Is he the longest serving current NBA GM? Is he OUR longest termed GM ever? Does he have pics in his closet of Les Alexander with an underage goat? Without rehashing the Vescey article, here's what I've seen this season: We suck balls. We traded away 3 players who weren't the problem. We kept 2 power forwards and one point guard who are. We kept one coach and one GM who are. Unless the next trade is one for Elton Brand or Steve Nash, we're raped. The team was sad tonight. They were pissed. They didn't care. The trade didn't light a fire under their butts - it extinguished the little flame that was still there. Again, I don't think we'll be able to trade for a real difference maker. JVG won't be fired midseason, neither will CD. Players do not all of a sudden start "buying in" to a coach's system that they haven't "bought into" all season... Maybe you guys can suggest something or shed some light, but I am at a loss. Maybe David Wesley will emerge as some sparkplug Patton like leader who will buck this team up & kick some ass. Maybe...? Help???
Didn't he mention a while back, he wanted to retire? I thought I remember reading that, sometime after Rudy retired? Not sure though? If not, then right now would be a good time for him to retire.
If Rudy can be fired, then CD should not be that tough to part with. The second Les starts to wake up & realize that there is no hope with his money-making franchise to grow monetarily around the globe with a horribly built team (system wise with JVG as Head Coach) as the entertainment, that will be the day CD gets to resign like Rudy resigned.
He has been GM for about 7 years, but there are guys around the league who have been with their teams a lot longer. Steve Patterson was probably the longest-serving GM for the Rockets - I'm guessing around 12 years. Can't answer that last one.
Agreed - CD is not the correct target. Mr. Van Gundy is. Complaints about CD are beating a dead horse. He wanted to retire and Van Gundy wanted him to stay for NBA - player agent contacts. Van Gundy should have the decency to resign and be man enough to walk away from the money. He has not helped our Rocket team....
Steve Patterson I don't think was around for longer than 5 or 6 years. His dad Ray Patterson on the other hand I think was around for awhile. Edit: quick googling indicats that Ray was GM from 72-89, Steve from 89-93.
I believe that CD works with the coach (Rudy/JVG) to facilitate deals. Therefore I dont blame CD too much in player moves. We have Tmac and Yao. We have a foundation. It is time now for LONG RANGE planning. And thus we need a "player personnel guy" that will build this team for the LONG HAUL and not the short term. That being the case you cant have CD be the GM as JVG is going to want to build for the short term. And I dont blame him since his ass is on the line. What the Rockets need is a GM that will HIRE the coach. A GM that will draft and trade for players that the team should want for the long haul. Then it is the coaches job to use the players that the GM provides for him. And if the coach can't coach that player then TS. The coach has to adapt. A good basketball player is a good basketball player. We shouldnt be getting players that just fit into the JVG type mold. What if JVG isnt here? Then what we do we do with "his" type players? Same went with Rudy. Rudy got "rudy type" players like Nachbar etc. We need someone like Donnie Walsh of Indiana (or Donnie Nelson of Dallas). Walsh drafts the players and Rick Carlisle then uses them. I am sure Carlisle will offer suggestions, but Walsh and Bird make the final call. The coach has to answer to the GM and then the GM the owner. Right now JVG doesnt answer to the GM, just the owner. I think that is the problem. The Rockets can't keep looking for the short term and get these hired guns to surround Yao and Tmac. We need players that will GROW with them.
