It was unclear to me just what the Rockets were looking for from Landry. I asked Jonathan Feigen about it on his blog and he answered "Hi Jonathan, Do you know what types of tests Morey wants? I wasn't aware that there were non-invasive tests that would give them more information than an MRI and X-Ray could. Thanks, Michael (You are correct. Has to be arthroscopic. -- Jonathan)" It's prudent of the Rockets to demand exploratory surgery, but now I definitely appreciate Landry's reticence.
Thats a slap in Landry's face if true. MRI and x-ray should suffice, when Sharif Abdul-Rahim's deal was reneged on by the Nets MRI and x-ray were all that was needed to tear up his contract. Morey is screwing up signing this guy demanding tests like that and that ridiculous binding offer of $700K.
Wow,I can understand why the Rockets want it done too,but I don't think he will stay in Houston anymore if some other team offers him a contract unless they all insist on doing the same thing.
No he isn't. Other teams are definitely going to be scared to sign him for a good amount of years and such so why should we? I don't care if he is remorseful towards us, time heals pain and he'd eventually just play. We are talking about millions of dollars invested on a guy with a questionable knee.
Whenever you send out that offer sheet to keep a FA restricted its usually always done as the minimal amount..that 700k is the minimum amount, Morey doesnt really think that he will sign for that much, it just allows us to keep him restricted and see what kind of interest he gets before we make our real offer. Also, I think its important to demand the tests because in some cases it really is hard to tell (even with imaging done) exactly what is going on. AND its a good strategy to keep other teams from making high offers to Landry while we try and figure out what all we are gonna do.
My thoughts are it is a negotiating ploy by DM to ward off other offers. Where there is smoke there may be fire and maybe teams will shy away or keep the offers at a lower end of the MLE to save some for ROX to spend on other FA targets
I get that they might genuinely be worried about their investment...but if this is just a bargaining ploy to rob Landry of potential dollars, even as a fan, I don't like it. It doesn't seem like honest business practices...I like the Rockets being a classy organization.
While I think the "smoke screen" conspiracy theory may be somewhat true, there is definately just cause for Morey being extra cautious about Landry's knee. Landry had knee surgery his Jr. year in college. Now he has a 2nd round of knee problems. It's worth investigating.
I feel Morey is serious about it, not just a ploy. The rockets are a team that cannot afford more injuries.
I would bet Morey has already given Landry's agent a ballpark figure of what the rockets are willing to pay and Landry's agent balked while threatening to get some other team to offer Landry the full MLE or something close to that. Now Morey is requiring Landry to have extensive tests on his knee, which is Morey's way of playing hardball.
agree...morey isn't just protecting himself....but also trying to scare others away when he requested for that surgery..otherwise he wouldn't have gone public with it.
That's kind of how I imagine it playing out in my head too. This surgery test requirement might just be a requirement if Landry wants the full MLE. In which case, I might be okay with it if the scope shows no major damage.
The qualifying offer isn't an actual offer, it's really just a glorified option being employed. In Landry's case, a scope sounds alarming, but it's not superfluous. X-rays and CT tell you zip about cartilage. MR is very good at examining the integrity of ligaments/tendons and looking at inflammation...but it's not perfect for evaluating the condition of the cartilage on the joint surfaces of the knee (the big concern with Landry). You need a scope to tell with confidence if there are rough or bare spots, and where they are. Reading between the lines: The team fears a scenario of giving Landry a nice deal only to find out later he needs microfracture surgery. A scope is the only way they can no for sure if that's a danger. An exploratory scope is minimally invasive and isn't that big a deal at all - though no one likes the idea of any kind of surgery. I'll also say - most of you going crazy over Morey asking for this are the same that would ridicule him forever if he signed Landry and Landry turned out to be damaged goods. Evan
This is absolute genius. Regardless if it's a ploy or real concern. The name of the game is to get the best talent and KEEP the best talent. If the Rockets had to use the full MLE to keep Laundry because of an outside offer, they will likely do it but it henders their moves to get more talent. It's the cost of business for a 2nd round pick. It sucks that Laundry might not get more money but as a 2nd rounder, he is likely to get more than most late 1st rounders now (assuming his knee is OK). Now if he refuse to test and another team give the max MLE, then I would simple say goodbye to the guy because as we can all see, CL is a different person with good knees. If it's not in great shape, he is just another short PF who has a little range. It's a gamble for any team to give him big $$ if they are not sure about that knee. Let's hope it's fine and then we are in business.
Wow - Landry should have gotten it done in the regular season if so.......he should never have played the entire rest of the year...... DD
This is more about lowering his value than a requirement for surgery. I just calls it likes I sees it.
The guy has knee problems. The Kings signed SAR despite his knee problems, they might have regretted it but they thought enough of him to sign him despite his knee problems. If Morey is worried about Landry's knee, don't sign him because I can guarantee that sometime in the next few years Landry injures his knee again.
