I think it's pretty obvious at this point. He tells us to read between the lines and see the Morey is satisfied with the team when he refuses to read the actual lines: Yep, sure does sound like he wants to stand pat. We turned Vspan into Scola and acquired Landry for basically cash. I don't think GATER will give Morey props no matter who he brings in.
I take Morey at his word. He's only been in the GM seat, alone, for one year. But so far, I don't recall him saying one thing and then going in a totally different direction. When he does give hints, there's usually not enough information to be accused of "tipping his hand." I also think he does "his" homework... which is probably more statistically oriented than most GM's. I think he has already "worked up" what "likely" trade deadline scenarios there will be next season. With so many variables, that sounds like a stretch. But that wouldn't keep him from trying. (All his previous conversations with other GM's allow him to also "read between the lines" a bit.) Look for something similar to the '94-95' season, when the Rockets had just won their first Championship the previous year, but by midseason traded for Clyde Drexler. I think a coach is going to give a group that won 22 straight games, the opportunity to play a first half of a season, hopefully healthy, to see what happens. Morey seems to have done OK in taking Landry. I think he'll do OK in the upcoming draft. The Rockets will be content to hopefully add another "future" talent. Several observers (former players included) have said that it takes more than one season for a team to fully absorb Adelman's system. This group has shown they are competitive and they now have one year of trying to learn to see the game through his eyes. They will all learn more AND play more of his system next season. The more second nature it becomes the better the results will be. I think Rockets management, by consensus, thinks this to be the most prudent strategy. (Disclaimer: Health/injuries and offers by other teams can always alter your strategy.)
I'm not that big on Alexander, it looks like he has alot of upside but you would probably have to wait several years before he were to recieve any clock with the rockets. He didn't shoot a high % in college, but he's an incredible athlete. Who would replace Landry with that is proven and how much would it cost in dollars and chemistry?
Sir. Charles decided to come out of the woodworks and play another season to get a final shot at the ring with the rockets.
First and foremost, Van Gundy said it and I believe it. The Rudy Gay trade was ALL Morey. If you like Battier, you give props to Morey. If you think as I do that the trade sucked, you have a whole different frame of reference. That's the reason that I highlighted Morey's "we're one player away" comment. If the Rocket's don't get a clue, they'll continue to be one player away. Secondly, I'm not even going to bother debating Landry or a full MLE player. Landry is NOT worth a full MLE...LLE at best. If you can't look at the summer's MLE-level FA's and not find at least one player better than Landry...you're just not being realistic. Take off the Homer Glasses...he's another injury from being worthless. Placing the re-signing of Landry above other potetial talent upgrades is extremely unwise. Every summer since Yao I've tried to highlight the Rocket's flawed personnel choices only to get shouted down by a vocal few. It's funny how I no longer hear a peep out of the Luther Head fans that arm-wrestled with me all summer after the draft when I told them Head was too short. Funny how so many posters now wish we had a 20 ppg scorer like Rudy Gay. And none of the Battier fans want to point out that their stat hero John Hollinger now ranks Gay well ahead of Battier. It will be just as sad and ironic if/when Landry is the only 2008 FA signing. Going into the 08-09 season with essentially the same roster and waiting until the trade deadline to unload BJax is pure insanity. They just don't have enough talent to compete with the WC elites.
hey isn't there a rule that says that Landry can only be offered (at max) what the Rockets can offer him? (the gilbert arenas rule) so, if we used the mle at the beginning of free agency, then wouldn't the max Landry could get from another team be the LLE?
Was this posted anywhere? http://www.***************/Story.asp?story_id=8919 Until now the thinking has been that Derrick Rose will go as the top overall pick, and that will undoubtedly be the case. Across the board the consensus opinion is that he's the difference-maker in this draft. It's also believed that Michael Beasley will go #2, but as teams start to realize that his 6' 7" frame (though he's listed at a generous 6' 9") is not particularly suited to the four spot, things could get interesting. A number of GM's told HOOPSWORLD that they're actively shopping their picks, with the Houston Rockets being the only playoff team really looking to move up (presumably to grab Courtney Lee). I don't know why we'd aim for Courtney Lee. He could probably be had at our current spot. Interesting that we might be aiming to move up, if true.
Just a whole lotta smooth talking. We'll just take them out and get them drunk must be the strategy that concieved this notion. Guys - we would have to give up Yao or Tmac to get a top 3 pick in this draft.
Thank you. He is smarter than 99.9% of the members on this forum and knows more basketball than all but a few as well. He didn't get the job by being an idiot.
Pretty much what I've been screaming. Waiting on the trade deadline could equal lottery for the rox. What happens when tracy misses his 12 games and the team is fighting for thei playoff lives? Teams will know ur desperation and get more from u. I think its imperative they make the deal right after july 1. My gut tells me nothing is going to happen.
i don't think anyone of us would doubt that morey would hesitate to make a move when an opportunity presents itself, be if off-season or during the season. we as fans sometimes tend to want a move just for the sake of making a move so that we have some new faces in town. patience is a virtue.
Seems to me the Rockets plan is too take the best player available with thier pick, then wait till the trading deadline to see which team is willing to blow it up after a season of dissapointment. Free Agency will probably be minor with most of it going towards Landry. Its possible we trade up with cash or some minor expiring, but I dont think its likely unless the scouts see some sort of hidden gem in the draft. Latest mock draft has us taking Batum (sp?), which hopefully covers backup wing time, leaving us with holes at backup center and pg, perhaps even an upgrade at the pf. (btw, what ever happened to Tsak?) So with this logic, the most intriguing question to me becomes who will be the Chicago Bulls of this upcoming season, ie who is most likely to implode and tear it apart for rebuilding. My guess is Milwaukee, Dallas, Golden State, Denver, Memphis, Clippers or Washington, with San Antonio and Phoenix being possible but unlikely. (bolds being most likely) Odds are Detroit will have major shakeups before the season, so I dont see them as an option. It will be interesting to see what happens on draft day, I predict a ton of transactions. Personally I like our team, and if it works on all cylinders it has a chance to be a contender, but odds are we won't with the number of injuries to the players who are the most important to our style of play. Therefore I always hope for a third superstar to come into play at the cost of one of our glue guys. Sure Battier is amazing, as is Scola, but I would let one of them go with our expirings to get another great player (Mello, Redd, Miller, Artest, etc.) Anyway, just my 2 cents
As you pointed out, Morey will wait for an opportunity to present itself. However, the good GMs forsee opportunities and open the door. The great GMs create the opportunities and seize them by the throat.
I stil think the greatest return would be an upgrade in medical personnel. What good is getting another player, if they are injured all the time? Nobody agrees though.
I agree with you on points before, but how in the world is this foolish? I'm on record as saying I would let Landry walk if the price is too high. But you have to say you'll match any offer he gets, regardless if you're willing to do it or not. This makes teams shy away from losing 2 weeks of their free agency by being bound to an offer sheet. How is this a bad strategy?!? I think he offers Landry the LLE, and sits tight until he accepts it or another team gambles. There are several good FA's this year (I'm praying for Maggette) that won't get more than MLE money. I think there will be a waterfall of signings after the teams WITH cap room make their decisions. I think Morey can afford to wait, and hope Landry takes the LLE - which would leave us with the full MLE to play with. Now if Les refuses because of the luxury tax, I'll be pretty pissed. But I'm trying to be optimistic here. I also think Battier is gone one way or another.
Am I the only person here that expects Landry to blow up next year? I'm not talking All-Star status, but I definitely see him adding some stuff to his game and continuing to develop into a stud. Look at players like T.Prince, D.West or Calderon. Solid dudes that just continued to get better. I liked what I saw from Landry and I expect him to do the same. Sometimes the players on your roster just need to get better (see LA prior to the Gasol trade and Bynum injury). And as another poster already said, expiring contracts have more value right before the trade deadline. I have no issue holding onto dudes and getting right come playoff time. As long as we stay healthy we should compete.
