A quick point before I get to my main point. We had Drexler here. We had Barkley here. We had Pippen here. Out of those three players, Barkley was the one we least wanted here because of what we had to give up to get him. We gave up Cassell and Horry who were instrumental in making Rocket history. Hell, you can argue that Cassell saved the Rockets when he single handedly won game 3 in MSG during the 1994 Finals. Now, when you look back, it was Barkley who showed the most class, them most desire and the most sacrifice to the team. The man took huge cuts in salary so that we can sign players that we needed. All the time he was here, he showed loyalty to a team that he needed to show none to. And he took Francis under his wing and tried to show him the way to being successful in this league. Dream never has showed that willingness to the team or to any players on it. Let's be fair. In addition, this year he has shown big time chinks in that armor of humbleness and loyalty that he portrayed for years. Yea, he has retracted his statements. He even has stated that he wants to now stay in Houston. Thats fine. But lets see him step up to the plate after this year. He wants to stay? He wants to show how much he loves the city? The team? The fans? Ok, then take a pay cut to remain here, Dream. Forget leaving. Forget the threats and the demands. He doesn't have game like you use to. He doesn't have 2 years-20 million dollar per year game anymore. He has 2.5 million dollar per year exemption game. Its obvious he fits into this system no matter what he says. If you can get 19 pts, 13 rebounds one night and 18 pts 14 rebounds the other, you fit, my friend. He will be 1 year older. But obviously he has something to offer. If we get a big time player, I say we should keep Dream and pay the exception (or whatever the hell its called) to keep him. A year by year basis just like the we did with Chuckster. And he should be more than happy to do that. No more b****in. No more whining. No more threats. No more demands. If he wants to stay, I say we keep him. But not at the risk of losing the cap room or at losing a chance to pick up key players in the offseason. ------------------ Sleepless in the Bronx
Problem is: Hakeem will count over $20m towards the cap while a free agent. We cannot compete for free agents until Hakeem signs a minimum contract or we renounce him. Either way, he can only expect a minimum contract from us. If he wants a middle class exception, mathematically speaking, that makes this Hakeem's last year as a Rocket. sigh!
Well said, Almu. We´ll see how much the Rockets mean for Hakeem. For better or worse. ------------------ President of the Official Welcoming Committee for Shareef Abdur-Rahim!
Why should he be happy to play for the minimum? He has nothing to prove. He owes the 'fans' and the city nothing. He's already accomplished everything there is to accomplish in the NBA. Just because Barkley was so desparate to win a ring that he decided to play for 1 mil (even though it was understood he'd make it back the next year--where's the sacrifice in that? Should we promise Hakeem more if he comes back in 2 years?) doesn't mean Hakeem has to. And what did Barkley show Francis? How to bash other players (Iverson) through the media and never make a shootaround? I don't recall Hakeem or Drexler throwing any midgets through windows either. Maybe they'd be viewed as more classy in that case?
almu, the middle class is no longer $2.5m. It will be over $4m (equal to league average). So: Shandon for the Early Bird (paid like Mobley) = $4m starting Hakeem for the same pay = $4m That would leave Mo' with what? Probably enough. But, forget about Webber. You've GOT to make Webber an offer. At the very least, we MUST do that.
No, Barkley showed Francis how to be patient, and focus more on basketball, and less on style, and to focus during team meetings instead of bringing cell phone etc. Barkley desperate for a ring? Sure, but name me another player that wanted a ring so badly that he put a championship ahead of money? A lot of player have millions of dollars YET they STILL go for the money instead of a ring. Look at Mitch Richmond, and Dominique Wilkins, and players like that. I don't remember Dream or Drexler throwing midgets through windows, but I remember Dream taking punches at people and hitting people and getting into fights, at Drexler blowing fans off when they asked for autographs and stuff like that. Everybody has their own personal skeletons in their closets. ------------------ Dream a deadly Dream. . . [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited February 08, 2001).]
heypartner, So the Rockets sit on making moves and contract offers until the Webber deal is decided? How will the current players take being in limbo until Chris makes a move? Mango ------------------ Spring Cleaning!!!
What about the veteran´s exception? ------------------ President of the Official Welcoming Committee for Shareef Abdur-Rahim!
The funniest part is the interim. What do you say to Mo while Webber makes the Rockets wait (on whether or not NY can get him)? "Uhhhh... I like you alawt Jen-naaaay but I can't go owt toniiiite. May-bee two-mar-O." Let's hope the Rockets don't lose out on Mo Taylor and Webber. edit: sorry Mango for the ditto, I must have been reading while you were posting. ------------------ [This message has been edited by Achebe (edited February 08, 2001).]
Achebe, Don't worry about it because it happens to me also. I usually leave mine in place because the timestamps show the overlap in events. If Webber seems ready to be a Rocket, could they end up in a situation similar to LA of having to slash and burn the payroll to sign Shaq? Mango ------------------ [This message has been edited by Mango (edited February 08, 2001).]
This is called the Minimum Salary Exception. It is a salary scale based on years in service, which equals $1m for Hakeem. Mango, I wouldn't sit. But now I wouldn't trade Hakeem either. No way! It is too fun to watch as a fan. Let nature take its course. Unless of course there is a conspiracy theory that has CD convincing Hakeem if he wants to be traded he is going to have to play better, and publicly say he doesn't want to be traded. Only then can CD bargain effectively. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited February 08, 2001).]
heypartner, If you go with the X-Files theory, then CD and Co would also have to sell Dream on another venue besides Miami because it is still near impossible to trade him there. He hasn't mentioned retiring this year, has he? Mango ------------------ Spring Cleaning!!!
HeyPee, what happened to "sit his ass on the end of the bench for the rest of the season. He can't be allowed to get away with what he is doing to the team". Oh, I see. Rudy is allowing him to make a contribution now. Not just at the beginning of each half. Now that he has done exactly what you said he shouldn't be allowed to do, it's okay, because he's fun to watch? ------------------
Sounds like a plan to me. IF Hakeem is willing to make the sacrifice for a Franchise who has arguably repaid him for the years he was underpaid. Let´s see how his character measures up to that. ------------------ President of the Official Welcoming Committee for Shareef Abdur-Rahim!
come on, now...this is not heypocrasy. The man changed his tune, so he didn't get away with it, did he. And I believe our first roar at the Summit had a lot to do with him changing his tune. let's not play the chicken-or-the-egg game. You aren't going to steal my thrill that Hakeem finally showed up with some ENERGY and apologized to us fans. We roared for him in the NY game. I think that made him feel great again...and he has been roaring ever since. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited February 08, 2001).]
Don't make me go back into some of your threads where you postulated that his apologies were insincere, heypocritical , self-serving, public relations b.s., etc. I'm too lazy to do that. Anyone who posts as much as you is bound to put up some crap sometime. It's the law of averages. ------------------
aelliott, not unless Dream goes off the books. In Almu's scenario, he doesn't, so we never get under the cap until after we re-sign him. In this scenario, we could use the mid-level on Dream, resign Mo' with the then-produced cap room, and use the Early Bird on Shandon. Not that I'm advocating that.
Alum, Although I do agree Hakeem should sign for less than market value next year, I don't agree that Hakeem has never shown the williness to teach younger players. Nor do I think it's fair to say that, because Barkely took a pay cut, he was more willing to sacrifice for the good of the team. When Barkley came to the rockets, he was at the end of his career and was desperately trying to win a championship before retirement. And if I remember correctly, haven't there been a number of players such as Othella Harrington and Jim Petersen, who have acknowleged Hakeem as a central part of their own development as players? ------------------ I am an invisible man.
