The future's so bright, we gotta wear shades! Yes, the future of the franchise is THAT bright. Why? I'll tell you why... It's Thanksgiving Day today. In February, no less. And here's what Rox fans have to be thankful for: * Our rookie (as a solo) GM did not panic and make any idiotic trades just because other teams were active. We may not have the components to win it all this year, but we've got a solid base and with another good off-season should be in a position next year to make a major full-season assault on the title. * Morey was smart enough not to give into temptation and pick up a half-season rental at a steep price (Artest). He realizes that even Artest probably couldn't get us the title this year. And if we want him that badly, he'll be available this summer. * Morey and Adelman didn't trade for an aging vet who might help this year, but is likely to tail off quickly afterward (Shaq, Kurt Thomas, Ben Wallace), as a certain bald-headed coach might have wanted to do if he were still around. * We didn't pick up any decent players with indecent contracts. In fact, we managed to get rid of one (MJ). * We got something in return for Bonzi, who would be walking away this summer anyway. Here's what that trade will look like as of July: Hornets have Mike James (and his contract!), Rox have Bobby Jackson, Adam Haluska, 2nd-round pick and the rights to Ukrainian forward Sergei Lishchuk (whoever the hell THAT is ). Doesn't look quite so lopsided now, does it? Bonzi was out of here after this year, and his presence wasn't going to get us to the finals this year anyway. * Sure, we didn't get Mike Miller, but his offensive skills very well might have been offset by his lack of D. And this team's identity has evolved as a tough, don't-give-in defensive unit. Again, things seem to be clicking now -- no need to panic and search for answers we might not even need. * Morey traded away two known headcases (MJ and Bonzi) and got no knuckleheads in return. Sure, Bonzi has toed the line so far this year, but there's no guarantee that would last. * We picked up a 2nd-round pick, and Morey has thus far shown a distinct ability to turn late picks into usable pieces. * Morey has undoubtedly done his homework already on Green and seems to think he's worth a small risk. That move could possibly end up being as big or bigger than the Landry or Brooks picks. And what did we risk? Kirk Freakin' Snyder! So WHAT?!? I look at the lack of major moves this way: Barring a miracle much bigger than Mike Miller or Ron Artest, the Rockets were not going to get to the finals this year anyway. So what's the point of possibly screwing things up in a desperate attempt to keep up with the Joneses? Screw the Lakers/Suns/Mavs and their moves -- the Lakers are the only team of the three who improved their chances at winning NEXT year and afterward. The Suns and Mavs need to get it done this year or they've missed their shot. Instead, the Rockets under Morey seem to be intent on building a solid team that will be in the running for the next FIVE years. More than before, I'm now convinced that we have an A-list GM in our midst, and he'll only get better with experience. He's smart, calm and has his eye on a near-term future championship, not a grasping-at-straws one this year. And every true sports fan knows that the key to becoming a consistently winning franchise is a great GM. So quit your whining, people. We should be celebrating, because we are on the right track. Put on your shades, and have a drumstick and a slice of pumpkin pie!
Don't forget this guy: <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mL-2BB4aj4E&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mL-2BB4aj4E&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object> DD
You forgot to mention things that happened before July of 2008: Hornets with Bonzi/MJ, was deep into the playoff and possibly reached conference final, yet for Rockets, playing either Lakers/Mavs/Sun/Jazz/Spur in the first round, had another disappointing early exit. The future does not look so bright after all
Reasonable? Green, Brooks, Landry are the future? Who said we wont be able to win it all this year if we have Miller or Artest? What about "ITS TIME", fool the fans, don't they?
The problem I have with the op logic is if they were planning this future thing, they shouldve kept gay. Another thing or problem is every team that's better than the rox, will probably be better next yr. Not to mention portland getting another lotto pick. Bynum is getting too good too fast, pau is 27, chris paul is the new isaih. Yet the rox had a chance to be great this yr with a 28yr old in artest. This isn't the rox team under cd I know. Yao and Tracy will be a yr older on old bodies. the future is bright.
1. the timberwolves are horrible. and 2. gerald green saw limited minutes on the timberwolves therefore 3. gerald green must be horrible because he couldn't find minutes on a poorly performing team. WRONG. you can't determine that just because the twolves suck, that those who aren't playing much for them suck exponentially worse. he was caught in a leaderless system with many other players that boast his same strengths: athleticism and athleticism. gerald has alot to learn, and apparently a mental block against doing so, and he may very well end up being a complete nba bust. however remember that you can't teach the things he brings to the table. defensive schemes and bball iq can be bestowed upon a player through experience and good coaching reinforcement. jumping out of the gym cannot. conclusion: an athletic player with his weaknesses, which happen to be team strengths of the rockets, has a good chance of learning and growing when given a strong support system. in minny he had no court leaders, no team identity, no coach. either he will stick out like a sore thumb and take snyder's inactive spot, or he will (hopefully) emphasize the hustle areas of the game which get you minutes more than the flashy, finesse aspects he has focused on so far. coming to houston is his 'last chance' to save his long-touted 'potential' from expiring, in the eyes of the other team executives (and potential future employers). combine that with hometown excitement, i think we will see a more motivated green than before.
Not panicking for giving away talent to top team？ Looks like the goal for this season is : Either win championship or save money. Since the first one is unlikely, they chose to achive the 2nd goal.
i think he'll be very good later on. he's just not mature yet to bring all that talent together. remember, tmac was considered a bum in his first 2 yrs and his coach at that time said he would be out of the league in 3 yrs when he was in toronto. u can see the talent in green. i think in the right setting, he could be a star. is it in houston in a few yrs? i don't know.
My hunch (and it's just that -- a hunch) is that Gerald the kid loved being on the Celts and was devastated at being traded to the worst team in the league. Instead of staying with the historical franchise and watching it reload under KG, Allen and Pierce, he gets shipped out to the NBA equivalent of Siberia. Some guys would handle it well, but maybe Green's immaturity got the best of him and he sulked -- which earned him a spot on the bench. There's no way he could average 10 PPG for the Celts last year and then completely lose his game over the summer. He just needs to grow up. I'd hope that returning to Houston will snap him out of his funk and get him the coaching he needs to be a solid NBA player. But you'd have to agree it's a remote chance: Adding a key ingredient and removing a key ingredient or two (hey, we'd have to give up something to get them) could have a negative effect. Who knows? I'm just saying the idea that one of those guys would magically propel us into the finals is optimistic, so say the least. Some of us are able to separate the realistic goals of the franchise from its marketing. Sure, they were hoping this would be the year. It's most likely not. Do you want to sacrifice next year to grab at smoke? The year after next? Safe and steady wins the race. Morey appears to be safe and steady. How is that NOT a great thing?
why in the world does it matter how young ron artest is when he is only a half season rental? even if we get artest this year, he has repeatedly expressed his intent to opt out of the deal and the end of this season, and the rockets wouldn't even have close to enough money to rework his contract and keep him long term. do you honestly think that 'the rockets team you know under cd' would move for artest???? i doubt you really know the rockets team, cd, or what the hell you are talking about.
He is doing the right thing! Have to face it that we are not gonna be the champ for this year. so get prepared for next year!
I still don't think the Bonzi move was mandated by Les. I think it was a Morey move all the way, with some insight from Adelman. The emergence of Landry has made Bonzi much less valuable for this team. With the exception of his outside shooting, Landry does much of what Bonzi did -- and does it with more athleticism and enthusiasm. And Landry won't be walking away for nothing at the end of the year. In return, we get a decent backup PG who knows the system and can hit from outside. And we dump MJ's salary and attitude. Hell, just replacing MJ's attitude with B-Jax's makes us a better team.
