You know, it is all talk until you actually accomplish something; 15 years is a very long time in basketball terms. Look at the Thunder, they go from vagabond to contender in how many years? The Rockets are where they are because of more than injuries. I would think drafts, trades, and contracts might have something to do with it. Morey is a relative newcomer and gets something of a break. Les is another matter, he picked the coaches, managers, and to some extent the players over the last 15 years. He has also been stubborn about not "cutting bait" in lost causes. I don't think he is necessarily cheap, I think he has had some poor advice and has made some ill advised moves. I don't think success is defined in just championships, but good grief this has been a relatively "dry" stretch since 95.
That is interesting, where are you hearing that? Because I doubt very much the Rockets would say anyhing other than that, even though to most people it is quite obvious that it was a cost cutting move. Yeah, sorry, I think it was a major consideration, if it was not financially motivated, why give up Ariza at all? Just use the trade exception to get Lee. Cool. DD
The Nets couldn't do the deal with Indy and New Orleans without Ariza. The Rockets had to give up Ariza in order to get Lee, who apparently is the player they valued more highly. I have a reliable source on this (valuing Lee over Ariza), and that is all I will say about that. If you choose not to trust me, that is your prerogative.
If our front office really liked Lee as a player better than Ariza, then this 15 year drought has only just begun.
If the Blazers had drafted Durant, the Thunder would be a nonstory. All these great teams drafted a superstar that doesn't suffer perpetual injuries. Plus you aren't counting the Sonics years.
I think you are a great guy, but just because someone says they have a source does not make it true, or even that their source knows what they are talking about. I mean Morey is out there marketing to the masses these days, you have to look beyond his words. Actions are where the truth lies. When thinking of Morey remember these words, keep your friends close and your enemies closer...hehe So, while I believe your source told you that, I choose not to believe your source. Unless you have some cooberating data etc.....of course.. DD
i believe ur wrong b/c lee is the younger player and has a great amount more potential than did ariza. the only thing that arizas improved in his tenure in the league has been his spotup jumper and even so its mediocre at best. i think ariza completely ignored the ball-handling drills throughout his career and IMO that had he put work on his ball handling skills he could have been a vastly better player in his ability to create. lee plays sound, disciplined defense on his man and always stays in front. lee's got better ball handling skills, and his ability to create is much better than that of ariza and so far, i havent seen lee take a swing at an opposing player when frustrated
15 years since the Rockets have been to the Finals 14 years since the OKC Thunder/Sonics have been to the Finals. Lottery appearances in the last 15 years. 6 Rockets 8 Thunder/Sonics 15 years since the Rockets from their last ring. 21 years since OKC Thunder/Seattle Supersonics from their last ring.
cjstukenholtz, haha. Thanks, my friend. I don't know I got that wrong. My little sister was born around the time and she definitely ain't 21.
[Chron] Morey continues to evaluate, think long term http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7318348.html [rquoter] Ever the analyst, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey pledged he will not act impulsively. Frustration aside, decisions will not be made emotionally or even to address the Rockets' crash toward the NBA's worst record. But Morey promised the Rockets' problems won't be ignored. Whether he addresses them through roster changes will depend, he said, on long-term goals, rather than to inject immediate help. But he said with the disappointing season, he is learning about his roster, even with the injuries to Yao Ming and Aaron Brooks. "You're always learning about the team and the players, both good and bad," Morey said. "Obviously, right now, we're not playing as well as we'd like. I think (seeing) how guys respond to slumps, how guys respond to tough games and how they respond to being in tough situations, I do think you learn. You're learning all the time. I think everything matters." With Monday's blowout loss in Dallas, the Rockets fell to 5-12. They have brought worse records into December in only five seasons. Mingling with that frustration, tonight's game with the Lakers reminds of where the Rockets were two seasons ago. They seemed on the upswing when taking Los Angeles to seven games before the Lakers won the first of consecutive championships. And they seemed poised for a good season when they opened in Los Angeles, losing in the final minute. The emotions that come with the Rockets' unexpected struggles could become stronger . But Morey said he will not make moves to seek immediate improvement unless they help with larger goals. "Every move we make is very long-term (oriented)," Morey said before last week's loss in Charlotte. "The most we might focus is medium term, but we still keep the long term in mind. You have to (ignore the record). Our goal is to win a championship. It's not to be 7-7 versus 4-10. Winning approach "We have to maintain our championship hopes. Obviously, some of that is maintaining a winning approach. Maybe that's where (seeking immediate improvement) creeps in. But I think everything we do move-wise is focused on how do we get closer to being a championship roster." With that in mind, the Rockets don't seem likely to sell off long-term assets during the season to kick-start rebuilding. They have players — Yao, Shane Battier, Chuck Hayes, Jared Jeffries - with expiring contracts, keeping the window to make changes open while potentially alleviating urgency to rebuild. Lost starters problematic Some of the evaluations would seem difficult without Brooks and Yao, who played only three games together this season. The losses of the starting point guard and center have been significant, but they also reveal whether the team can play well under such adversity. "I think it's true that some of our players are set up to play with guys, to play with Yao and Aaron, obviously," Morey said. "That's part of why they are on the team. That said, we've always been a team that had players injured. We'll take bets on players with more talent, even with an injury history. And so how guys respond when players are injured I think matters as well. We factor everything in." Trades are relatively rare in the weeks before Dec. 15, when players signed as free agents in the previous offseason are eligible to be dealt. Talks tend to escalate in the first weeks of December, which is when Yao and Brooks could return if they are cleared to play in the minimum projected time. For now, improvements will have to come from within as the Rockets try to find ways to stop losing late in games . "We certainly do it to ourselves," coach Rick Adelman said. "That's what I've been talking to the team about. We have to find a way to win. We have to find a way to finish games. It can turn in a hurry to the other way. That's what they have to understand. It's not going to happen just because we want it to. We have to go out and make it happen. "It's hard to keep going. It's hard to keep saying the same thing. But that's the only way you can do it." Those late-game situations are evaluated, Morey said, not just for performance under pressure but for response to the league's better defenses. Evolving evaluations "We look not necessarily how they play in the clutch; we look at how they play against top defenses," Morey said. "We look at when they play better against teams that are defending harder. How we do that is something we've worked on. In terms of how we're evaluating personnel, obviously we're not a championship roster now. We're always asking, 'Will he fit on a championship roster?' That's what we're looking at constantly." [/rquoter]
Question.. is it possible for the Rockets to acquire the rights to swap 1st round picks with another team in addition to the Knicks? For example, if they traded Kyle Lowry to the Kings for matching salaries + rights to swap 2011 1s -- is that legal under the cap? Technically, THEY have the right to swap with either team so it doesn't complicate another teams obligation.
