't think it is about the money. I don't think it is about control. It is a personal choice at this point in time. It comes down to will their family be ok with moving away from their familiar area in NY to a new area in Houston?
     
    #14 Deuce, Jun 8, 2003
  15. JPM0016

    JPM0016 Member

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    well said Deuce
     
    #15 JPM0016, Jun 8, 2003
  16. Yetti

    Yetti Member

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    Thats also my thinking! Deuce do you think that is in Washingtons favour or do you think the weather down here might draw them this way?
     
    #16 Yetti, Jun 8, 2003
  17. JPM0016

    JPM0016 Member

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    who knows? we will all know tomorrow. Thank God it was raining when Van Gundy was here otherwise after walking around in 100 degree weather there is no way he would want to come here. I say it's a 60-40 shot he comes to houston. The 2 conditions were winning a championship and his family. We have the first one in the bag, but would Jeff coach a losing team going nowhere or just go back to the booth for another year?
     
    #17 JPM0016, Jun 8, 2003
  18. mycatuity

    mycatuity Member

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    come on Yao, let's win a f&&king championship to shut those b**ches up! let's 'em beg us to go back! after all, isn't that the greater players win the championship? not the freaking coaches. look at LB, JVG. do any of them have a ring on their fingers?
     
    #18 mycatuity, Jun 8, 2003
  19. ecinokc

    ecinokc Member

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    #19 ecinokc, Jun 8, 2003
  20. DCkid

    DCkid Member

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    Van Gundy choosing the Wizards (one of the four most poorly run organizations in all of professional sports) over the Rockets? I think that just might be an all-time low.

    I mean...come on. Houston's not <i>that</i> bad, is it?
     
    #20 DCkid, Jun 8, 2003
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