First things, first: <h3>Bench Hakeem until he stops complaining</h3> DO NOT WAIVE HIM for his benefit, unless it is a "Trade and Waive". Bullard is loving these kids and adopting their fun. Hakeem can, too. I never believe in accommodating a complainer, unless they are your team's current superstar. For instance, as a coach, I would have always accommodated Rodman (like Daly did) and Iverson (like Thompson did), because it is your primary job to develop a team around your stars. That is what the fans want, to root for the stars. But, support-players who complain must not get their way, or complaining will rule the locker room, and you throw team chemistry to the wind. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited January 18, 2001).]
Really, HP? It's hard to believe you would really accommodate a player, superstar or no. Set up a different set of rules for one guy and you're just asking for trouble with everyone else. BTW, I wouldn't say Rodman was ever anyone's superstar. With the Pistons that team revolved around Zeke and Joe. The Spurs were the Admiral's team (that pansy!). Rodman was never more important to the Bulls than Michael or Scottie. ------------------ "Thirty-seven?" -Randall, Clerks www.clutchtown.com
You know, I don't pretend to know what the best choice is in this situation, assuming that Vancouver is even willing to do the SAR trade anymore. I can be convinced either way it seems. I suppose, if anything, I lean towards letting Hakeem's contract expire, and attempting to sign Mo and SA back so we can keep our good chemistry going. I am a big fan of chemistry. But regardless, the decisiosn that Les and CD and Rudy make in this whole big mess are going to be the make or break choice of this team for years to come. And, considering that Les and CD and Rudy have made great decisions in the past regarding what players to draft, sign, etc., I think I will trust in them to make the right deciscion. I mean, I screamed at the Rockets organization after last years draft like many others, but boy howdy did I shut up after what all this years rookies are doing. Les, CD and Rudy saw something I didn't, and I entrust them to do it again. ------------------ "Of course, everything looks bad if you remember it!" Homer Simpson
What are the rookies doing? I keep hearing great things about the rookies, but they aren't even getting minutes. ------------------ We're going to stay together until something happens, if something happens. - Sidney Lowe on Shareef's career in Vancouver.
Sam, in college I would agree with you. But in the NBA, if the coach cannot win over the superstar, it is his fault. We are talking about a professional man's career who worked his whole life to accomplish a title. The coach is just there to faciliate the superstar's drive for a ring. That is why we fired coach after coach until Rudy constructed an offense around Hakeem. That is why Bird fired Fitch. That is why Magic hired Riley. That is why Jordan got his way. The coaches as disciplinarians of superstars is not a good approach in the NBA. If Larry Brown wasn't able to win over Iverson this year, I would have fired him, not traded Iverson. It is well known that trading a true superstar is wrong. It is better to fire the coach. So, I extrapolate this to benching all complainers who don't agree with a system than makes the superstar happy. So yes, superstars are special, and they get special rules concerning playing time and system design. The off court stuff is overblown, in my opinion. Rodman was a superstar, and he always came to play, as long as he respected the coach and team. We could argue about how hard it is to accommodate difficult people like Rodman and Iverson, but that is off-topic. Hakeem is not the superstar now, so he is just your average complainer. You cannot allow complaining from role players, especially public complaining. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited January 18, 2001).]
Achebe, I think the reference to this years rookies is that all the rookies this board was lusting after aren't doing much. Rocks recognized this and acquired an extra 1st round pick next year while acquiring a guy (Collier) that is doing as much as any of the picks around him. ------------------
I think he meant the whole rookie crop isn't doing anything, thus ours are fine, and we didn't really make any mistake. The trade down by itself was our best move.
Sit him on the bench. I reckon Hakeem and the Rockets had already had discussions before Dream went public with his whine on Tues. I reckon the Rockets mgmt were trying to swing deals for him before Dream made his "announcement". I reckon the Rockets might even have known the timing of Dream's announcement. Dream going public reduces his trade value. Dream knows (or at least should have known) that. Dream's trying to strong-arm the team. It can't be allowed. Dream even mentioning being waived is outragaeous. It's mathematically impossible for any team to sign him until he clear waivers. If we waive Dream, we have to pay his salary. Why the **** would we waive Dream, pay his $16M, then let some other team have him for the minimum? We'd be giving some team a top-10 center for almost nothing. Why on earth would we do that?!? Pippen wanted out. He went public with "Charles is fat and he sucks" in an attempt to force the Rockets to trade him. How is this any different than what Dream did? Dream used a little more tact, yes. Dream is everyone's favorite player yes. But Not even Pippen had the audacity to ask to be waived. So, just sit him on the bench. Maybe Dream will change his mind after a few weeks on the pine. Maybe other teams will realize we're serious when he never comes off the bench and his trade value will increase. Dream cannot be allowed to strong-arm the team.
My 2 cents, Dallas Gets: Olajuwon ($16.7m) Gives: Bradley ($8.4m) and Laettner ($6.7m) Houston Gets: Bradley or Laettner, Player(s) from a 3rd team, picks Gives: Olajuwon 3rd Team (Heat, Suns, Others) Gets: Bradley or Laettner Gives: Players in the last year of their contract or/and good young players or/and draft picks. Bradley, Laettner and Olajuwon will be a FA this summer. ------------------
I think that the best thing for the Rockets to do is to follow some of y'alls advice and release(trade) Hakeem since the probability of us working a deal is lessening by the minute. I think that if we released Hakeem for the Pacers or Sixers to sign then they both have the type of players we are looking for. Ratliffe or maybe Bender/Harrington and player in their last year for Walt sounds about right. ------------------ Calvin Murphy for President!
Where's Doc Rocket? He started this thread & hasn't been heard from since. Doc, is the "Hand Shake Deal" dead or is it still being looked at? ------------------
maybe we can hire Tonya Harding and then Hakeem can be kept on IR with a legitimate injury. ------------------ CUT Tino These Heaves are just getting Ridiculous!
Honestly i would be very content with this lineup Cato/Haywood(or another available big man) Mo/Kenny/collier Griffin/Rogers Shandon/Mobley/Walt Francis/Mooch ------------------ President of the Charles Barkley fan club...Oh he retired? When?
man, I felt the passion in that post. *outrageous" I agree. I think his trade value will increase again as we get closer to the trade deadline. Not sure if that helps though, as the only trade that can be made is my arguably illegal idea of a "trade and waive". I think it is simply a matter of precedence for Rudy and CD to demand commitment to a system. Hakeem, shut up. You are not being waived. And until you go public with your desire to help this team by freaking playing not waiving goodbye then sit the f!ck down! [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited January 18, 2001).]
Such hostility! I'm glad this issue has at least brought out strong opinions in our members. Makes for an interesting read. As for "shut up and play" - its hard for a player to help his team on the court when he's been placed on the IR with a fake injury. ------------------ "Thirty-seven?" -Randall, Clerks www.clutchtown.com
Sam, if that was a fake injury, he was being benched for complaining then. Hope you don't think we are being hostile with you.
No no, the hostility is luckily directed at Dream and not me. I honestly enjoy the discourse and debate, and I hope my comments don't piss anyone off. And I don't think it was a benching for whining: first because I've never heard of such a thing and second because his gripes about his role came earlier in the season. Lately Hakeem had been pretty quiet (at least publicly) about his place on the team, that is before Tuesday's comments. ------------------ "Thirty-seven?" -Randall, Clerks www.clutchtown.com
Did anybody see what I mean? He actually challenged a couple of shots tonight, which is a couple more than usual (there were articles in the local papers about his weak D the last few days), but I think generally his shortcomings were apparent. ------------------
A lot of what transpires between now and tipoff 2001-2002 is sequential. Here's how I see the sequence: 1) Dream is NOT going anywhere - his contract is too big and his value is too small. Contenders would have to gut their rosters and wannabee's are less likely to value capspace in a thin FA market. Bottomlime, Hakeem has very little practical value to other teams. The only positive to letting Dream walk (and I don't favor it) is that SA, Mo T & Moochie's contracts could then be negotiated during this season thus making some of the decision making process easier (a bird in the hand so to speak). Do what's needed to teach the young team a low post game to compliment the ISO's and outside-in style. (Am I the only one tired of Mo & KT at the 5?). This is needed for serious future playoff contention. Start the process now. Massage Dreams ego a little for old times sake. 2) Unless the Kings get swept in the 1st round of the playoffs and Webber stomps out mad as h***, the Lottery is next. Phase II Reload begins with a shot blocking, rebounding Center. Even with a winning record, the Rocks are likely the #12 Lottery pick. The Bucks' pick will be about #19. The emphasis should be on DEFENSE whether it's these picks or packaging them to move up. We have players that can score. We don't have an eraser for the defensive mistakes. Rebounding is also key in the draft pick(s). Rebounding Guards are nice, but a fastbreak is much more effective when there is a pass out TO the Guards who attack before the D is set. The current Rockets break is too easy to stop because Steve, Cat, SA or Mooch has to dribble 3/4+ of the court. The SPECIFIC drafted players are not relevant - just the skill set. 3) If it hasn't already been done, resign Shandon. He's a no BS person and won't be into long, protracted negotiations. 4) Make a QUICK pitch for Webber. If his agent doesn't return your calls promptly, you know which way the wind is blowing. The amount of $ which can be offered to CWebb is relatively the same. His concern will be winning the Ring. At this point, the pick(s) are known and SA is signed. IMHO, the most optimistic of Rockets fans wouldn't give better than a 1 in 3 chance. Why waste time. 5) Resign Mo T & Moochie. 6) Fall back position - the FA market. With Bull & Los (& ?) likely gone, there will be lots of roster spots. My personal preferences: Rodney Rogers (Player Option) John Amaechi (Player Option) Eddie Robinson Corie Blount (Player Option) Ruben Patterson (Player Option) Adrian Griffin Chris Herren Bruce Bowen Jelani McCoy Chris Gatling Clarence Weatherspoon Brad Miller (Team Option) Mark Blount (Team Option) Sorry, I just wanted to get this ALL out just one time. I'll be quiet now! ------------------ GATER
