In Sunday's LA Times ranking of NBA teams (in which the Rockets moved up from 17 to 15), they have this blurb: 15. Houston (30-26) Taylor averaging usual 5.6 rebounds--and Rockets have promised him $80 million. This is the first we've heard of this, so I suspect that it's just a line of BS that lets the Times engage in some Mo-bashing ... Or is it? Anyone know? Here's the link: http://www.latimes.com/print/sports/20010225/t000017014.html ------------------
There is no way the Rockets promised Mo the max. David Faulk most likely started this . He is a great agent, but made a deal w/ the devil. ------------------ "Chucky who? I thought we were talking about basketball?" Charles Barkley
I don't think this should be taken literally. It looks to me to be written with a little bit of spite -- since Mo left the Clippers and has been kicking ass, thus helping them get to #15. Notice the way he says "usual" 5.6 rebounds -- as if they knew all along something the Rockets didn't (puh-lease). He just threw the $80 million figure out there to say the Rockets would give him a big payday when they had cap room.... Doubt highly any $80 million promise was made. ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
I think the writer was implying that Mo was the reason we've been so hot lately. That's all. ------------------ Founding Father of the Refs Suck Club
What Ya Say? Get Mo Tay To Stay .... or to get Mo Pay for No Mo Tay ? At first it appeared that MoTay was going to this team because: 1. He liked the straight forward approach by everyone he dealt with at Houston. They were honest. They had a good track record on player relations. They said up front we can ONLY give you this much this year. They said he would start. they said they would do everything possible to showcase him. 2. The mainframe players, Steve and Shandon, then later Cat (and including Hakeem on two occasions) took extra inititive to convince him about the benefits. He was a stop-gap acquisition. Fill a need with best avaialable. The Rockets were in a "no-lose" situation. If he flubbed, he was gone this summer, and there minimal expenditure was still a well spent gamble. If he was half the talent that his agent was selling, they had a first option verbal committment from Maurice. But this season has changed a lot of minds at Greenway. He now could be construed as a possible longterm solution to a partime problem. RT loves the guy. I mean really,really likes him. Not just because of his recent upswing in scoring, but he is the type of player that RT likes. He is coachable, a rare commodity in a "budding superstar(by fact or fiction)". He is great in the lockeroom. He responds to the coaches and the suggestions they offer. He is an intelligent player. He has learned some difficult defensive structures.(Ask yourself this: What power forward in Rockets history has handled Duncan the way Mo Tay did at their last meeting? Want to discuss his approach with Garnett when they meet in the middle?) For a guy who was heralded as someone who couldn't even spell defense, he has had some highmark occasions to show he can do the job. Granted he has other fundamental things that he could learn, but he is leaps and bounds beyond everything expected. Next to last thing: He really likes it here. He feels he fits. That is not just a press statement to soothe the homeboys. He really likes the team. The professional long term approach to the game. Conclusion: the Rockets will go the distance to keep him, unless there are some weird and wonderful things that block it or we get a make or break deal that cannot be turned down. Put this in your gym bag and rattle it around: Given the choice between signing Maurice for 5 years @ approx. $6-9 M/year or buying into CWebb for maximum on a long term deal, don't be surprised if they go for Mo. And , it will be an easy decision for the guys, too! PS: I doubt we will even be in the running for CWebb anyway. ------------------ [This message has been edited by oeilpere (edited February 26, 2001).]
Wow, all hell is going to break loose. Good times. Based on what Clutch posted in another thread, I'm still going to assume that we're in the Webber race, but it's interesting to see that Taylor is such a high priority for the Rockets. I'm glad to see that chemistry is as good inside the locker room as it appears from the outside. I'd rather not pay Mo more than 6, 7 million, but given what other players are being paid these days, the 6-9 range is not unreasonable. If we don't win the Webber sweepstakes, we might actually have cap room for Olajuwon. The problem is Dream's is the first deal that has to be resolved this summer. I think if the Rockets can come out of this summer with two out of the three guys mentioned, I'll be happy. I'd like to get a promising player in the draft or free agency though to help out with defense and rebounding in the front court, though. ------------------
Because Webber is just bluffing or the media's been projecting its own desires and he isn't as ready to leave Sacramento as everyone thinks, right? You know, if we could just keep our lineup, maybe get rid of Cato and Walt, and pick up Ken Johnson or just someone like Cato but with more heart and less injury-prone, I'd be very happy. ------------------
We won't be in the running for CWebb?? How do you figure? We're one of 2, MAYBE 3 teams that have a legitimate shot at aquiring him because of locale, potential to win it all(more than once) and of course money. At this point there is absolutely no reason to say we won't be in the running for CWebb. ------------------ "Clinton lied. A man might forget where he parks or where he lives, but he never forgets oral sex, no matter how bad it is." -- Barbara Bush
oeilpere: Good to hear from you, my sailor friend. A couple weeks ago, when Francis was being <a href="http://bbs.clutchcity.net/ubb/Forum3/HTML/011218.html">interviewed on the Jim Rome show</a> regarding whether Houston was pursuing Webber, he said they really wanted Webber, and that he was calling him, and encouraging him to come to Houston, and "run the court" like they used to in DC summer games. He mentioned that Mo was really a 3 playing at the 4 position. Do you think we'd still try to get Webber, and move Mo to the 3 position? That would be a pretty powerful combo ... ------------------ the more I know, the more I know I don't know... [This message has been edited by Sherlock (edited February 26, 2001).]
That promised contract better be a 8 to 10 year deal. ------------------ Baseball is wrong, a man with four balls can't walk.
great post oeilpere given the choice, i certainly woud prefer webber, but I say get Mo Tay to stay for slight raise in pay may be great way to end day. ------------------
Certainly MoTay would not be a bad alternative to CWebb, but if the choice is between signing MoTay for 6-8 mil or CWebb for the max, I would choose CWebb in a heartbeat... How could the Rocket's big whigs justify passing on CWebb if they have a chance? ------------------ "all your base are belong to us!" "you have no chance to survive make your time!"
I don't think we have anything in ink. ------------------ We can reach our destination, but it's still a ways away.
Think about it this way... The Rockets promised money to Matt Maloney and Othella Harrington. They gave it to them. Chances are they said, in no specific terms, that they would be loyal to Mo and Shandon for playing for less. Seeing Minnesota's problems, you can bet they didn't even go into details. However, the Rockets have a reputation for being loyal to their players and doing what is best for them even if it means sacrificing a bit. You never hear of former players bashing the Rockets coaching staff or management. If the Rockets stiff Mo or Shandon, it would be very surprising to me and it should be to all of us. I really think they want Webber but I doubt they will want him at the expense of others who they like, want to keep and made promises to. ------------------ "You know what they say about the music business. Here today, gone TODAY! - Chris Rock at the MTV Music Video Awards
Great stuff. Can you possibly elaborate on these last few statements? It's just a bit surprising, and confusing, to hear that considering all the quotes from Rockets players, sources, and CWebb himself make it appear that the Rockets making a strong run for Chris. Do you expect the Rockets to possibly push hard at dealing Cato and Walt on draft day to possibly have room to sign both Mo and CWebb? Or, do you expect the Rockets to make a run at another FA like Antonio Davis (rugged, hard nosed rebounder/defender inside) and resign Mo instead of going after CWebb? This is all very interesting information, just trying to see if I can get a better handle on what it is the Rockets want to accomplish this summer. ------------------ "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club! Teams win and lose games, not individuals. Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com [This message has been edited by The Cat (edited February 26, 2001).]
Forget honor, if Shandon is the best option.. write him a check. If Mo is the only option, write him a check. What could have even been promised to Mo? He's gone out of his way to make it clear he might not be back in Hou next year. There's no reason to think that if Mo doesn't get a big payday that other FAs are going to think poorly of the Rockets. Hell, all the Rockets have to say is "he didn't rebound". Who's going to punish them for that? Other people that suck? Mo's been getting crap from the media his entire career, nothing he says is going to affect the image of the Rockets. For example, when Scottie said bad things about Dream and Charles... nobody thought poorly of Charles or Dream, they thought Scottie was a 2 year old. People don't think for themselves anymore. They'll remember that the Rockets overpaid Matt Maloney and/or that Rudy is a player's coach. That may or may not be currently true, but just like the way that people think that the Knicks are the best team in the East or that Pat Riley is a genius (when was the last time the guy got far in the playoffs???) they'll think favorably of Houston. ------------------
I dont think Shandon is a concern in Webber possibly coming here. Let's remember that Shandon would have to opt out of the last year of his contract to be a free agent, which I think he won't. I'm sure the Rockets have told him his pay day would come. ------------------
