Dream Not Enthusiastic Over Contract Offer?

Even Dream time must come to end
By JOHN P. LOPEZ
Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle


The Rockets woke up Monday and finally decided it was time to smell the coffee.

Perhaps we all should.

It's been a wonderful Dream -- 17 years worth of something so special you never wanted to see it end. It's been 17 years of a unique kind of class, style and charisma off the court and on.

But, alas, every good thing must eventually end, even dreams.

Sources say the latest free-agent offer for Houston icon Hakeem Olajuwon -- a third year added to what would be a guaranteed $10 million contract -- was received less than enthusiastically by Olajuwon and agent Dan Fegan.

As a result, the much talked about, but to this point unheard of sign-and-trade deal involving Olajuwon is being seriously considered, which would end Olajuwon's glorious Rockets career.

Two thoughts come to mind:

1.) What a shame. Who wouldn't want to see another year or two of the Dream Shake, no matter if a bit of the crispness and marvel of it all is long gone? Who wouldn't want Olajuwon's final NBA game, whenever that might be, to be played in a Rockets uniform? Who wouldn't want to see him stay? No one.

2.) But shame on Olajuwon, too, or at least on his representation. The latest offer, which for the first time during negotiations had the Rockets presenting a third-year to Fegan, was the Rockets' way of trying to keep the legendary one, their way of enhancing the monetary package to something close to what Olajuwon thinks he deserves.

But Olajuwon's feelings apparently were hurt that $10 million was all the Rockets offered, given the much heftier price other less-proven centers in the league demand and everything he's given the club.


Rockets keep promise

But we must remember, Olajuwon was promised $16.8 million last season as a thank-you for everything he has given the club, particularly during the NBA championship seasons when he was not paid what he deserved.

The Rockets fulfilled that promise, paying Olajuwon $31 million over the past two years. That's a pretty strong thank-you by any gauge.

But as we sit here today with warm and fuzzy thoughts of everything Olajuwon has given this team and this city, we must remember the promise was kept. Olajuwon's number someday will hang from the new arena's rafters and he will wear a Rockets uniform into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

How much more should the Rockets be expected to give for the sake of thanking a hero? When does a basketball decision have to be made?

Sure, there are not a lot of proven options wearing a Rockets uniform. Kelvin Cato is, well, Kelvin Cato. And Jason Collier has proved nothing.

But as much as sentimentality and devotion to a local icon can never be forgotten when it comes to Olajuwon, the Rockets have as much right to make a business decision as Olajuwon does.


It comes down to business

Olajuwon would prefer to earn a salary in the $10 million range for one year, rather than spreading the wealth over three. But injury-plagued in 1999, playing in just 44 games, Olajuwon showed the first signs of not being the dominant center that brought NBA titles in 1994 and 1995. Then a year ago, he had a poor first half, but a sterling second half and finished averaging 11.9 points in 58 games.

Still, it was the most games Olajuwon had played since 1997 and the Rockets, keeping in mind the youth of their team, cannot be blamed for basing their $10 million offer on basketball sense as much as emotional ties.

No one wants Olajuwon to have to move on, particularly the Rockets. But that possibility is stronger today than ever, because the club has wrestled with salary-cap numbers, with an eye on other signings they believe to be equally as important to the future -- free agents Maurice Taylor, Shandon Anderson and to a degree Moochie Norris.

The Rockets have given Olajuwon a hearty $16.8 million thank-you and, understandably, probably wish they could do more. But given salary restrictions and the direction of the club, how much more can they reasonably do?

Management has called addressing Olajuwon's free-agent status the top priority during the offseason, as well it should be.

But the clock on the wall is running. Olajuwon has showed his best times are behind him.

The Rockets today are trying to find their feet under Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Eddie Griffin. As much as everyone hopes Olajuwon still can fit into the picture, for the first time options are being weighed in lieu of Olajuwon's reluctance to accept the three-year offer.

A new day could be dawning.

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Interesting question. Lopez is a tough read because he was the one who said after the first arena referendum failed, "You read it here first. The Rockets are gone. Period."

I would say that the fact that this comes later in the day than Feigen's original story (which remained basically unchanged) and that Les Alexander was quoted on Fox as saying that this is the best deal they can offer Olajuwon, I would tend to believe he isn't totally full of it.

This may be Hakeem's agent trying to blow smoke again like he did before, but to what end? It seems as if there is no real reason to believe that there is any immediate solution other than Hakeem leaving.

To be honest, it didn't surprise me to read this. This has pretty much been the situation all along. We are probably just reaching our limit. The fact that Les actually got involved this far and said, point blank, that this is "the best" we can do for Hakeem tells me that that REALLY is it. No more budging. No more bull****. Take it or leave it.

I'll try and dig up some more info in the morning.

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Who's your buddy? Who's your pal? I am, aren't I?

 

I'm going to give my own opinion here so don't think I'm voicing someone else's or speaking as if I know something. I formed this opinion from what I've read and what I've heard from friends who know...

I think that the entire negotiation with Hakeem was framed by Olajuwon's belief, perhaps led on by his agent, that he deserved $10 million per season. That number seems crammed into nearly every story we read and it isn't a coincidence.

I think that Hakeem believed he deserves that kind of cash and Robinson getting it just reinforced that belief. Thus, when the Rockets came forward with less than half that number, Olajuwon felt jilted. He felt like the team was giving him a boot out the door.

Since then, every negotiation, every bargaining session and every discussion in public (and probably in private) has been overshadowed by pride and bitterness.

Fegan has made more enemies than friends over this and his lack of willingness to comment to the media except to throw a bone in the direction of a few gullable columnists. In my opinion, he has fanned the flames of Hakeem's dissent and would prefer the Dream got more cash ANYWHERE but here.

I think that Anderson's decision to shun more money in Utah to come to Houston has had an effect on negotiations as well. This isn't the type of thing that makes an agent happy.

The bottom line is that this saga is winding down. The Rockets obviously aren't going to budge and, to use that horrible cliche one more time, the ball is in Dream's court. I have serious doubts that he will accept an offer from the team that sleighted him as he sees it. For him, it may very well be a matter of pride no matter how ridiculous it may be to all of us.

Personally, I think Hakeem has handled his business poorly over the last year. From his public demands for a trade to his unwillingness to realize his diminishing skills, Dream has dug his own grave in Houston instead of erecting a statue.

Last year, when he first started the season grumbling about his "role on the team" an acquaintence of mine who (believe me!) would know about such things, said that everyone was begging Hakeem to take the high road and play out his final season triumphantly. Ride out in a blaze of glory.

He wanted NO part of that. He felt like he could play at least another couple seasons if not more. He refused to believe that he shouldn't be the #1 option on the team and he began to question the team, the coaching staff and the organization.

Make no mistake, this started before last season even got underway. This was pre-training camp and it built up until now we sit with a tremendous man pissed off at the Rockets over a perception that probably isn't justified.

I fear that this may be the end of Dream in pinstripes. Clutch predicted it when he said on the front page that he didn't see Dream going for it. Unfortunately, I think he's right and this is ultimately the end of a special era in Houston sports.

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Who's your buddy? Who's your pal? I am, aren't I?