Dream has to do what is best for Dream and the Rockets have to do what is best for the franchise. No matter what Dream says he has to know we can't compete with the Spurs or Lakers.. i suspect he is trying to make people think we have a good team so we can sign him to a ridiculous contract (3 yr/36 mil or so), which would be riduculous for an aging player who would be lucky to play in 60 games. Dream at the same time if he can't get the big money will go to a team where he can win next year for less money (Lakers, Heat, Bucks, etc) and a chance at a ring. I don't blame Dream for doing anything. He is playing the game trying to get a huge contract to end his career.
If YOU got fired May 31, would they pay your salary for June through December? Dream is not an icon; he is a helluva basketball player, though. He hasn't earned his salary for the past couple of years. His stats were about 11 ppg and 7 rpg WITH one good run after the mess was settled. Then he got injured AGAIN and came back and did well. Why is it that the Franchise always owes the Players. They get paid top dollar regardless of how or whether they perform. Isn't there a time or place for a player to show some appreciation and help out a Franchise. Barkley did it and he was only a Rocket briefly. WHY CAN'T HAKEEM? Forget him. Forget Webber's highway robbery. Keep our picks and build from within. Forget these top-dollar free agents; they bind your cap flexibility for years. ------------------ Time is a great teacher-- only problem is it kills all its pupils. [This message has been edited by RichRocket (edited May 23, 2001).]
Generally speaking, players who are traded are still cheered for when they return home. Players who leave as free agents to chase dollar signs ... they tend to get booed. I hope Dream remains a Rocket next year. And I hope the Rockets at least try to give him a fair shake. ------------------ Founding Father of the Refs Suck Club
I actually liked those comments from Dream, much better than his complaining in December and February. He really is trying to get highest market value for himself, and I think he knows that he must sound very positive and not like a complainer to get top value. I am not ready to say that he is gone, just because he announces his intention to get top value. The reason for this is because we are likely to be the frontrunner in naming his price. The odds are, he will get top price from us. imo, the odds of Hakeem returning are equal to the odds of Webber coming here. Question Now the tough question is: will Hakeem give us a deadline to sign him. And if so, at what date to you blow off getting Webber if at all. I couldn't help but think after reading the article this morning, "Man, I want Hakeem, again." I am getting very close to not being interested in likely losing Shandon, Mo' and Dream for Webber. very close. This is just my opinion. This opinion is based on my thrill of rebuilding internally with young players and not going out to get big superstars. We have pretty much had that thrill here in Houston with Barkley and Pippen. My new thrill now is to be a fan watching the growth of young players. My new thrill now is patience. Francis and Mobley will be with us for a looooong time, and so can Mo' and Moochie.
the dream is over, he's a legend and he's gone....thanks for all the fish. ------------------ C-son -------------- "When life gives you lemons, Shut up and eat the lemons!" - Harry Solomon
If we can get Chicago or Detroit to take Walt and/or Cato, or we can make some other trade that further opens the Rockets' coffers, then I'd be OK with signing Webber and Dream...or whomever and Dream. As long as we address our need at center and (sorry, HP) small forward via free agency/draft. But even a healthy version of last year's team wouldn't advance very far in the playoffs (unless we really luck out in the draft and come up with unbelievable additions). ------------------
RichRocket I agree with everything you said except the part about not earning his salary for the past few years. Those $ were backpay for the years when he was underpaid. When the Rockets signed him to that long contract, I'm quite sure they took into the consideration that his skills will decline in the later years. Hakeem did a splandidful job while he was employed by the Rockets. In return, he was paid handsomly for his effort. He don't owe us, we don't owe him from this point on. And NO, we don't OWE him for the championship. He was part of the ingredients that made up for the 2 championships. What were the ingredients? In no particular order: owner, coaches, players (stars to scrubs), towel boys, equipment guys/gals, and last but not least the paying customers and fans. He will not be going out of his way to accommodate the Rockets or his fans, hence, I don't see why the Rockets or the fans should go out of their way to accomodate him. See ya Hakeem, wish you luck with your future endeavors. I will cheer for him when he joins a team that I like or at least do not dislike, but I will not cheer for him if he joins a team I dislike or dispise. That's why I am cheering for Cassell but is not cheering for Horry. I don't blame Fegan, he is doing what is best for his client and for himself. That's the way it is. Hakeem is not stupid enough to be talked into something like this. If this is the decision, it's HIS decision. Oh, I am sure we can count on Anderson not returning. As far as going to Washington, I believe that will happen only if they have a $4.5 mil exception and that no other team can pay him more. For the people who still want to retain him, how much are you willing to pay Hakeem and for how many years? At most, I'm willing to pay him $21 mil for 3 years. Nothing more ($ and years), and that's only if we have enough money for Mo and Mooch. I am ok with losing Shannon. [This message has been edited by MoonBus (edited May 23, 2001).]
ZRB and JR both you guys are 100% correct. This is a business negotiation and Hakeem is bargaining from a position of strenth. Hakeem knows that there is no other center the rockets can aquire that can replace him this offseason especially from a defensive standpoint. Francis and Hakeem developed some valuable chemistry in the second half of the season when Rudy finally took the shackles off Hakeem. I think Hakeem will eventually resign with the rockets but like most business deals with alot of posturing in between. ------------------
Personally I think Dream is just being his old stubborn self again. We all know that he goes through this phase every year. I think he just refuse to share that low block with Webber. He's probably thinking about his years of playing with Barkley where they were fighting over that low block and Dream's stats started declining. He knows that Mo Tay will not demand the block and would rather shoot the jumper or take hi man off the dribble. Besides with the squad that we have now, we are nowhere close to being championship material. With San Antonio and L.A., Dream always gets into foul trouble against shaq and Duncan just abuses us because he can. Also, why guarantee Hakeem the amount of money that he wants when he's not going to stay healthy the entire year (now that's guarnteed) ------------------
Why not trade Dream and Cato to Chicago for Elton Brand? Lets see how desperate Chicago is? Or what about to Atlanta for Ratliff? Anything to get Cato out of here , too bad Dream is leaving... ------------------ Go Rockets!!! SS
That is very funny... ------------------ If you want it you got it, You just got to believe, Believe in yourself, Cause it's all just a game, We just want to be loved
I actually agree with ZRB on this one. My feeling is that you all are a bit harsh with Dream. Whatever happens, he will, until further notice, be the greatest Rocket ever and even if he goes somewhere else, there should not be any anger against him.
Every memeber of a family eventually leaves, but they are still part of the Family wherever they go. Dream will always be a Rocket and I will love him for what he accomplished here. I wish him well in his travels. He was our heart and soul. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
I have no anger against Hakeem, but I am dissappointed that he isn't going to be here. And the way he has sounded this year, it doesn't sound like he is coming back. I mean, I would love to have Hakeem back, but not at the price he probabaly wants. When was the last time he was healthy for a season? Better to move on to the new Hakeem-less era. ------------------ snap crackle pop
It's not bashing Dream if people are questioning him. Does Dream deserve 10 million dollars a year? No. Not at this stage in his career. Did he whine during the mid-season when the Rockets were in the playoff hunt? Yes. Funny how he goes public and whines about his role, and people praise him. Stoudamire and Pippen do the same thing and they are trashed as cancers. What Dream did at midseason was wrong. And to say the Rockets shouldn't just throw 10 million dollars at him is bashing him, well I'm bashing him, because Dream is on his last leg. Just because Cato got that money doesn't mean Dream should get that money. Dream has done a lot of Houston, and obviously the fans are grateful. But for the Rockets to handcuff their rebuilding effort for "nostalgia" reason is silly. And for Dream to ask for 10 million dollars tells me that he knows he won't be back. That isn't bashing, that's just a fact. ------------------ See the three, be the three.
What exactly is the big deal? I love Hakeem but we all knew that he would leave eventually. Whether it was via free agency or retirement, all good things must come to an end. In all honesty, if Hakeem's monetary needs go beyond what the Rockets can offer, he really is better off playing somewhere else. There is no sense in sacrificing the next 2 or 3 years of development for sentiment. We were very lucky to have a man of Hakeem's ability and class in Houston for so many years. If he decides it is time for him to go and the Rockets agree, best of luck. It's been fun. I have absolutely nothing but great memories. ------------------ The internet is about the free exchange and sale of other people's ideas. - Futurama
It's sad to say but at this time in his career money is more important than winning. Why else would he say that the rockets could compete for the championship next year by keeping him and signing him to a similar contract that he had before. ------------------
Let's not forget that Hakeem is a successful businessman. I'm sure it's not a case of Hakeem needing that extra money, more of a case of what he can do with that extra money. ------------------
JR: I disagree that the Rockets should pay him whatever "market" value is. The truth is, with the CBA there isn't a one-size fits all value for any given player. The amount a player is worth depends greatly on their cap status, their current composition, age, etc. For Houston, Hakeem really isn't that valuable, given the current state of the Rockets. He's not going to be the "piece" that tips us over the brink for hte championship. He might be worth it to a team that desperately needs a big man... that really believes that "this" is their year. I'm with zrb though... we really don't know if he's leaving, and he's had some tough posturing before. Who all can really pay him more than Houston can? Not that many teams have cap room now, and nobody's going to give him a 7yr 80 million dollar contract... so if Houston decides against a sign-and-trade, what are his options? I think he's too proud to sign for a million with the Lakers to give Shaq a breather now and then. ------------------ A few years back on the Senate floor... Phil Gramm: "If Democrats could, they'd tax the air we breathe." Ted Kennedy (jumping up): "By God, why didn't I think of that sooner!" Boston College - NCAA Hockey National Champions 2001
"Let's not forget that Hakeem is a successful businessman." Well success is kind of relative. What has he really done with his money other than let his brother buy up several Denny's chains and acquiring a couple of lots of land in and around downtown. He converted one or two into mosques. But the rest are just sitting their undeveloped. I feel he hasn't been as successful in his ventures as he should be doing. ------------------
