Rockets are all over the media right now. Even Clutchfans is getting some love, I just heard David Jacoby mention Clutchfans on David and Jacoby.
DM praised Leslie A about never shying away from spending money, and that $$ will never be an issue. Also talked about meeting a couple players today and 3 or 4 more on Saturday. Says that Rockets always like to meet the players in person, not over the phone. Say that deals are are usually given to the players at the table. Always hoping that the players choose to take a little less because that always help going forward. Talks about Rockets having full MLE and BAE and other contracts to go and get a MAJOR rotational piece (the NG contracts). He says, not by name, but the discussion for PG are on going for a very long time, and that it is up to respective Gms to make the deals. Says there are times when he doesnt call Gms back or that the other way around, but usually he doesnt try to strain relationships and return calls. Rockets have the best winning percentage behind the Spurs since 2007.
M&M: Good Morning Daryl DM: Good morning thanks for having me on M&M: Let's start with this. Obviously you take two individual stars, no brainer but they like basketball in their hands. How was your conversation with MDA regarding this. DM: Simple conversation with coach MDA about bringing him in. Best in the game with the ball obviously. Mike said it is a no brainer. Worked with both of them in team USA and this is a big upgrade Right now we have 6 rotation players, 6 very good ones in my mind. Long way to go from 6-15. One of the reasons we did this early is it gives us the mid level, bi annual and a trade exception of 10-12. M&M: Only Spurs and Celtics have a better record since Morey took over in 2007. DM: I correct you. 2nd best. I'm ahead of the Celtics. Come on man. Spurs ahead of all of us. Hopefully one day we can get there M&M: How much of Warriors forming that group ahs dictated to you what you must do. DM: Yeah very much. When you have a star in his prime like you have with James Harden and Chris APul now. We are trying to get to that 60 win level. If you get there you have a good chance of winnign it all. With GSW, Cavs and Spurs and esp that GSW juggernaut, it's still going to be tough M&M: About going all in? If you have to beat GSW you have to pay a decent amount of luxury tax. Is that a conversation with the owner? DM: Never a conversation with my owner. He has been spending big time ever since I got here. Before Cp3 trade, we did 6 trades. Spending is a given and blessed to have an owner in Les who lets me do what I need to do. M&M: In FA conversation of wine and dine etc is the fact of not having pay state tax a part of the discussion? DM: Yes it is. It's not just on the court but off the court too. In a competition of 30, we have to use every tool we have to the players and we do use that. M&M: Today Free agency opens. What does a NBA GM do at 12:01AM? DM: Usually in the West Coast because 12:01AM is 9:01AM. Epicentre of NBA free agency is Los Angeles. Lots of agents and players are there. TONIGHT WE ARE HOPING TO MEET WITH SOME PLAYERS AORUND 9.30 OR 10.00. SATURDAY WE ARE HOPING TO MEET WITH 3 OR 4 MORE PLAYERS. Usually lot of flights since we like to meet people in person. LA, Orlando, New York etc. First day or two you are out with offers there. Dictated by CBA or we have the mid level like us with the number set. Lot of times CBA dictates the number (60-70%) of the time. Other times you are fighting with numbers 1 - 10 million where you are debating with the free agent. Usually days 2-5 If you are not getting a call by 4th July, you are probably not getting minimum at all. M&M: Yours is a team that has been highly rumored to be involved in deals for players that require trades. I know you can't comment. But take us through the process of trades. DM: Conversations been going on for a while. It is an ongoing discussion depending on GM's involved and their personal styles. Sometimes can go longer, sometimes quicker. Like when Clippers approached as about an opt in trade, we did it quickly to avoid competition from 30 other teams and left us flexibility. M&M: When calling other GM's, never got a return call or never returned a call DM: If it's call saying please call back, always returned. If it's a call saying hey this is the base of the proposal, sometimes not returned. Not my style. It's a strategy to see how many times GM's will call to see if they are motivated or desperate. M&M: May 10, 2007 since you took over. Spurs .714, Celtic 0.598, Rockets 0.595. However, if you include latest games, Rockets are indeed 2nd. Is that level of detail enough to get him into your analytics team? DM: I would love to meet him. I'm on the road now.. =================================================================== I'm not J.R. but I tired me best....
Is this not against the rules? 12:01 A.M. is the start time, no? Is this not against the rules? D'Angelo Russell is licking his chops
I didn't listen to the interview but I assumed he meant those are cities where the players are during the summer. But if we want toto speculate isn't Vince Carter from the Orlando area Rockets will leave no stone unturned
He was talking about in the past. In the past we've had to go from California to Orlando to New York to Las Vegas to back to California.
Morey is hungry.... food for the quadruple chin M: Yeah very much. When you have a star in his prime like you have with James Harden and Chris APul now. We are trying to get to that 60 win level. If you get there you have a good chance of winnign it all. 55 wins are as close to 60 as it can probably get...... Playoffs is still another monster.
morey's a ****in rockstar now! showing everyone that a krispy kreme-cheeseburger eating lean meachine can dominate the offseason.
Ibaka is in Orlando this weekend, his agent Andy Miller is holding Lowry meetings there too. Let's goooooo