Another whiny millionaire?

Reluctantly, I agree.

 

Ever since Shandon, I've come to realize that it is the person, not the situation.

 

Cat does have that cockyness about him but I consider him a team player in every sense of the word, especially since he took the contract that was way lower than what he could've gotten elsewhere. I don't think he's cocky in the "I'm a proffessional basketball player so I rule the world and should get what ever I want" type of way but rather in the "I'm gonna beat you and talk **** to you all day about it" type of way which shows what a competitor he is.

 

Lewis is complaining about Seattles contract, because they said they would reward him if he signed with Seattle for less than Toronto.

If you don't know what I am talking about: Lewis had a choice of signing with Toronto for more money a couple years ago, but Seattle told him they would reward him in the next contract if he signed for less with Seattle. I'd be pissed too, he's only getting paid $500,000 more than Jerome James!! I wouldn't sign with a team who lied about a contract.

 

Besides Shandon, I don't know where this attitude you speak of comes from because I don't see it in any of the players you've mentioned. When I think of Rashard and his wanting a max contract, T-Mac comes to mind. They had similar #'s before coming up on free agency and we all know how T-Mac's story goes after he got the max in Orlando, his home town. Will Rashard do the same, no, he's not as talented, but he isn't asking for the max anymore. Rashard is asking for what he's owed because it's what the Sonics promised. He took way less to stay in Seattle and now they're balking on there promise. It's not totally their fault though, because the salary cap went down this year. Explain to me Francis and his supposed sense of entitlement. The Rockets want to give him the max, he wants the max, every analyst in basketball, and all the local radio guys and sports writers think he should get the max. Giving the max to Francis, is standard procedure. If Francis is asking for too much money, it's because all athletes are making way too much money, not just Francis. He isn't perfect though, the Vancouver incident proves that, but we sure are glad to have him. LAfadeaway already defended Cat, so I'll skip him. As for EG, tell me about his humble attitude when he asks for a max extension if a few years.

 

No one is perfect and I can tell you that Cat did heimself an absolute disservice. EG will likely be a max player in a couple of years right in time for the extension but remember that in Seton Hall he had his fair share of problems with his attitude. Folks we all do these things as long as they ain't in strip clubs smoking crack and getting drunk, that's life. What do you think that ownership is always fair and not looking out for themselves, hell no. Keep it in perspective people.

 

Question:

Did Seattle really say that they would reward Lewis with the next contract or did Rashard get that impression on his own? Kinda like how he thought the Rockets would take him in the 1st round.

 

I can't hate on Cuttino. Sometimes he makes bonehead plays on the court, true; but he loves the Rockets organization and the city and he could have left us for more money.

Of course, he coulda got a wink-nudge deal from the Rocks, but did he really? He signed on for six years.

 

Rashard was a high school senior when he was drafted. One year in college and he might have got the same respect as Eddie, but he didn't and he had to earn his way on the team. He excelled over a two year period, has gotten better and better each year and now wants to get paid his asking price. He earned it. whether he gets it is business as usual in the NBA.

i believe he earned his right to decide what team he gets to choose this year for whatever money he takes. It is business and he learned that the year he was drafted.

i hope he decides to come here and if we get the chance to sign him we should. And we should throw a better party than Dallas did because he earned his ticket back home.

 

If Raef can get 60 mill, Rashard should get at 70mill in my eyes. He's 22 yr old avg as many rebounds as Raef and a few other pf/centers to go along with 17 pts per game. The rockets shouldn't throw the bank at him, but if we could unload Mo and Moochie and maybe sign a greg anthony as a backup then its all go.

 

wooo hooooo someone finally feels the same!

 

I agree with alot of the posts here. Lewis does come across a bit whiny, but he did take less to stay with an aging team and very likely was "promised" that it would be made up to him, so I can't blame him for being upset, but on the same note I don't want to see the Rockets get into a war over him.

I believe Lewis has mentioned he'd take a 3 year deal so that the team that signs him can aquire his Bird rights. If that is the case and he doesn't fall all of the "perks" he may be shown by a team like Dallas, I think the Rockets should and will take a serious look at him.

Then again he might finally wake up and realize he might not have that chance if something were to happen to him physically and he will take the big payday now.

 

I use to have a link to an article verifying that, but I can't find it. Anyways, Seattle did tell him that they would reward him later, because they couldn't afford it at that time.

 

i really hope francis takes a pay cut like cat, and i also hope lewis will come here cuase his family and friends really want him here. I don't think he should ge tthe max, cause we have to worry about eg, and yao. yao....i mean china will make us give yao the max so they can get their 50%. EG might sign for 50mil at the least, and the max at the most. but cato, rice, and malonys contracts will be up by the so we can have more cap flexability.

I wish this place had a spell check, i'm to laz to look over my post.

 

I'm not saying this is good, but I think I'd whine if I were Lewis. First of all his hometown passes him up, then his team reneges on his promise to show him the money. I think I would whine. Of course, if he didn't whine, most of us would give him props and that's gotta be worth something.

 

No way in hell Francis takes a pay cut. His agent has already been somewhat surprised of talks of offering him less than the max. Hell if i could get the max and not sign Lewis and probably suffer a few more losses i would take the money too and i doubt there are many of you who can honestly say they would do otherwise. I think he has an honest gripe with the Seattle offer. I mean come on Jerome James makes just 500gs less than a guy who was 17 and 6?? Before last post season who knew who Jerome James was?? Not many of us I guarantee it. So is he being a whiny little punk for what (he feels) is due to him. No I really dont think so.

 

Yeah its unfair giving him only that much.. but he doesnt deserve the max now

 

I don't think Lewis would upset chemistry, as long as Lewis knows this isn't his team. This is Francis and Griffin's team, and to a degree Cat's since he is the emotional leader and the fearless personality. But Lewis fits this team well if he plays his game, and I don't really consider him a cancer and I don't think he has a bad attitude. I've heard FAR worse in contract negotiations (Look at Dream and Rockets twice, Karl Malone and Utah, Shaq and Orlando, David Robinson and San Antonio, Chris Webber and Sacramento, etc., etc). To tell you the truth, I don't think Cat did himself a disservice at all, think of it this way. Cat doesn't look like the kind of person that is going to spend millions a year, and he's making about 6 million dollars a year, If he just put HALF of the money in an account per year he would be worth 15 to 20 million dollars year, and if he put 4 of the 6 million dollars away that's approaching 25 to 30 million dollars, and that's not even counting interest, and the new contract he will sign after this one is up. Cat is fine financially I would think, and he should have enough money put away where he won't regret at all signing this smaller contract. He probably has 6 to 10 million dollars put away now.

 

Cuttino has a huge since of entitlement? He's signed a long term deal here for chickenscratch compared to what every other player who avg. 20 a game does. He loves being a Rocket and is one of the hardest workers in the game. He took himself from a below average-average backup PG to an all-star caliber SG in 4 years! Yeah he makes bad plays and passes up open teammates at times but so does every other upper level SG (from Kobe to Wally). And what exactly has Francis done to get the "I'm entitled to everything" label from? He is a MAX player IMHO. Yeah he shoots a lot but he's more of a scoring PG like a Bibby (barely 5asst a game).

And why wouldn't Lewis be pissed? He was passed up for a bunch of scrubs by his hometown team and the team he plays for now lied to him. Who wouln't complain under these situations. I never heard of him getting into fights w/ GP up in Seattle or being a ball hog either. I wish people who hate on Lewis would offer proof of his selfishness or lazziness over just their opinion of him. And at least throw in how EG bunched one of his teammates in the face b/c he wasn't passing him the ball enough. He changed so why can't Lewis? And how is it that if EG asks for the MAX in a couple of years it all good but when Francis wants it now he's being selfish?

PS: I love EG and he's one of my top 3 Rockets. But we can't give him a free ride if we hate on Francis.