[CHRONIC] The Rockets don't appear to be a factor with star players

All of you see only TWO players joining another superstar, (LeBron and Bosh joining Wade), and all of a sudden you think it's a trend.. ha

 

You may have something there if lesser teams fans decide to stay home. I wonder, after the obligatory 10-game sympathy thing plays out, how many cavaliers fans will show up for home games.

 

I'm expecting the attendance at Quicken Loans to be the lowest in the league.

 

I think you forgot about the OTHER option, what was it, hmm... oh yea.. actually play with the team we have because we are a TEAM and a better one than the 08-09 second round team, and actually win! Players are not just assets you use to get other players and if you cant you just trade em away..nope, theyre talented basketball players that actually play and help you win.. (also explained in Jeffs thread)

 

And if the Knicks are bad enough, the Rockets might be in a position to draft a star, but does the next draft class have any potential stars?

 

If Yao Ming could wouldv'e maintained his current career numbers while also posting a Cal Ripken-type participation in his team's games, we'd be at the top of EVERY star's list. :grin:

 

rentals are commonplace in all sports @ deadline time especially

 

Rockets were happy to take the chance that this guy was only a one year rental




and gave SAC two first round picks. So I doubt they are all that worried about CP as a 2 year rental.

 

I don't think so, but I heard 2012 would be a strong draft.

 

While I am more than happy to trade for a star, I am also curious to see the development of our young players (Budinger, Hill, Patterson, Taylor, and of course Brooks). There is always the chance that these five players could one day represent the Raockets future starting lineup.

 

DD, while I agree that the paradigm may have shifted somewhat in free agency, I don't think there is much impact on players demanding trades. Of course, players always want to be traded to better teams with better players, but there are few similarities between Chris Paul's current situation and those of Lebron and Bosh.

Lebron and Bosh were free agents when they made their move to Miami. Their prior teams had no choice but to acquiese and watch them leave. Fortunately for them, they were each able to net a large trade exception by signing and trading those players. In Toronto's case, they also got two first round picks. Cleveland got multiple second rounders.

Chris Paul, on the other hand, has TWO YEARS remaining on his deal. Do you know how long that is? Two years ago, the Hornets were serious title contenders, and Paul was happy as a clam being the centerpiece of that team. A lot can change in two years.

If the Rockets managed to trade for Paul, what's to say that he doesn't change his tune about desired locale after a year of having a dominant post presence in Yao, a year of Luis Scola deftly handling his passes to finish a fast break, a year of Kevin Martin nailing a jumper off of almost every set-up pass? Also, even after the treasure trove of assets that will be necessary to acquire Paul, the Rockets will still likely have more depth than any of his Hornets teams ever had.

Morey did do it the right way. On this we agree. But I don't think any sand shifted under his feet. He knew that losing Bosh to Miami was probably the singlemost likely outcome of free agency. And he also knows that a guy with two years left on his deal can come around when placed in a positive situation with a great coach and good role players around him. Nothing has changed. Morey has set the Rockets up nicely to be major players for Paul. And the risk of losing Paul after two years is probably one that Morey is willing to take.

 

unfortunately, I think youre right but Im against any kind of tanking. I think we have a team that is good enough to possibly make it deep into the playoffs but not win a championship and I'd rather watch them do that then watch the Rockets tank for two-three years.

 

Agreed. Depending on what compensation they are willing to accept, UFA's can truly call their own shot. Paul doesn't have near the same leverage. He is essentially Hornet property. If they move him, they will try to do it for the best possible reward they can reap. CP3's wishes will be a minor part of the equation. Yes, he can probably, no gaurantee of that even, get himself moved, but that's where his power stops.

Exactly. This idea that a team won't trade for him unless he is willing to lock in for more years is way overblown.

In the Rocket's case, we also have to factor in the window with our current core of players. With Yao and Co. the next 2 years is crucial. If the Rox are still a fringe playoff team in two years, then rebuilding questions will need to be addressed. in the meantime, a big swing needs to be taken and Paul would definitely qualify. Bima is right, Paul's ability to opt out after 2 years isn't a big risk especially for this team. If the Rockets win, he is happy and he stays. If they fail, then an overhaul is most likely needed anyway. As long as Morey doesn't completely mortgage the future, I don't see a signed extension being a deal breaker.

Basically, people are overreacting because the Rockets were spurned by one guy. A guy that they really couldn't even negotiate with because the team didn't have the cap space to get a seat at the table. A guy who apparently made a pact with his buddies to join forces.

Bosh to Miami doesn't mean the Houston Rockets aren't a desirable destination for NBA players. Nor does the speculated Paul wish list which apparently has three different versions (Knicks 1st, Magic 1st, Mavericks yes, Mavericks no...). And none of these things mean the Rockets are left holding a bunch of capital with no stores open to shop.

The Rockets are still in great shop to make a move. If not this one, then at the deadline.

 

Players have little say in trades. Its up to the GMs. If they dont have the balls to get players because nobody wants to come here? Thats on them if nobody ever wants to come here? Got to make it happen anyways if you can. Then see if you can lock them up into great contracts they cant refuse and a situation of wining basketball that changes their minds. No need in being sissies every time some pretty girl turns her back on you.

 

Terrific post, as usual. I've been thinking that the moment Paul told management that he wanted a trade and "this is where I want to go," he lost his leverage about a possible destination. He should have kept his mouth shut. What possible motive would management have now to please him? Their motive will be, or should be, getting the most for their asset. They could have spun things differently had CP been less "public" with his desires, but my guess is that a lot of fans there are angry about being "blown off" the way they have been. If you think about it that way, it really ups Morey's chances of landing him, in my opinion. It would be a risk, but a risk worth taking, if the price isn't too high.

 

Agree with you sir....

David Stern created this crap and now he has to live with it.....

 

It seems very European to me, since they don't even have free agency, but pretty much when a player says "I want to leave and I want to go to x,y,z", the team is sort of forced to do it. You can say they don't have any leverage, and theoretically they don't, but the players and especially agents have long memories, especially when the future seems to be almost devoid of the Durant mentality.

 

YOU MAKE SOME CENTS SURE BUT THE MOERY HAS NOT DONE EVERYTHING YET!! WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE MOERY AT LEAST DONE EVERYTHING BEFORE WE SING HIS SONGS OF PRASINGS!!! HE ALREADY LETS CHRIS BUSH GETS AWAY WHEN FREE! IF NO CP3 THEN THE MOERY FAIL FAIL FAILING!!!!11! A LITTLE!!!!

 

T-mac (who is tight with other top players) might have done the Rockets a disservice by critiquing the management after he left.

Although time has shown, the Rockets made the right decision as T-mac couldn't perform last year. Even T-mac has to agree that the Rockets were right.

 

it's stern's fault that the league is in the ****hole as far as these imbala trades are concerned but even if Morey had known that Lebron was going to Miami there's not anything he could have done to attract big stars to Houston.

I had thought before FA that there was no way that Bosh or another big name would come to Houston this season but it's too early to say that Morey's approach wont work. a few more incremental trades will look pretty good next april if Yao is back to form and the pieces that Morey has in place: Martin, Brooks, Scola perform.

They resigned Scola, they picked up Miller as a backup to Yao. I'm generally very satisfied with the moves Houston have made this year. They've addressed what they absolutely needed to address this offseason.

And no signing Bosh was not an imperative. It would have been sweet but it's not something that Houston absolutely needed.