. Hakeem WANTS out! Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon said all the right things about doing what is best for the Rockets when he went public saying he wouldn't hold it against the Rockets if they wanted to trade or waive him. 'I just want what's best for the team,' said Olajuwon on Tuesday. 'I only want to do what's best for everybody, and that's what I said.' However, a source inside the Rockets organization has told NBAtalk that there is much more to it than that. The Dream WANTS to finish his career somewhere else. Olajuwon originally made this statement privately to the Rockets a few months ago, but went public with it after he perceived the Rockets weren't seriously considering moving him. He has no grudges against the Rockets, but he doesn't want to finish his career in rebuilding mode. He's been frustrated with his role and thinks he would have a bigger impact on a team contending for a title. Olajuwon feels that he has enough left in his tank, according to the source, to help a team win an NBA championship. Hakeem has asked the Rockets for a trade, and the Rockets gave his agent permission to shop the Dream around, but understands that it may be impossible for the Rockets to pull off anything given his salary. So the last few days, Olajuwon has been pushing the Rockets to waive him so he can catch on with another team. Said the source, 'Dream expects something to happen. He was hoping for a trade that would give the Rockets some compensation for him. Now he's pushing hard for us to waive him so he can play somewhere else. He's not taking no for an answer.' The Suns and Heat would both be interested in picking up the Dream if he is waived. ------------------
IF this is true, I say f*ck Hakeem. Agree to give up the other $8 million the Rockets owe you this season so they can bring in some players that want to help this team, then we'll waive your punk a$$. I want Hakeem to retire as a Rocket and it pains me to say these things, but if he can't accept the fact that he is no longer the number one option on this team, then there's the door buddy. Leave the cash on the table before you leave! ------------------ "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Gandhi
Here we go again. Dream is always right, Dream knows whats best for the team which evidently doesn't include his services, Dream pouts until he gets his way, and Dream will not take no for an answer. If all of the above are true, then waive him. No matter how badly I want him to stay on our team, him becoming a distraction by whining all the time will not help our team at all. And, after a while, I will start to wonder whether Dream is giving us 100% or he is just spinning his wheels out there on the court because he is frustrated that the offense doesn't revolve around him any longer. I don't think he is showing Houston or the fans any loyalty or gratitude. He is on a "me, me, me" binge. Why he just cannot try to fit in and play the game is beyond me? He was doing a pretty damn good job before his latest injury. WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT TO DO, HAKEEM? YOU SAID YOU WERE A TEAM PLAYER. THAT IS NOT TRUE. A TEAM PLAYER MAKES SACRIFICES FOR THE GOOD OF THE TEAM WHETHER IT IS OFFENSIVE TOUCHES OR PLAYING TIME OR WHATEVER. YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO MAKE THE SACRIFICES. THEREFORE, YOU ARE NOT A TEAM PLAYER. THERE IS NO "I" IN TEAM. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THE TEAM... OBVIOUSLY. sorry...i am kind of pissed off at all this **** now. this is getting old. Surf ------------------
HAKEEM GET IT THOUGH YOUR HEAD, WE ARE NOT GOING TO WAIVE YOU FOR NOTHING. WANT OUT, GET YOUR AGENT TO EARN HIS PERCENTAGE AND COME WITH A TRADE THAT THE ROCKETS CAN LIVE WITH. Sorry, I'm just tired of wine with no cheese. ------------------ Life is but a dream
It's always bugged me that Hakeem refuses to come to the games and sit on the bench and lend support. That's weak in my book. Old School ------------------ I voted YES!
I agree totally. Hakeem has no right to ask the rockets to waive him if he is not willing to give up the rest of the money on his contract. Give up the 8 million and you can go. ------------------
I will say it again: HAKEEM WANT PLAY TIME! JUST LET HIM PLAY AND GET THE BALL MORE THAN 4 TIMES A GAME! THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT! ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
Welcome. No difference between waiving and cutting. Same thing. ------------------ I am very very sleepy.
There is something wrong with it if his getting the ball is bad for the team. Giving up the ball to Hakeem takes it away from the guys who have brought the team victories this year. We've been through this in other posts, but the stats demonstrate that the more Hakeem shoots, the poorer the team plays. That is just the way it is. Here's the basic problem: 1. Dream is not willing to adjust his game out of the low post and into a different style of offense. He wants the ball in the low post. 2. He cannot consistently outplay centers one-on-one any longer in the low post. He simply doesn't have the quickness. 3. If he can't out-duel opposing centers one-on-one, other teams will not double team meaning no other players are open. This team is no longer built around Hakeem and the low post offense. When we had him and three point shooters and he was drawing double teams or dominanting opposing centers, the team was successful. We don't have that type of team anymore and Hakeem isn't that type of player any longer anyway. It is time to get over the belief that somehow the Hakeem of 5 years ago is going to miraculously reappear and that this complaining of his is really just him knowing better than the entire coaching staff. It is time to face the fact that this was simply a selfish act on the part of a man who is in denial about his skills eroding and what is best for him and his teammates. Hakeem is still a legend and is still the greatest player in Houston sports history but this was pretty weak. BTW: Even if Hakeem and the Rockets agreed that the team did not owe him any more for the rest of the season, it would not afford the team any salary cap relief for the rest of this year. ------------------ I am very very sleepy.
Hey guys I just like to say that I have been reading this BBS for a couple of months but never made a post. I'm sure one of you have already answered this question but I hope maybe you can answer it again. Hakeem wants either to be waived or trated to a contender. Trading him with his salary is very difficult. Exactly ,if any, is the difference between waiving a player and cutting him? ------------------
as scottie said once in chicago: "no, but there is an "M-E" btw, can hakeem shut up, now. stop digging the hole. see, right now, i'm even starting to wonder whether patterson/thomas were right.
...and another thing.... ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
