Caroll Dawson on Hakeem and David Falk/Mo Taylor dealings

From an article in The Boston Globe by Peter May :

It has become fashionable to point out David Falk's tough summer (which was even tougher until the Rice/Ewing deal went down). Cited as one example is Taylor's settling for the mid-level exception ($2.25 million) in Houston when the Rockets had a valid trade exception of $4.5 million. ''I wanted to use the exception and I told David that we could do a sign-and-trade with Elgin[ Baylor, the Clippers' general manager],'' said Carroll Dawson, the Rockets' executive vice president of basketball operations. ''David said he didn't want it. He said he'd prefer to roll the dice and see what happens next summer when we have some cap room. A lot of people were after [Taylor]. I think we were lucky to get him.'' Houston still has its trade exception, which expires Oct. 3. Dawson said the Rockets will not use it unless they can obtain a ''building block'' for the future. (The exception has to be used in a trade.) ''Also, we've got to get under the cap to retain the guys we have now,'' he said, referring to Taylor and Shandon Anderson, both of whom will be looking for big paydays after coming to Houston for short money (NBA currency). There's also the matter of Hakeem Olajuwon, who is in the final year of his contract. ''Dream is looking forward to the season,'' Dawson said. ''He just has to find a way to whip the asthma he had last year. That really slowed him down last year.'' ...

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I got nothin'.

[This message has been edited by Dr of Dunk (edited September 24, 2000).]