Im only bringing this up because someone else mentioned Hakeem coming back. One of our family friends does business with Hakeem. Apparently, Hakeem was very unhappy in Toronto. He specially did not like the way Lenny Wilkins ran things up there. He wishes that he was back in Houston. Well, too late big fella!!!
Langhi does not have a contract for 2002-2003. It takes KT, Moochie & TMo to work cap wise. Still interested?
Hakeem's ego is out of control, and he can't deal with the fact that he is old and his career is over. He would not be happy anywhere, because he believes that he is still a star and that the offense should flow through him. I admire his confidence and competiveness, but its time for Hakeem to embrace reality.
Got a lot of respect to Hakeem but if he is willing to take less pay and 15 minutes playing time might be nice. But then again, Maybe not!
I think its funny how all these coaches like Wilkens are considered good even though they have never done anything. Nellie is another one of them. How do they still get jobs. Its the same with executives at big companies, they just move from place to place.
Didn't Toronto show some interest in Mo Taylor a few offseasons ago? I'd be willing to give up MoT for Hakeem. We could get rid of Taylor's long expensive contract for Hakeems short 2 year contract. Can any cap expert say how much cap room the Rockets would have in two years after Hakeem and Rice's contracts end?
Hell I'd give up MoT for Dream. I know we'd get Dream's salary, but we'd get rid of Fatty's salary. Besides that, EG is our 4 of the future and KT is a harder worker anyway. The last thing we need is a one-sided offense-only power forward like Maurice Taylor.
I just don't want the Rockets to be stuck with Taylor's long bloated contract for the next 5 years. This way we get a mentor for Yao. We likely get an attendence boost. We free up the playing time that Griffin needs to develop. And we set ourselves up for some capspace in 2 years when the big contracts of Dream and Rice are over.
Man, I don't know about this. Getting rid of Mo's contract would be nice, but come on. Dream probably has less than one season left in him. Mo is an integral part of this team's chemistry, and I think the lack of good shooting really hurt us last year. If he really is working hard, I see no reason to trade him away.
New Jack Yo New Jack...that's what I said...I opened up a topic like that, and got smashed...I think that is a great idea and he could retire as a Rocket....but everyone thinks of him as a traitor...and I feel the same way...but I would accept him back...
I doubt the Raptors are still interested in MoT. They are near the Luxury Tax level and are probably looking forward to when Hakeem is cleared from their books in 2 summers because they are going to have to extend Mo Pete about that time. Currently they only have 2 large contracts - Carter and Davis I'm not sure this is 100% accurate but a ball park figure if you were some kind of miracle worker or got Wilkens drunk enough... Rockets committed for 2004-2005 = $20.4m (Cato/Cat/Morris/EG) add Yao Ming @ ~$3m = $23.4m add Francis Maxed @ ~$10 = $33.4m add #15 if kept @ ~ 1.6m = ~$35m *** The above assumes Collier is not needed. Otherwise add an additional $4/3m back in. Ball park you are about $ 7m under the current level, but still need 5 or 6 players to round out the roster. If KT and Tmo develop and are re-signed, add another ~$4m apiece. Not sure where you were headed with all of this but there are other variables like length of MCE contracts this summer and next. With Catos contract and Francis Maxed (and then EG and then Ming and Cat), the Rockets aren't going to be players in the FA market anytime soon..with or without MoT.
The Raptors don't want MoT. They need the cap space to Max MoPete in 2 summers. The price to get Olajuwon is KT, Moochie and Tmo. IMO, he ain't worth it. He has never mentored or taught any player and he will only b**** if he has to sit on the bench and/or the offense is not run thru him. It will not be possible for the Rockets to learn both a high post offense for Ming and his outside shooting and a low post offense for Hakeem. This is a business decision as was Olajuwon's when he and Toronto decided what his market value was last summer. It was both of their mistakes and now they will live with it.
Why would the Raptors max out MoPete? He's an okay player, but not even close to a semistar. He only averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists this season.
It became a business decision because no one wanted to listen to Hakeem at all and try to give him a chance in the young rotation. The Rockets seemed focused to look at the future while he was playing. I'm pretty sure now that he sees the progress that we are going with, I'm thinking we can sign him cheap to back up Ming.
