Sad. Sad in a way that we're talking about the end of the Dream while talking about the beginning of a potential "Ming Dynasty". If Hakeem does get traded, I doubt there would be interest from Houston. I'm sure the Rockets marketing department is screaming <B>YES!</B> while the player personnel department is screaming <B>NO!</B> "[Hakeem] grew frustrated with the way he was used by coach Lenny Wilkens" ..... that sounds familiar. ------------------------- <a href="http://waymoresports.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=waymoresports/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1026144492299&call_page=WM_Home&call_pageid=979619472127&call_pagepath=Home/Home" target="_blank">End of Dream? Only he knows</a> <font face="arial" size="4"><B>End of Dream? Only he knows</B></font> <font face="arial" size="2"><B>Raptors waiting to hear from veteran Hakeem Olajuwon</B></font> By Doug Smith Hakeem Olajuwon has attracted some interest on the trade market but the Toronto Raptors aren't entirely sure the aged centre will even play this season. General manager Glen Grunwald said the situation regarding Olajuwon is "unclear" with training camp less than six weeks away. "I have spoken to him and it's unclear what's happening right now," said Grunwald, who remains hopeful that Olajuwon will return and be healthy. "We're waiting for Hakeem to work things out for himself." Olajuwon's agent said the 39-year-old, who hasn't played a full NBA season in five years due to a series of varying injuries, is in Houston preparing to play, if his varied injuries will allow him. "Hakeem has never mentioned retirement," agent Dan Fegan, said yesterday. "The only thing that would prevent him from playing is health." Still, Grunwald says there are trade possibilities that could be explored. "Yeah, there is some interest but everyone wants to know what he's going to do," said the general manager. League and team sources have said Olajuwon was bitterly disappointed with his injury-plagued first season in Toronto, when he averaged 7.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 22.6 minutes per game. A series of injuries to his legs, along with some conditioning failings at the start of the season, limited him to appearing in just 61 of the 82 regular season games and starting only 27 of them. As well, sources say he grew frustrated with the way he was used by coach Lenny Wilkens, who relegated him to backup status late in the season, putting him behind late-season starter Eric Montross and the emerging Keon Clark as the Raptors made a late dash to the playoffs. "It's no secret that Hakeem has had problems over the years (with injuries)," said Fegan. "The last five years of his career have been a patchwork." Despite a glut of big men, albeit unproven or injured big men, the Raptors still have no clear-cut starting frontcourt for the coming season. Wilkens said at the end of last year he couldn't envision Olajuwon recapturing a starting role and Clark left as a free agent for the Sacramento Kings after Toronto decided to avoid the luxury tax by offering the young centre a salary approaching $5 million per season. Montross, whose season ended early with a stress fracture in his foot, the seldom-used Michael Stewart, the injured Mamadou N'diaye and unproven Nate Huffman are the four centres on the Raptors roster along with Olajuwon. As well, Antonio Davis is certain to get some playing time in that role. However, if Olajuwon leaves the Raptors, it's not going to create any huge financial windfall for the team. Owed two years and about $12 million (all figures U.S.) on a deal he signed a year ago, Olajuwon is not likely to simply retire and forego that salary, allowing the Raptors to save his salary in cap room. And even if the sides negotiate some sort of buyout, the entire amount of Olajuwon's salary will still count against the salary cap for the next two seasons.
after 13-11-6 houston wont have any interest in bringing him home again. i still love the dream. i wish him the best. hopefully he will get traded to a team that wins the ring next season.
Man...what a depressing way for Houston fans to see him go out. I wish he had just retired a before last season.
Hey, I've got an idea! Let's give Dream a generous short-term contract for his final years and take him around the league on a farewell tour! Oh, wait -- we already did that. I'm happy to give the greatest player in Rockets history another gesture of gratitude. But this time, it won't be at the expense of cap room or roster space.
even thugh i hate the lakers...and i dont want them to win 4 in a row...i would be happy for dream if he signs there. he would retire with 3 rings, and he would be happy about fitting in the offence.
I don't know, man. I think that would depress me even more to see Dream getting a third ring by playing behind Shaq as opposed to against him. Kind of like he just gave up and sold out or something. Depressing, indeed.
First Houston isn't using him right, now Toronto isn't using him right, you would think that Dream would get the hint. He's better playing limited minutes and coming off the bench, or being a spot starter. His ego isn't going to let him do that though.
Is it really that big of deal for Hakeem to play for one more ring? Does it really matter? I mean, many of the top 50 players of all time, never received a ring. So what is the big deal? Hakeem already has two, and should be able to retire happy. I feel worse for the guys that deserved a ring, but never were in the right place at the right time.
What would a third ring mean? "Here are the two I earned; here's the one Shaq and Kobe earned for me." I don't know about you, but that wouldn't appeal to me. However, having said that, I wouldn't mind Hakeem going to the Kings if it meant LA wouldn't go for four in a row.
Dream was still something to watch through the 97-98 season. it is really sad to see this, but he is a big boy and made his decision. we benefited from it and maybe a league veteran minimum to get him here and use him in a relugated back up role would be something to see...if he can put the ego aside. I would take him over Collier right now........ The BIG IF.....Message to Dream - dude, put the ego away, if you did this we could bring you back for one more season in a backup role for cheap...
You know? Dream might be a very big part of our next championship era. His trade might end up putting us over the hump.
Thank god the Beatles broke up when they did, it's like the only time in the history of the universe anyone was has quit within the vicintity of their peak. CBFC ps. free as a bird was actually pretty good
I posted it in the Rockets Lockerroom Forum. That's the restriced access area where the media, players and coaches post practice schedules, bus times, do interviews and preview media quotes for accuracy. The Admins also give a pass to the one member with the highest post count. Why do you think I post so much? Anyhow, I posted a Memorial post on all the great bashing of the players, media and coaches, to get them all to roast me. And they roasted me good. Bullard did his rendition of the time Clutch told me to "bend over the barrel." It was all good fun. The highlight of the thread was when Cato said my post count proves I'm a loser, and Chucky Brown made a surprise appearance and "" Cato for calling someone a loser. Then Mr. Mean quickly followed with a and a and Rudy did a , because he likes it when Larry gets at Cato's attitude. Then, everyone was doing a to Cato, so he started a hurt-feelings "I Will.." thread that he will work really hard this year and prove us all wrong, and then Clutch did a and then all hell broke loose with the obligatory "woo hoo"s "Free Posts" started by Moochie. He's a "Free Post" fool. Oh, what a hoot that thread was.
