Dalembert is NOT a 7 footer. He's listed at 6'11". He may not even be that because as we all know, heights get exaggerated. Hakeem was really only 6'10" though he was listed at 7'.
If Dalembert doesn't make this team significantly better, then there is absolutely no reason to "chase his number" for salary purposes. If Dalembert wants to sign for what the Rockets are willing to pay, then great. That will be what Morey thinks makes him "worthwhile" to the Rockets. If Dalembert wants more than that, he's not getting it. It's just not worth it to a non-championship contending team right now. As for what the Rockets can use that cap room for, they can acquire additional assets by brokering trades that could not be made without a third team with cap room. They can take on short-term salary from teams trying to avoid the luxury tax and are willing to give up assets to do so (like the Thunder did, acquiring Eric Maynor from Utah just for taking Matt Harpring's insurance-covered contract for a few months). Bottom line: Cap room has usefulness even if not spent on a particular targeted player. Better to improve the team in other areas over the long-term with that extra room than to pay "above market" for a mediocre center. But, again, if Dalembert wants to come for "the Rockets' number," then welcome to Houston, Samuel.
They say... sometimes the best move made is not making a move at all. Couldn't be more true in this instance.
Bad news for all yall hatin the Haitian. http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/nba/111220-rockets-remain-in-negotiations-to-sign-dalembert
Interesting...I hope we do get him. It will def make our team better, and as a true fan, i can appreciate that. I hate the "tank" concept. If that was always the answer, then what the hell is a GM for? Every team who couldnt contend would just intentionally lose every game for a couple of years until they collected a decent mixture of young college players and gamble on one of them being a SUPER STAR. Pro sports are about competing on the game's higest level EVERY GAME. If getting SammyD would help us win more games, then I'm for it. This team almost made the playoffs last year, so its not like the team is trash, it just has some weaknesses. I wish people quit looking for the easy way out or preferring to gamble through the lottery by intentionally losing games. The game is played between the lines, not on paper. As we all know injuries can happen to any and every team. Anything can happen where we end up in the playoffs.
Other examples involving the same team: In July 2007, Phoenix Suns traded 2 first round picks to Seattle Supersonics (headed by brand new GM Sam Presti) for Seattle's agreement to take Kurt Thomas' $8 million 1 year contract off their hands (saved them a ton on salary and luxury tax). The first of the first rounders, 24th pick in the 2008 draft, turned out to be Serge Ibaka. The second of the first rounders was the 26th pick in the 2010 draft. The OKC Thunder packaged that pick with the 21st pick of the same draft and traded to New Orleans for the 11th pick (Cole Aldrich) and Mo Peterson (whose 1-year contract was deemed undesirable by a team eager to cut payroll). There are plenty other similar examples. David Aldridge's tweet never said the deal was off-- as in Morey and Sammy D basically told each other to **** off forever-- he only said it was off "for now."
It's all about the length of the contract. DM has come to far to blow capspace for next years free agent class by wrapping it up in Sammy D. DM is probably trying to convince him to take a 1 yr deal (maybe with a team option on another year) with the premise that he can cleanup in free agency next offseason (or get a fat paycheck next year on the team option 2nd year). Id think DM is offering all our available capspace to him for this year. If thats all the case - DM is playing it perfectly... its all poker at this point. Id love to have Sammy blockin shots for us this year - but not at the expense of missing a big fish next offseason.
Sign Dalembert. Trade Hasheem Thabeet Kevin Martin and Johnny Flynn and NY 2012 pick for Al Jefferson + Golden State 2012 1st rounder. Lowry/Dragic Lee/Williams Budinger/Morris Scola/Hill Jefferson/Dalembert
FWIW, that quote is 5 days old. I wasn't aware we could use measurements other than height to determine . . . height. Hey, he's a legit center unlike the guys we've been using to plug the hole left by Yao (aside from Thabeet). I'm just saying he's technically not a 7 footer which is OK because Hakeem wasn't either.
I think with the team as is and considering the growth of the younger players curently on the team, the Rockets should be a team capable of winning around 36 games this season (roughly equivilant to 45 wins in an 82 game season). Considering what the Rockets weakness's are and considering what Dalembert excels at I could easily see the Rockets winning 40+ games (equivilant to about 50 in a 82 game season) this season. Dalembert is one of the best rebounders in the league and an elite level shot blocker for his career. The guy averages about 8 defensive rebounds per 36 minutes for his career and about 8.5 over the last 3 seasons. Defensive rebounding and shot blocking were what killed the Rockets most last season and prevented us from making the play-offs. He is only 30 years old so if we could get him for a 3 year deal at something in the neighborhood of Scola money I think you have to lock him up. I think sometimes the fit is what makes a player valuable to some teams and not as valuable to others. There is a lot of talent in the draft this year, but the Rockets have a lot of talent top to bottom on the team. How many Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard type of players are in the draft this year though? Andre Drummond maybe? Even if we tank this season what are the odds that we get high enough to draft him? I think we have to continue to make moves that make the team better while addressing needs like defensive rebounding and shot blocking. Hoping one of our young players surprises us and turns into a superstar player. Maybe by in a couple of years DMo turns into a stud in the front court or PPat turns into the next coming of Karl Malone. Sometimes you don't know where those types of players will develope from but in the mean time I think Morey has to try and make the team better and signing Dalembert IMO is definitely a way to do that.
Dalembert isn't Tyson Chandler. The skillset is the same but Chandler has a rep for being a consumate pro when he's healthy. Dalembert has a rep of being a total whiner and cancer in the locker room.Locking him up for multiple years might not be a good idea considering he's done nothing worthwhile in Philly except get a bad rep.
