Clearing something up: The Rockets didn't choose Lin over Dragic or Lowry

With a Brooks/Harden backcourt ... Asik will be fouled out in the 1st quarter ...

 

If you need to ask this question, why aren't you at school?

 

I liked Dragic. But he clearly wanted the option that almost nobody gets from Morey. Blame him. Also, judging by Gortat's interview, he isn't that pleased with the Sun's coaching and Dragon's play. He says there isn't much passing and they don't share the ball well. Pick and rolls are rarely an option now. Those are all things that Lin does well. If we wanted a score first point guard, we could've kept Aaron Brooks.

MG: We have plenty of players who like to create for themselves, but it doesn’t always work. We don’t share the ball as much as we have in previous seasons. The ball doesn’t move around the perimeter – it usually stops after one or two passes. You can’t play like this, let alone win. Basketball is a team sport. Nobody ever won a game alone.


Read more: http://valleyofthesuns.com/2012/11/...uths-off-after-suns-slow-start/#ixzz2DG3NG5GW

 

That's exactly what I'm saying. I kept my response clear and concise for a reason.

"Morey/Les chose Lin for $8.3M/3 years over Dragic for $7.5M/4 years"

The team essentially made the decision that they would rather have Lin than the possibility of paying less than $5M more for Dragic.

And, people aren't "lashing out" at anyone. When discussing games, sure, we're going to discuss how poorly some players are performing. We've done it with every player. It didn't matter if it was Rafer Alston or Tracy Mcgrady or even Yao Ming. If you play poorly, we're going to talk about you. And, the higher their salary, the more frustrated folks get.

However, when discussing team transactions, we hold the organization accountable.

 

I don't think its that simple. If the Rockets could have had Dragic for 7.5 million/4 years, without him getting the player option, I think they would have done so. Yeah, they'd be stuck with him if he under-performs his contract, but I think they were high enough on Dragic to take that chance. Its the player option which made it unattractive to them.

 

This Lin signing is becoming eerily similar to the Ariza's signing.

Morey let Artest go & sign Ariza, who underperformed.

Morey let Dragic go & sign Lin, who is underperforming.

I'm very intrigued to see what Morey does with Lin if he doesn't improve much throughout the entire season.

 

What gets me is Maurii is very cautious about making even slightly bad moves but when he has lost his cards and things don't turn out the way he wanted, he does exactly the opposite and goes to the other end of the spectrum. Probably from pressure from Les to have some sort of "Name" to attract crowds but these are just terrible signings. And I know most people aren't going to believe me when I say this, but I saw this coming a long long time ago when all my friends were ecstatic about signing Lin.

 

how did you see it?

 

Interesting read. I have said this for a while now. Dragic would be a lot better suited at the SG position. He really isn't a PG. I have felt this for a while now. Suns would be wise to play Kendall Marshall & slide Dragic over to the two spot.

 

If there was no Player option for the 4th year Dragic would have been resigned. The fact is, despite trying to play it cool Morey was obviously after Dragic and wanted him to start, which lead to problems where Lowry had to be traded because Lowry was in the same position his predecessor Aaron Brooks was in when he got dealt and demoted to backup. Dragic and his agent knew Morey's "playing the hot hand and trade the cool one" PG tendencies and probably wanted protection via the player option, Morey wasn't having it and Dragic signed with the Suns.

Lowry's relationship with the coaches and front office were completely screwed and thus they got a first rounder out of his trade, which they would use to get Harden. Lin was a backup plan they had to put into action because they honestly thought either Dragic or Lowry might want to stick around despite all of their transparent musical PG chairs drama.

Lin was signed because he was the best young PG available based on his previous year's performance. If anyone knew Vasquez would be as good as he is in New Orleans, he probably would have signed that guy but Lin was the only youthful guy that had potential at the position and was free.

 

I totally agree. The Suns drafted Marshall to be heir apparent for Nash so your suggestion is spot on. And while Lin hasn't been tearing it up this season, at the end of the day, I think his style of play compliments Harden better than Dragic's. Also, if Gortat is struggling with Dragic at the point, how do you all think Asik would fare?

 

Morey and Player Options

I think this has been discussed before but isn't it true that Morey just doesn't like giving Player Options? Which Rocket players have gotten them before? T-Mac and Yao maybe? Did Dragic really deserve one after 25 games?

My point is, Morey didn't say he didn't want Dragic. My understanding is that it's just his policy to not give player options and he stayed his path.

 

Dragic would complement Harden better because he can shoot better than Lin and Harden would just be a point guard. Lin needs to be a point guard and needs to have the ball in his hands to be a semblance of what he was last year.

 

Ok...

Morey/Les chose Lin for $8.3M/3 years over Dragic for $7.5M/3 years + 1 year player option

Is that better? I fully understand the different contract situations. They didn't like the player option, no organization does. But, imo, it's a poor stance to have, given the contract they agreed to afterwards with Lin (based on current production).

I think Morey intentionally took a calculated gamble with Lin. Lin had/has a lot of potential where as Dragic is a little older and more experience. So, Dragic may improve but essentially he is who is. If Lin wasn't a free agent, I believe Morey would have folded and accepted the player option on Dragic.

They're connected, I just don't think it's logical to believe Morey would have trotted out a replacement level player and leave a quality asset on the table.

 

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Or maybe, just maybe....what all of you haven't thought to think of is....

The stink about Dragic being let go (including the player option aspect of it) is still there and that's what is causing the frustration.

The fact that people are still complaining kinda invalidates the whole point of "people seem to have forgotten all about that."

 

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Honestly this would kinda be a wet dream. Chuck Hayes substituting in for Asik would more than make up for the lack of back court defense we have. I mean hey, we already had a year of Brooks/Martin in the back court. It wasn't that bad.

 

Sounds like you don't know what you're talking about so maybe you should "Do not want to stay in Houston" or this forum either...

 

But you still don't get the point. The Rockets did not CHOOSE Lin over Dragic. They did not want to sign Dragic because of the player option. THEN they went after Lin.

There is a different between dumping a girl FOR another girl and dumping a girl THEN look for another girl. It doesn't matter whether the second girl is not as hot.

 

Ariza had an OK enough season for him still to be worth something, after that 50 plus million dollar contract...the contracts are diff., and Lin is coming off a knee injury, and there is just so many other things that are not even close in comparison...btw Ariza hasn't had a better season since then...and he was paid 5 years 52 mil I think it was?...Lin is more of a long term plan...espesh bc of the young team we have...

And..stop with it...just bc Harden brings the ball up and is a better ball player, facilitator, "downhill player" doesn't make him take away shots from Lin, this isn't Tmac shooting 30 shots a game, and bringing the ball up scoring 24 pts on 30 plus shots, mostly from 21 feet...this is Harden who gets to the HOOP, who gets to the line, makes assists happen, makes plays happen, in fact Harden makes plays for Lin...imagine Harden not on this team, every team would cue in on Lin...and trap him, and then own him on D as well...Parsons, and Asik would be covering 5 people...Harden has taken all the weight off Lin's shoulders...he just needs to keep improving, add a runner, the tear drop he can do, etc..add more pump fakes, shoot better...etc. etc. it'll prob. happen...he hasn't played that long...and he isn't getting paid Trevor ARIAZA MONEY

 

Also after the Yao news...and the whole Tslack saga the year before, Artest didn't want to come here....REMEMBER...that wasn't Morey's decision although he wasn't going to overpay Artest who has declined a lot since then btw....anyways