"The whole situation was handled quietly and within the organization and waas only leaked after they had basically made an in-house decision to pass. What would have happened if the public outcry was the opposite? Who knows. It wasn't, however, and the rest is history." -The bottomline is that the Rockets were threading thin ice and basically insulting Hakeem by even considering ANY kind of trade for the best player in team history. -Unbelievable that after all Hakeem did for the Rockets organization, they would even consider dumping him to Canada. They made the right decision to reject the trade, but to even consider trading Hakeem and leak it to the public was embarassing for me as a Rockets fan. It's not like he had a bad year either, still scored 20 ppg and 10 Rpg. -Do you really think the Bulls would ever consider trading Michael Jordan against his will after all he gave to that organization just because Jordan wasn't dominating like he used to? Not a chance. ------------------ Get Cato out of there...
"1. I think the Rockets will give in to some of the pressure. They will wait longer than they would for any other player. They will offer him more (probably around ~$7.5M a year in a one year deal) than he deserves" -When guys like Matt Geiger, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Greg Ostertag, Derrick Coleman, Vlade Divac, Vin Baker, and Bryant Reeves are all making between $8-$12 M next year, I hardly think a one year deal of ~$7.5 M for Hakeem is more than he deserves. The fact is in the NBA big men get the big dough. Hakeem is clearly better than every player I listed and you can see why his fair market value is a lot more than most Rockets fans on ClutchCity believe, even if he only plays half the season. Sure, we all hope he is willing to play for less for the sake of improving the team, but you can't really dog a guy for wanting over $6 MIL a year when there are so many stiffs in the NBA who are making that amount, if not much much more. ------------------ Get Cato out of there...
Oeilpere, Gotta agree with your logic. I have been a fan since the mid-70's, and this angers me greatly. As far as I am concerned, Hakeem is just pissing away his legacy. He is the last person I would have thought would show such a lack of grace and character. It makes me recall the young hothead Akeem who liked to swing his fists, and wonder if he has truly matured or not. Let's get one other thing straight; if Hakeem wants all business, it boils down to the future, not the past. Hakeem, you are not the future and you are barely the present; show some class.
I thought that he wanted $10 M, and if adjusted to a per-minute basis (due to expected injuries and limited durability), it will be like he is earning $20+ M.
Looks like I finally have a couple of teammates this time (there's a first time for everything), so I don't have to address everything. Oily -- I just don't think you can put a price on what Hakeem's given the team and the city, that's all. How so? The Rockets sure played some pretty good ball after Hakeem complained publically last year. Didn't seem to effect team unity too much. Cuttino was seriously entertaining joining the Raptors (according to CC.net, I believe, although I could be wrong, sorry Clutch & crew if I am). As for Steve, how classy is this: Rockets: "Steve, we're giving you the max, do you want that in a check or direct deposit?" Steve: "Ummm...just give me a check." Rockets: "Classy guy, that Steve Francis." Is this the same Mo that was so classy in negotiating with the Clippers? I believe the verbiage was "gimme the max now (during the year) or we will not talk to you at all in the off-season". As for Moochie, the guy is a year removed from the CBA. He owes the Rockets a lot, so I expect him to be quite patient. Huh? He had probably the least talented supporting cast to ever win a championship. Right. That was enough for Barkley to trash the Suns and demand a trade because, as he put it, "that's like my wife telling me she's going to come home to me tonight unless she finds someone better". That's probably okay though because it's Charles. What I don't get is, if you don't think Hakeem is worth such and such amount, fine. The Rockets don't have to pay him. The Rockets are big boys, they can take care of their own business.
I think the point is that he should stop playing d**n games, and at the team's expense, and just negotiate in good faith.
1) I would really hate to think that Hakeem could be as manipulative as Oilpere's speculation. I would like to think that Hakeem is suffering from a large ego and not the inhabitation by the Forces of Evil. One way or another, the results are exactly the same and the Rockets are suffering, which is completely ridiculous in such a hugely important offseason. 2) Rudy T and CD's reputation with the public is more favorable than Hakeem's right now. Hakeem's rep suffered a pretty big blow when he was complaining this year. After that Hakeem did a 180 on the team issues and started lying about not wanting to leave Houston. 3) The Rockets don't have to play hardball here. There is a difference between being honest and being mean. I would think that Hakeem will be the one to get hammered in the press if he decides to get ugly. He as already been ridiculed along with Ewing for not retiring already by many journalists. 4) They should just tell the truth and do what they need to do to assure the Rockets have the best possible team next season! Renounce Hakeem, sign our free agents, tell everyone that they want Hakeem back (they do) and let Hakeem shop himself around trying to get more money only to settle on Houston after no one will offer him more than we have already. ------------------ The Rocket Guy "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." -Neil Armstrong [This message has been edited by Doctor Robert (edited July 10, 2001).]
popeye, as always, I checked this thread first when I logged on and saw your name, and as always, you did not disappoint... There's a little over a week to go until the real excitement starts. The Rockets organization has made it abundantly clear that they want Hakeem to return - that he is priority #1 - and Hakeem has not reciprocated. His silence and "unavailability" almost seem disrespectful, like a slap in the face. Obviously, I'm not CD/RT, but here's what I'd do if I were: 1) Figure out how much exactly they are willing to pay all the FAs (Hakeem included) and communicate to Fegan the figure for Hakeem 2) Tell Hakeem and Fegan that they have until the 19th to make a decision 3) Use this week to negotiate w/ everyone else on the team and get ready to resign them all on the 19th 4) Continue (and maybe accelerate) negotiations with other coveted FAs, whoever they may be; get as close to ink on paper as you can 5) When the 19th rolls around if Hakeem is still playing games then renounce him, sign everyone else on the team, and whoever turns up in the FA hunt. Basically, give him an ultimatum now, and stick to your guns. Hakeem and his agent seem to be forgetting who writes the checks - the organization shouldn't have to wait for him, it should be the other way around. Hopefully he'll realize that we're gonna give him the best deal out there and decide to stay. Unless, of course, he's already made up his mind to leave, and just wants to make it look like it was the organization's fault for losing him... Anyway, play hardball. This is just business, after all. ------------------
Business is business. Hakeem is playing this smart. This will be a difficult contract for him because (1) he has very little leverage due to his limited shelf life (2) it is an emotional circumstance deep in the hearts of all Rocket fans (3) his current health issues will limit his playing time and (4) he has deep roots in Houston by virtue of his extensive family (for which he is the godfather) and many businesses. So, hiring an agent makes perfect sense. And the agent he hired is going to reflect the personality of the player but in the end the agent should take the criticism. If I was negotiating this contract, I would do the same. Guerilla negotiate. The only leverage I really have to get the best possible deal for my client is time. So any offer that is on the table today will be there in a week, two weeks, or a month. There is marginal risk that the deal will get worse and a much better chance that it will improve. It will get done. And the number of $7.5 sounds about right. I would expect that the Rocks are offering something more incentive based and Hakeem is looking for a fixed number. Great thread. Better than most sports rags. ------------------ I let the dogs out.
If the Rockets thought this was a problem, they would just renounce Dream and sign other players. They haven't done that, so let's trust that they know what they're doing. ------------------ Protrolls.com! "I want to be like Olajon." -Sagana Diop has the right idea... Keep the ???? alive!
It's not the 18th yet, ZRB, so they can't do that. All they can do now is get ready to sign people. And this is a problem, because without an answer from Hakeem either way - yes or no - they won't know exactly how much capspace they'll have to throw at anyone, and they therefore cannot make any agreements with anyone. The best they can do right now is make two scenarios: one with Hakeem, and one without. That's messy. And that's what this is all about. ------------------
Perhaps Hakeem hired an agent for the first time because this is the first time he has been a free agent. In the past, he only negotiated with the Rockets. I don't think he wants to make and field phone calls to 28 other teams, haggling an offer. He has enough money to make the decision that this time he would rather pay someone else to do this for him. Keep in mind that Hakeem repeatedly said being a free agent is an "ideal" situation. Maybe because this is a new experience, the guy just wants to savor the attention for awhile. Nonetheless, we are making this a more difficult exercise than it needs to be. I'm with Crispee on this one; use Hakeem's silence as leverage with Mo. Work out a deal with Mo starting at $6 million per year. This leaves $680,000 in early bird cap space for Moochie, and $2.86 early bird space for SA. The call Fegan, and say: "We have $9.86 in cap space available for your two clients. That's $7 million for Hakeem, and $4.5 million in early bird money for SA. Do you want to do the deal? Then the only question is if they will take the money, and how many years. If they say no, have your backup plan available, either $10 million for DRob, or for AD, or for Jackson/SA, etc. (or whoever else you want to plug in). Finally, Fegan has a conflict of interest. The more money Hakeem wants, the less is available to SA. The Rockets should be able to play this conflict and tough position Fegan is in to get a deal done. ------------------ [This message has been edited by JoeBarelyCares (edited July 10, 2001).]
Hey Joe, Spoken like a tough minded lawyer. I could put you to work. Did I miss something on the $9.86 = $7 + $4.5? Problem with the ultimatum is that it could back-fire being played too early. I think you are spot-on with other deals progressing and subsequently narrowing the options for Hakeem. But if I were the Rocks, I wouldn't play it so tough just yet (not without a high-probability back-up plan in place). Otherwise they will look pretty foolish if everything falls through. ------------------ I let the dogs out.
Hey Joe, why do yuo think he hired an agent anyway? He surely doesn't need one to negotiate with CD. Hakeem could do that on his own - he's perhaps not the smartest businessman in the world, but he's no dummy. Fegan is there to call everyone EXCEPT the Rockets. I'm starting to believe that his hiring an agent at all is a signal that he intends to leave. I hope I'm just being paranoid... ------------------
What was the offer by Toronto??? What players??? ------------------ Reporter asks "How close were you to the victim?" Shorty says,"Real close until the roofies wore off. Then she woke up talking about pressing charges, so I took my tongue out of her ass and left." Shorty - Marlon Wayans "Scary Movie" Go Rockets!!! SS
I think the Rockets should be honest. It may hurt the Dream to hear it, but a good dose of pragmatism could not hurt the team or hinder what memories the Dream has given us Houston fans. I am not concerned that Hakeem retire a Rocket. I have watched him loaf up and down the court for the last 3 years, only playing with passion in spurts. You know why he was on the bench last year? Cause he was HORRIBLE for a while. He was lifeless out there, he was pouting and hurting the team. Hakeem only started getting minutes when he accepted his role and started playing within the new system and WITH his new teamates. What was he doing BEFORE all that? Moping and being a distraction for our younger players. I love Dream, but I would not be as sad to see him go as some here. BahDakota ------------------ How long do I have to endure this ?
I was going to make a statement, but Bah(Da)Dakota has summarized my feelings precisely. It's been real and it's been nice...but it's time to turn the page. ------------------ Raef to Rocks in '01-'02!
For heaven's sake, what exactly do you think having Hakeem here another year at (possibly) the cost of our other free agents will accomplish? Do you think we'll win a championship? Do you think we'll go 82-0? Do you think our young guys will learn any more from Dream than they already have??? I honestly would like to see Hakeem playing for us this year. If he stays healthy, he can be a big help. But ONLY if it doesn't hurt our team after that. At one time he said this was his last year. Then maybe it wasn't. Now it isn't. Have I even heard he's thinking about a few more years?? Don't you think his game is just going to continue to decline over the course of time??? What position will the Rockets be with him then? Here comes Year 3, he can't really do anything anymore, he's spending a lot of time deep on the depth chart, and we still hear b****ing about 'why isn't Dream getting any PT?' Yeah, that's really something to look forward to. Look, I believe Dream is the greatest Rocket of all time. One of the greatest centers in the history of the league, period. The reason Houston has pro championships. Yet, there's got to be a point in time when you just realize you can't relive the past any longer. Do you want the Rockets to return to championship glory at some time in the future? Then I've got a brutally honest statement for some of you, and I know it's painful to hear because it's painful to write, but...Hakeem will NOT be the reason we get back to the top. That time has, sadly, passed. I don't want Hakeem to go. I want him to retire here too. But at some point, HE'S got to really want that for it to work. No matter what. But if he isn't willing to finally let the team free of it's 'debt' in the public's eyes, well, sorry folks but it's just time to....let it go. (whew...my second rant this week. exhaustion setting in...) Rok ------------------ "Do you know what nemesis means? 'A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent'. Personified, in this case, by a horrible c***: ME." - Brick Top, Snatch [This message has been edited by Rokkit (edited July 10, 2001).]
