Getting flamed is a sonofabitch... Don't flatter yourself. Nobody is flaming you, theyr'e answering your question. You have criticized Rockets past trades saying they didn't capitalize on the Drexler trade (even though they won a world championship with it), didn't capitalize on the Barkley trade (it got us back to the WCFs), and didn't capitalize on the Francis trade (though it speeded up our rebuilding and got us Tracy McGrady). What do people want? People are complaining that it's not true that FAs want to run here, maybe they're not running here because the Rockets aren't throwing ridiculous, cap killing money at them. I think this is a case, perhaps, of the organization thinking "hey, we have Tmac AND Yao, the one-two punch, screw all the other roster spots, we will fill them up with role players." I don't have to tell you this isn't going to win us a championship. The Rockets haven't even had Yao and McGrady together for a month and you already come to the conclusion that the Rockets are sitting back and doing nothing? No kidding it's not going to win a championship, why do you think the Rockets have been talking to Damon Jones and Seattle about Daniels and god knows who else?
i hear all of your comments and although I agree that some are more worrisome than most, the fact is we have 3 big holes to fill and if we dont, we essentially waste Yao and TMACS skills because our record will be pretty much the same as last year What 3 holes? PF? The Rockets have a guy who puts up 18 and 7 every year and Mo at the PF spot. The PG spot? Yes. And backup big man, which isn't nearly as worrisome as people think because there are going to always be stiffs available to back-up at center if the Rockets can't find a high quality big man to be Yao's caddy. I see one big hole (PG), the others aren't that big.
I am not panicking, I am being REALISTIC. You guys are still getting off on having T-Mac. You are the same people that said once we get T-Mac, everyone in the league is going to come here and play, so far no one has wanted to come here bad enough to sign. The season is a long ways away, but the FA list is dwindling day by day and we have no one the rest of the league wants to trade one of their PG's or really good PF's for...I don't think next year is the "be-all-end-all" but you all wanted to diss and get rid of Steve, Cat and Cato b/c by getting T-Mac we are going to leap frog to being a top 4 team in the West, right now we're are maybe a 6th seed at best, only a step up from last season and we got rid of 3 starters and can't seem to replace them as easily as you all thought. It's pretty funny how Brent Barry, Derek Fisher and Troy Hudson are considered "garbage" as you so put it since they didn't want to sign with us. Before, when they were considering us, they were the "perfect pieces" to the puzzle. Oh how soon we forget, typical fan.
I am not panicking, I am being REALISTIC. You guys are still getting off on having T-Mac. You are the same people that said once we get T-Mac, everyone in the league is going to come here and play, so far no one has wanted to come here bad enough to sign. We aren't "getting off" on T-Mac, we're just not overreacting like you are. I mean pointing "you people", if you're talking about the people on the BBS we weren't the ones that said that, an agent said that, so stop blaming us. As for someone not wanting to come here bad enough, maybe the Rockets haven't seen anyone they were willing to overpay fun? The season is a long ways away, but the FA list is dwindling day by day and we have no one the rest of the league wants to trade one of their PG's or really good PF's for...I don't think next year is the "be-all-end-all" but you all wanted to diss and get rid of Steve, Cat and Cato b/c by getting T-Mac we are going to leap frog to being a top 4 team in the West, right now we're are maybe a 6th seed at best, only a step up from last season and we got rid of 3 starters and can't seem to replace them as easily as you all thought. Nobody said we would jump to a Top 4 team, you are saying that because you want the Rockets to sign a bunch of all-star players or something. As for replacing 3 starters, we replaced Mobley with McGrady, Cato with Howard and we just need a PG. We're barely a month into the free agent period and you're already complaining. At least wait until preseason. It's pretty funny how Brent Barry, Derek Fisher and Troy Hudson are considered "garbage" as you so put it since they didn't want to sign with us. Before, when they were considering us, they were the "perfect pieces" to the puzzle. Oh how soon we forget, typical fan. Now you're just making up crap to complain about. Nobody here called Barry, Fisher and Hudson garbage. I mean don't lie to make an argument. At the time the Rockets were going after Barry there were people that thought he couldn't play defense and that he was to old (at 32) to get the contract that was rumored, so he wasn't worth it. I never wanted Fisher and there were a number of people that didn't want Fisher. But it wasn't because we called him "garbage" like you claim, it's because people didn't want to overpay him. Nobody said Hudson was garbage, just some people thought he was to wild to run the point for the Rockets.
We have Juwanaman Howard as PF in the tough west which is packed with real power forwards. Howard's numbers while playing in the West: 2001: 18 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 48% FG, 77% FT 2002: 14.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 46% FG, 76% FT 2003: 18.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 45% Fg, 80% FT Those aren't bound numbers at all against "real" PFs. I've heard people say, disregard his numbers he did it on bad teams, well, Elton Brand hasn't played on a winning team his entire career in the NBA, so do you disregard his numbers?
I don't remember asking a question as much as I was expressing my opinion. I didn't criticize the Clyde deal either, in fact, I even said that my comments were made with the exception of that deal. And again, I didn't say we didn't make a good deal by bring TMac, to the contrary, I think it is a wonderful thing. I'm just saying what a lot of people are thinking. What happen to the "oh my god, soooooo many FA's are going to be beating a path to our door..." Suffice to say, that ended up being a crock of sh*t. So, everyone wants to say I being impatient, the roster isn't set, blah blah blah... that doesn't change my original point. We sat back without, what seems, an attempt to talk with the FA gaurds out there. What remains is the several more months until the season starts of filling out the roster with, at best, lack luster talent which we didn't have to settle on. To me it seems almost arrogant that we don't need to go after a high quality FA just because you think that we have the 1-2 punch. In the end, and IMHO, we'll end up with some "garbage," as you want to call Barry and Fish, but instead with some lesser known names with lesser talent. Mediocre talent will only lead to mediocre results. Don't allow yourself to be deluded with visions of grandeur such as "we are working on something big..." How many times have we been let down.
Great post. A bunch of great posts in here. It's pretty clear, from reading the comments on different media and some of our own members (one of us saw Van Exel, nyrocket, I think, told him he'd be a great fit in Houston (his opinion! ) and Van Exel replied, "I'm trying to get there!"), that free agents are trying to come here. They've seen the insane money being thrown around, as has CD, and couldn't squeeze it out of us, for once. Again, we're being smart. It's hard to be patient. I know it's hard for me to wait. Instant gratification is cool. But I'm convinced we'll be happy when it's all over. I'm joyous already!
I have hesitated to post in reply to ROCKET!!! (whose posts two years ago suggesting trades in the works for the #1, well, I bought into them, hook line and sinker, and am damn glad we kept the pick and got Yao; but I'm sure he agrees ) but I wonder, too, about the Spanoulis kid. Seems he was a real sleeper pick and should be what we look for. Hope this is the case. That said, we do need to address the PG issue. Just getting Damon Jones would help.
ROXTXIA, Yea, Yea, Yea. I was assured it was going to happen. Yes, I am very happy it did not. As far as Spanoulis goes, I have seen him play with my own eyes....not a source! If he fits in the NBA, one can never tell, but, he is a ball of fire with his current team. Just having fun with the faces, cause as you may remember I rarely use them.
David Aldridge would agree with you. I remember reading an article on ESPN.com in which DA recommended we go after Juwan Howard during the 2003 offseason when he was a FA.
I don't even know why I'm bothering replying to your run-on...err post. It's July 18th. The ink on the Tracy McGrady trade hasn't even run dry yet. Kelvin Cato doesn't even realize he's been traded. What are you getting your panties in a wad for? What's the rush? It's not about free agents not wanting to play here, it's about us being smart enough to not overpay them ridiculous contracts. Honestly, if you think Derek Fisher is worth 6 years, $37 million then I just don't know what to say. I don't even understand the rest of your post about being a 6th seed next season - what the hell is your point? Did Yao Ming lie about his age or something and is actually 34 years old? Was signing Derek Fisher for 6 years, $37million going to make us a top 4 team? Barry might have been worth it. Fisher and Hudson are garbage for their respective deals. Our hands would have been tied for years from further improving the team and then you'de just come back in here screaming that the team is doing nothing to improve.
IMO, the only guy we missed out on this offseason was Barry, and maybe to a lesser extent Melvin Ely. All the other signings that have occured so far have been way overpaid, and it was a good move to get away from those fat 6 year contracts. We did miss out in Arroyo, but we never really had a chance since the Jazz had is matching rights and a ton of cap room. At this point, if we can get a guy like Damon Jones for Half the MLE and Keon Clark for the other half, then I'd say it would be a successful offseason. Those are the types of deals that we should be going after in this crazy spending offseason. I still think that FA will consider Houston because of T-Mac and Yao, but money still rules. I'm betting that if the Rox offered the same contract that Golden State offered to DFish, that he would have chosen the Rockets. But it would have been a big mistake to lock him up in such a crazy deal. We still have the TE and there are still some blockbuster trades on the horizon that Houston can get a piece of. Players like Dampier and Crawford are both looking for big sign-n-trades that would make them Base Year Compensation players. This means those teams would probably need 3rd teams to help facilitate any trades. We could fill some holes that way.
We haven't managed to outrecruit the Spurs. Barry's the only guy who's contract is even arguably not terrible. And for his age, there are too many years. People being handed ridiculous contracts aren't going to pass them up simply because Houston is a better situation, generally. So, essentially, you're saying that after major restructuring, we're a better team... that could be improved with adding some role players? Dude, that's a *good* thing. They're good players. Players just as good will be found in the next FA as well. This team is not built for one year. It's builty for the next 10 years. We have the luxury of not having to hand out bad contracts ouf of desperation. Enjoy that luxury. I'm glad CD isn't shortchanging the medium-term future just for a better chance next year.
Hey the Rivaldo dude may I ask you a personal question based on the tendency I see? Can you cut off your head and run around like a chicken?
You know, it's asses like you that make posting an opinion here not worth while. As if you are the be all, end all as to the Rockets choices or lack thereof. People are allowed to have opinions, so let them have them. If you disagree, just leave it at that, post your opinion and don't be an ass just because you think you know better. More than 95% of any of your pontificating will never be such as posting stupid line ups you wish you had and trying to see what people think of your fantasy team... Why don't you do us a favor and cut your head off... Whatever you people think, if the organization keeps up at the pace they are going, I'll guarantee mediocrity. That's my opinion, you can let me have it like everyone lets you have yours, or be an ass about it.
I am kind of on the fence on this particular subject. I see both sides' pros and cons and agree with all of them. I just hope the organization makes good decisions and we are able to see a good, fun team this season. mayurpatel... So, basically I don't really see eye-to-eye with you, but you are exactly right about people acting like asses on here. I dont really agree with some of what you said, but I respect your opinion. There is no need to call people dumb or bash what they have say. If you don't like it, roll your eyes and move on.
But what makes you certain that your opinion is worthwhile? What makes you think that it's decent enough to waste server space and clutter the board? Everyone has an opinion. But there are varying qualities of opinions. The "it's just my opinion" excuse is lame. If you start a new thread, it should be well thought out and contribute something to the board. This isn't the worst thread, but in some ways... it's just hysterical and premature. And just because it's your "opinion" isn't a defense.
