No, but I reckon Dan Langhi is. "Hey, I've got zero trade value and leverage, do what I say and trade me now!" Yeah, that's going to work. The only way Dan is going to get a chance at being traded is if he gets playing time, and even though I am no great expert, it seems to me that grubmling about playing time, or being released isn't the way to do that. The bottom line is this, Dan Langhi is under contract with the Houston Rockets, and he is obligated to play for them, if they so wish, what is more, there were much better ways to handle this than going to the media. Grown ups . . . SHEESH!
The best thing for Dan to do, if he cannot find a team that will give him decent minutes, is to ask to be released and head to Europe to improve his game. He's got the raw talent and a pretty good shot, he just doesn't have it all together. A season in Europe might help him...then he could come back and sign with someone and probably be a decent player. Getting traded to a team just to sit on the bench some more is not going to help him at all. He needs minutes to get comfortable out on the court.
A trade really does not make any sense because we will not get value. In fact, I though it was a mistake for them to ask for a trade. Way to early and premature. The kid is young and will have to have some patience. He should look at KT and how he was brought along. He should look at Moochie and the trials he went through. He should remember that the team has given him a shot and probably is the team most interested in his success, still. He should be trying to beat out the other guys on this team because it will be no easier elsewhere. I do believe that if he works on his defense and ball handling and more importantly his passing, then he will get a chance. That is how OT, Tmo and Griffin are going to beat him out. Take the opportunity to improve his skills; continue the progress already made. At the end of the year, you are a free agent anyway, so he could be the next MacCulloch I do not know what kind of team we have but I would not say he does not fit in on this team. With his skills and talent level he will fit in on any team. The guy is an athletic 6-11 sharp shooter, for christ sakes. Is there a diffence really between La Frentz and Dan? The problem, which recently happened really, was that the team got some good talent, some of which we have to use now. Rice was not a planned deal. That alone has severely affected Langhi and when you add in Morris and OT, it just got worse. In addition there is WW making a big set of money which we should make him earn. It is not like Dan lost his ability or the potential is not there anymore. And even when, Griffin, Taylor, Morris and OT are matured, there will still be a place for Dan. If I were management, I would handle this with sensitivity but I would not be in any rush to send him away. In fact, I would help him to continue to improve his skills and be ready. All of this should be a motivator for Dan to be more aggressive in practice.
Dan Langhi has a contract with the Houston Rockets. He's obliged to honor that contract. Personally, I think that trying to exert media pressure on Houston is despicable, especially during the regular season.
Amen SamCassell. Langhi should keep his dirty laundry out of the media. I'm disgusted by his public trade request. Langhi has done NOTHING TO PROVE HIS WORTH TO THE ROCKETS while the Rockets have done nothing but treat Langhi like gold in taking the very unusual step of giving a second-round draft pick a guaranteed contract. Shut-up Langhi and try to be a professional by doing your utmost to earn what you've been given instead of acting like a whinny *****. If you want to request a trade, keep it behing closed doors. In the long run, the cream rises to the top. If Langhi can in fact play, then he will get his chance next year as a free agent. In the meantime, he has a contract to honor as a professional.
Look Langhi wants to play, what is wrong with that? If he is healthy, then the Rockets either need to : 1. Put him on the Roster, as keeping healthy players on IR is cheating and punishable by a large fine from the NBA. 2. Get his release so he can go contribute elsewhere. How do you think he feels when he sees his COACH saying in the media, that he doesn't fit in? HUH? He has not DEMANDED a trade, has only asked politely, and if I am not mistaken, CD and Rudy will try to help him out. Langhi will be a very good player for someone in the NBA, you think that the Bulls could not use him? Or maybe Memphis? Someone can use a 6'11" former SEC player of the year, and trust me, once he gets his feet wet, and he is comfortable in the NBA, he will become a very good player. DaDakota
Shot-blocking, rebounding and the ability to figure out where to be on offense and defense are a few differences that come to my mind. Not to mention the fact that LaFrentz actually hits his shots. I have never understood the love affair this board has with Langhi. Not only are his shooting skills nowhere near as effective as Bullard's (to whom he's frequently compared) but he doesn't have the basketball smarts Bullard has either. At least Bullard always knew where to be so that it was easy to make the outlet pass to him. Langhi never seems to know where he is on the floor, let alone whether it's the right place to be. And spot-up shooters aren't going to be given chances to "warm-up." If they can't come in and start hitting wide-open shots immediately (as Bullard could), then they're going to see alot of bench time This whole mess was started by ONE summer league game in 2000 when Langhi made a weak-ass crossover and a dunk on Harold Arceneaux. He's made his reputation by showing up players who never even made the preseason rosters on their teams. Yet everyone thinks he's going to be the next Larry Bird. And big deal if he was a good college player in the SEC - Christian Laettner was a God in the ACC and has turned out to be a mediocre NBA player at best (definitely not 6th man material, as one poster predicted for Langhi). Dan Langhi is no Christian Laettner. If the Rockets can find someone who will give us something useful for Langhi, then they should take it. Hell, if the Rockets can find another team that will give us ANYTHING for Langhi (how about some tight pants for our Rocket girls), then the Rockets should take it.
Hakeem, at the end of his career, wanted to extort a ridiculous salary from the organization because we should be loyal to him. He's proving that he doesn't deserve it-- much like his take the last 2-3 years. Langhi, paid at a standard contract rate and trying to get his career off the ground, is seeking an opportunity to make a name for himself. Who can blame him? I have much more respect for Langhi's position than Hakeem's. I really doubt that the Rox will feel much "media pressure" from Dan's request. He's a $500,000/ year nobody at this point
I think that we can all agree on this: now that Langhi has served his 5 games on the IR, there is no reason that Tierre Brown should have an active roster spot. The hard part is obviously after he gets on the active roster. The Rockets can't throw away any minutes or games this year. I think the Rockets' goal for this season should be winning the first round of the playoffs. In other words, 7th and 8th seeds are unacceptable. That reality is going to make it difficult for Rudy to play rookies significant minutes this year - esp any ones who might be liable to turnovers or be defensive liabilities. Once Langhi is on the Rockets' active roster, his play time will come if and only if he proves not to be a liability.
Exactly,bench Brown now and put Langhi on the 12 man roster!Langhi wont get much time but Brown isnt going to get any with Steve and Mooch.At least give him a chance before we decide to part ways,I really do think he is going to be a good player.
Dan should get his own prepregame show: Everybody Loves Damn Lanky If hangin with mr cooper can last a few seasons, I'm sure Dan can get a few bucks out of this, esp if his popularity on the boards carries over.
It would be better for him to go to nbdl probably. he needs to play just like Morris. We're wasting our time with williams and probably rice. People need to note Nick Anderson never snapped out of his downward spiral, so I'm going to wait and see with Rice.
Dan seems ok ON the court during the season/preseason he has been less than stellar I think the problem is. . . Dan, you have not EARNED the minutes. working hard in practice etc is not enough. You have to be better than the comp and he is not better than Rice/Tmo not even Walt [you have to give Walt some vet pts.] What team can Langhi be in their rotation? Cleveland? Rocket River
Langhi doesnt have any value. HE just wants to have a better career for himself, I dont see anything wrong with him asking to be traded. The thing with Langhi is, you hear alot about how langhi has hops, he can shoot and does awesome in practice but who cares. I think Langhi is one of the dumbest nba players. He doesnt understand **** when he is on the court and this is why he wont excel as a player. Same goes for Collier, he is also a dummy. Sorry The Cat, but Collier sucks more than CATO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One thing I left out . . . Dan played FOUR (4) years of college ball. And he probably played 4 years of HS ball as well (at least I've never read anything to contradict this assumption). So to use the "P" word is just insane. The "P" word should only be applied in the following scenarios: (a) The player has had comparatively less experience playing competitive basketball than the average player but has the physical gifts and a "nose" for the game that could easily allow the player to develop into a solid (or better) contributor. Examples of this kind of player would include Eddie Griffin, Corey Maggette, Eddie Curry, and even Kelvin Cato (remember Cato did not play HS basketball). Clearly, Langhi does not fall into this category. (b) The player has the experience, is already good (or even great), but has the potential to become a superstar. Examples of this kind of player would be Lamar Odom, Steve Francis, or just about any current superstar during their first few years in the league. I hope nobody is actually crazy enough to say Langhi belongs in this category. Langhi has had plenty of chances to prove he's the next, athletic Bullard. It only takes a few minutes to prove you're a player cool enough to come off the bench and hit shots without even thinking about it. Cuttino hit a game-winning 3-pointer in his first game (and as amazing as it seems now, Cuttino wasn't getting the ball a whole lot that game). Langhi couldn't find his teeth with his tongue for all but the last few games of the season (and he has yet to hit a 3 in a regular season game). Doesn't sound like a dead-eyed shooter to me. What I really wish is that the Rockets had let Langhi go and had kept Bull. Imagine how good the Rockets would be right now if it was Bullard instead of Walt or Rice receiving Steve, Cuttino, and KT's outlet passes right now. I think Bull was as important to this team as Moochie and while not deserving the same dough, he deserved (and would have stayed for) the vet's minimum. My knowledge of salary caps is pretty weak, so by all means, please inform me if keeping Bull was impossible. But that won't change my belief that Langhi is not worth one of Bull's broken drumsticks.
If Carroll Dawson indeed will go and trade Langhi, would the Rockets by any chance be interested some Charlotte players? Particularly Robert Traylor or Lee Nailon? Traylor gave David Robinson and Tim Duncan fits in a recent game. The Spurs did win however. But Traylor made his presence felt. He banged with Robinson, and used his body to take space. I think Houston should look at Traylor and Nailon. If they're gonna make a trade, I suggest they take a long look at Traylor. Nailon can block shots and would be useful too.
