I have to say too... The Houston Rockets are not cheapskates. Morey and Alexander have proven time and again that they are very, very willing to pay a lot for players they value. That there is this standoff says to me that Motiejunas doesn't believe in his ability to get his value up over the coming season, that B.J. also thinks this may be his last contract and is trying to get what he can while he can even though his client's value is at rock bottom, and more than anything that the Rockets' front office are unsure of his present and future prognosis and abilities. People have pointed out how much they were willing to pay for Brewer and Anderson and Gordon. I'd add Beverley to that list. At the time, he got a sweet contract. They also renegotiated with Harden just to give him his raise early--and of course to get another year's commitment from him, but they sure paid a lot to get it. The people that have made this point are right. This isn't a team that is shy about long contracts or about high contracts if they believe in a player. For anyone still making any case otherwise, D-Mo's value is still in serious doubt or there is ZERO reason the Rockets don't lock him up at 8 million per year. With salaries being what they are not only does Corey Brewer make 8 million per year, he probably deserves to make 8 million a year because 8 million a year is not very much anymore. With salaries being what they are, there is zero logic to the Rockets lowballing him unless they're genuinely concerned about his ability to contribute. And, with salaries being what they are, there is no reason for D-Mo not to sign a one-year deal (and I mean insist on a one-year deal) and get a REAL payday next summer unless he is genuinely concerned about his abilities as well.
Why don't they offer him the $4.5M contract with incentives thrown in? An extra mil if he plays 50 games, or an extra $2M if he stays off the injured list for the entire year? There's got to be some way to get him to sign without taking on unnecessary risk.
What it'll come down to is that if he doesn't play, and the team needs him, Morey will have to answer for why he chose penny pinching over getting the best team possible out on the court. The team has problems in the front court that could be easily improved but right now both parties are sticking to their guns. We'll see how it plays out but if the team loses even a few games that they could have won with better front court depth and the team misses the playoffs by a few games.....well it'll be hard to explain. Also the more that Ryan Anderson disappoints it'll be harder and harder to explain why Morey thought Anderson was worth 20 mil a year for 4 years completely guaranteed yet stuck to his guns about 4.4 mil for DMo. Also, DMo always has the option of heading back overseas where he's from so it's not like he can't make money playing basketball without the Rockets. American players would have to completely uproot themselves to go play overseas, he'd just have to go home.
As for the first part of your post, if the Rockets had confidence right now he could be a difference-maker they would have offered him more already. They're offering what they (and the league) think he's worth. wrt what I quoted, that is true but only if he never wants to play in the NBA again. If he goes away and ever wants to come back he'll be a RFA for the Rockets again. If he believes in himself give me one good reason he doesn't sign one low deal to get a bonanza this summer. If D-Mo can still play what is his reason for wanting a multi-year lowball contract? If he's a contributor why would he want to lock in for three years at 8 million? If he's any good at all when he comes back, he will get so much more than that. What is your reasoning for him wanting a multi-year contract at a low salary?
Well if they don't believe that he can be a difference maker, it doesn't really matter does it? Why would they want him back at all if that's the case? Perhaps they don't and he really should head back overseas. The Rockets can always try to fix their awful front court situation elsewhere right? The way I see it, would you want to work for less than half of what you think you are worth while others are being paid ridiculous contracts like the ones given out to Anderson and Gordon? Hell if the Rockets paid him comparable money to what they gave Brewer given the new CBA since then they'd be paying him over 10 mil a year.....and Brewer is the most worthless non rookie on the roster. If it's me, I'd have already headed back home and carried on with my life. I'm not going to stay working in a foreign country for less than half what I think I'm worth when I can easily get work closer to home.
Christ.... Some folks just can't get a grip on reality. That's what happens when you stick with agendas. Morey let's the market decide RFA's worth and DMo simply isn't worth anything in the NBA. The longer he holds out the worse it looks for him. It's clear that his back is a major issue since he won't bet on himself.
I think Faried can work well on a team like the Pacers where the C and the SF can spread the floor. Even then, you'd need a backup who can shoot. For better or worse, teams are now built to punish PF's who can't stretch. But given we have Capela and Nene whose games are inside 10-15 feet it would be tough for us. I'd be surprised if Faried fetches anything of significance for them.
For those saying that the Rockets should offer him more, why should they if they aren't 100% positive that he is healthy and that his back will hold up? Obviously DMo hasn't been in camp to prove that he can actually play in games without being hurt. And the Rockets see that Bev is hurt again right after they paid him. DMo has no leverage whether the Rockets have no PFs or not, because who wants to pay anything for a player that can't stay on the court. It's not about DMo's skills or ability to help this team if he plays, it's about whether or not he can stay healthy enough to play. That's why the offer is what it is. It's not Rocket Science.
It has to sting seeing scrubs like Jon Leuer and Solomon Hill get the type of money they got, but Dmo just needs to play this season and he'll get just as much if not more next season.
And there has been plenty of clues here folks. Do you really think these guys are so dumb that they're giving away $150,000 a game? Get real. Wake up. Smell the coffee. The only dumb ones are the ones that keep saying DMo and his reps are dumb.
Not sure why people are wanting to cave to a guy that FAILED A ****ING PHYSICAL!! That alone should send warning flags. IMO Rockets know his back is a very high risk and are unwilling to bring him back unless they get the contract they want.
I guess me and a whole lot of other people.... Very curious DMo wouldn't bet on himself when he can get a max contract next year with a rising cap if he truly thinks he can stay healthy and produce. Morey let the market set the price on DMo, and the market said the QO was his price. Yule C that you've clouded your judgement sooner than later.
