Rashard Lewis is still showing Rudy T that he should have kept his promise and drafted him in the 1st when the Rox had 3 that year. He went off for 37 points, 17 in the 1st qtr beating the Lakers 108-93. He was 7-12 from the arc, as the Sonics lead by as many as 20 during the 2nd. Rudy must kick himself for not taking him. Even when they offered Lewis for Eddie Griffin, damn! Oh, BTW all 3 of our 1st rounders aren't in the league anymore and only one really ever worked out until a carreer ending injury came along
I'm with you on this one. No matter how much times passes I just can't let it go. Three first rounders and you wouldn't take a chance on a high school phenom right in your own backyard. Absolutely no exsuse, CD should be questioned about this every time he addresses the media.
Not drafting Houston's own Rashad was a big mistake. We should have at least kept our promise to him. I really felt bad for him. Why did we back out again?
Rudy and CD were great at discovering 2nd round talent, but were pathetic in getting good value in the first round. DD
But the kid said Rudy and CD promised to draft him. There in lies the issue at hand. I trully felt bad for him - he was crushed & dejected because he trusted them. But in all sincerity - no living human being trully keeps their words 100% of the time (that is the imerfect nature of the canal being). Life goes on though....
i can not imagine that Rudy T. looked at an 18 year old kid and told hiim unequivocally, that he would draft him. too many variables to ever make a promise like that.
Rashard's Alief fan base thanks Les for firing I mean allowing Rudy to retire. I hope he enjoys his ride on the LA Titanic. Karma is a bizzatch. There is no justification for drafting Bryce f'ing Drew when we had two similar point guards already on the roster. btw, why would Rashard lie? Why would Rashard cry on draft night? He was told if he was on the board, he would be taken.
Rudy has mentioned that they never promised Lewis anything. He said Rashard was their 4th choice player but he didn't last till the 41 pick. We were fortunate to get Mobley with that pick though.
Im not a bit sorry for not drafting lewis BECAUSE had the guy stayed in Houston and played for the rockets his performance would have slumped and he would have become a tad bit lazy, Now putting Lewis in another state and city has made him more mature and grown up. If anyone knew Lewis back in school and such the boy had everything handed to him and never grew up NOW that he is a seattle sonic and more than likely for life he will be a hall of famer!
Being a Lewis fan from Alief I don't blame Rudy nor did I want to see him leave. Now CD on the other hand... Bryce Drew I could even understand because at least he played for us...but MIRSAD TURKAN???? I talked to Rashard a couple times when he was a free agent and asked if he would sign with the Rockets. He said he would have signed for less with the Rockets but he still felt like he got the short end of the stick when they passed him up. It probably helped him out and when his contracts up I'll be he's willing to come back home to play, it's just a matter of if he's still a productive player by then.
You guys need to stop talking about CD.... Rudy had as much, if not more, input as to what deals should be made. He was almost like a co-GM... CD and Les dealt with the contracts, while Rudy, CD and his coaching staff (even Keith Jones, of all people) focused on the draft, free agents, and trades.
Drafting Rashard would've changed history. Thus probably no Yao Ming and No Tracy McGrady, who wanted to play with Yao.
I think with the time they would have had to meld together, Cat, Steve and Rashard could have the Rockets currently in the upper echelon. FYI - Rashard is averaging same PPG as T Mac (not saying he's better, just interesting)
Not drafting Rashard was bad. But the worse move was not trading Griffin for him when we had the chance. If we make that trade we still would have had Yao (he was already drafted). Plus, we still could have trade Francis+ for Mcgrady.
