Even though it looks like he might be on the rebound, should we take a risk on this guy? I'm pretty sure we can find someone else out on the free agency market who is better than EG. We don't need the extra baggage. We cut ties w/ him and we should leave it that way.
I don't understand. Certainly, he had problems and the team knew about them. He was suspended from the team for awhile too. But, they cut him at the start of his last season on a guaranteed contract. He still impacted our salary cap. Alexander still had to write him a check. He was on the suspended list so he wasn't going to count as a roster spot. if we couldn't keep him there, it wouldn't matter because we had extra IL spots too (it'd even be appropriate to put someone suffering from severe depression on the IL). We gained only one thing from cutting him. His teammates wouldn't have to talk to journalists about him all year. That's good; I can appreciate that. But, I was making the point only to say that a one-season media relief wasn't the real justification for the release. The real reason is that VG has written Griffin off for good. So, I don't expect him back, even if it is advisable (which I don't know enough to say that it is).
Now you are sounding like a dumbass. If you recall, Rudy T was diagnosed with CANCER. He left the team to pursue MEDICAL TREATMENT. He did not get himself SUSPENDED. He did not get himself ARRESTED. He did not shoot a GUN at anyone. To compare Rudy's situation with Griffin's is insulting and offensive. Rudy T's life was the Rockets. Rudy T gave Houston two NBA titles. Griffin showed the Rockets his behind. And for the record, I've been a Rudy T fan since his playing days. Next to Mike Newlin, he'll always be my favorite Rocket. So the guy has problems, well boo-hoo-hoo. Last time I looked, this was a professional BASKETBALL team and not a social work agency for dumbass NBA players who need to "find" themselves. The Rockets team and organization is evaluated on one thing and one thing only: wins and losses and not on how many "troubled" NBA players they can salvage. And yes, I place the blame for the flameout squarely on Griffin himself. He was given an opportunity to make millions while playing a game on a team that gave away 3 FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS to get him and he just pissed it all away. AFAIK, he's history - yesterday's news. The Rockets blew it and that's how this story ends. When you are stupid (CD) and do stupid things (CD) then you have to live with the consquences (gaping hole at PF) of that stupidity. You don't go back and revisit the scene of that trainwreck unless your stupidity knows no bounds. So in the interim, while you and all of the others here are emoting such "sympathy" for this loser, feel free to go out and enjoy watching the NBA Playoffs on TNT & ABC where you see what teams that have their priorities in order look like.
They both have an illness... Eddie's is a mental one. You're a fine one to be calling anyone a dumbas$.
Hillboy, dude you need to buy a pet, teddy bear, something that will give you an unconditional hug. lol Your mode of denigrating players with problems without a touch of understanding is the exact reason why you're on a chatboard knocking someone that has been down, rather than doing something constructive elsewhere. Many stories in life aren't going to be happy at first, in fact, just about all of them have arduous times, usually at the beginning. If you think for one second that Eddie Griffin forgot how to block shots, especially from the weak side, that he cannot learn to develop a low post game, nor contribute and become a model citizen all before he is 22, then you're a bit further out of reality than I suspect. This year would have been his SENIOR year at Seton Hall. You're not a doctor and don't know about depression, nor are you a member of the Rockets organization. So calling people dumbasses for disagreeing with your hateful opinions is really more elementary speak from a scorned person as opposed to just differing in opinion with someone. In fact, if you can't handle a disagreement like an adult on a message board of the very same team you cheer for, what makes you think for one second you could handle what Eddie went through, with money, fame, and being by himself at 19 and 20. You're no better than he is. Its just noone knows who you are, and if we did, inevitably there'd be another one just like yourself that would ridicule you too, just because he's unhappy. Grow up man and contribute something to this site without your unnecessary putdowns. Aren't we all rooting for the Rockets?
Name a Free agent powerforward four that can start and play around 30 minutes a game. Okur? Too slow to play PF and is projected to get more then the MLE. Medvedenko? Shoots way too much, bad decision making, poor defence Swift? Will be matched, unless overpaid, by West. Kenyon Martin? He wants Max nuff said. Mcdyess? Possibly better then EG, but has uncertainties with his knee and will most likely take most of the MLE to sign him, thus making him a rather high risk to sign. If EG is signed then it will be for the minumum and that means its going to be a low risk move. There will be no risk inviolved with EG unless he shoots one of his teamates on the court.
Ppl, didn't EG burn the bridges when he signed for the Nets by badmouthing the Rox??? That would hurt the chance the Rox ever want him back.
FA List of PFs that I think the Rockets should go after before giving EG a shot: Marcus Fizer - Would be a great pickup. Brian Cardinal - Might be worth it to give him a shot. Rasheed Wallace - Might have to pay top dollar for his services Keon Clark - Same as Rasheed Etan Thomas Torraye Braggs - I still think we can give him another chance. Lee Nailon
Fizer is undergoing more surgery. Cardinal is a scrapper, not a talented starter. 'sheed worth 10mil/year? Not that I have witnessed. Keon as in Clark, sign elsewhere next year. Again. ? Something is missing from his make-up because he has game, length, but no team. Eton Thomas. Maybe. Braggs. Where did he finish the season? Who picked him up? Nailon? A three who is describale like Keon, except shorter and with less game. Think again.
Lets face it, theres not much in free agency to upgrade our PF position. Its not that I absolutely want EG, well maybe I do, but I dont see the elton Brand trade happening. EG skills and style of play fits this team and I hope we give him another shot since theres not much out there and I dont want to see either MoT or Cato starting at PF.
You think EG is going to be better than the list above? We gave up 3 1st ROUND PICKS for his sorry ass. Then he becomes a bust for our team and even NJ drops his ass because he's a punk. Better going w/ someone like Fizer (who just ran into bad luck w/ the injury - he isn't injury prone), Cardinal (this team needs a scrappy player), E. Thomas (scrappy player, underrated), or Nailon since they would be affordable and they don't have baggage like EG. Sheed and Clark might be out of our range, but it's worth a shot. Why don't you think again.
HillBoy, Just so you know my position on the matter of Griff. I don't think we should pick him up as a charity case. I think we should make sure some *other* team does not benifit from him. For example, lets say we don't take him back. But he really starts to put up good numbers (17/10) for another team. That would suck! But of course, he'll have to get his life together before we sign him. Else he'll just do the same.
Phizer? he shot 38% from the field this year, and is coming off surgery Etan Thomas - looks like a promising center, never seem him play. looks like he rebounds and blocks shots, oh yeah we already have a "power forward" who does that. Lee Nailon - looks like he could be a pretty good backup, but when Atlanta, Orlando and looks like Clevland dont want him you know something is wrong. Especially as a PF in the eastern conference. Cardinal - I like him and hope we sign him as a backup 4 or starting 3, but is too undersized to guard the likes of duncan, kg, webber, malone etc... I dont see anyone of those guys as a full time powerforward. DavidS had the right idea. Yeah EG did screw us pretty bad, but what if someone signs him and he becomes a pretty good role player averaging 10/10/2.5. That would seem like screwing us even more wouldnt it and everyone on this board would want CD fired. Like I said EG would be low risk this time around because he wont cost us another 3 first rounders, only a minumum contract.
Your reasoning behind Eddie is that he quit on us, well, if anyone else was in his position, they would have quit too. You are not looking at the reasoning behind the whole thing. Yes, Rudy left for medical treatment, he had a disease. Well, depression is a disease too (read Sherlock's post, explains everything). Look, I understand why you wouldn't want him back, but you're just looking that he quit on us and none of the reasoning why he did what he did. You're acting like Eddie wanted to quit, that he didn't want to play basketball. Having someone tell you that you cannot see your child and being in depression won't make someone want to play basketball, even if he did play, he wouldn't play to his full ability. Yes, CD blew away 3 first round picks, there is nothing we can do about it, but try to even it out as much as we can. Take a deep breath....count to 3.....feel better?
If he was a dumbass that would put him miles ahead of you. Its clear that you have know idea what its like to play in the NBA, you have no idea what depression is or especially what its like to have your girlfriend’s brothers using violence to keep you away from your kids. I respect peoples opinions no matter how dumb they are (trade Steve Francis for example). But having seen depression and having been evolved with baby momma drama (not directly). Things like that can destroy a person and for you to be b****ing about draft picks when something like this is going on is stupid and selfish.
Yeah, yeah, we get it. I'm a cold heartless unfeeling brute. Well boo-hoo-hoo! Boy, did you ever put me in my place! The last time I looked the Rockets were supposed to be about NBA BASKETBALL and not social psychology. If you guys want to kiss and hug, share warm feelings about your childhood bunnies, then that's just fine with me. If you want to "feel" for Eddie and mention him in your prayers at night, then that's OK as well. If this loser needs help, then by all means let him go and get it somewhere else. Frankly, I could care less. It is not the responsibility of the Rocket's organization to help troubled souls. As a lifelong fan of the Houston Rockets, my sole interest is in seeing this team get better and ultimately win another championship. Coddling a 20 something millionaire who quit on this team and blew his chance at an NBA career does NOT improve this team one iota. They have wasted 3 1st round picks and 3 YEARS on EG and to date, they have squat to show for it. And you folks want them to go to the stupid well with this guy again. Sheesh! Exactly how many years should the Rockets flush down the drain on EG? Five? Seven? Would an even 10 years be more to your liking? What about Yao and the rest of the team who ARE here and actually WANT to win a championship? Do they not count? What is more important to you: helping Eddie Griffin or winning an NBA title? What angers me about this thread is the fact that the same people here who are bleeding with concern for EG will be filled with rage and clamoring for JVG's scalp if the Rockets don't win in the future or God forbid, wind up back in the lottery. No matter how compassionate and sincere you are in your personal beliefs, in the end, you and all the the others here will be major PISSED at the Rockets if they don't win. JVG understands as should everyone here that this team will be judged not by it's social outreach efforts in "rescuing" wayward NBA players but by wins and losses PERIOD. That's why he cut ties with Griffin. That's why New Jersey said adios as well. The name of the game is to win. Eddie Griffin's so-called "potential" is the NBA equivalent of fool's gold. The Rockets had been fooled by him for long enough. It's well past time for them to move on.
Get Eddie back Noooowww! He was my favorite Rocket and I miss him being on the team. IMHO, He's a couple double doubles, and an average of 3 blocks (from the weak side) away from the following conversation from The Toy: Friend 1: "Man, Eddie Griffin is AWESOME, I'm so glad the Rockets picked him up...didn't he used to get in trouble or something?". Friend 2: "Nah man, that was Eddie Griffin, the actor, stupid, Eddie Griffin is EG, he's always been cool"... Friend 1: "Oh, but I thought....nevermind...Wow, Did you see that BLOCK!" Point of this skit is that, I would imagine there are a few who could develop short-term memory loss, if Eddie kicked it into Rookie style (prior to what could be construed as serious effects of depression), and rose above Yao's shadow (not above Yao, I'm at the very least somewhat partially realistic).
