As much as I would hate to see Hakeem in another uniform, we need to let him go if that is what he wants. After all the Dream has done for this city if he wants to leave then we owe it to him to let him go. We should try to first accomidate his request with a trade and if that is not possible then we should release him. After all if it were not for Dream then we would still be searching for our first championship. So we should all respect the mans wishes and let him finish his career somewhere else. ------------------
no we don't. There is a lot of playing to be done here. He can play somewhere else next year if he wants. btw: why start a new thread about this. There are plenty of other ones to respond to. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited January 20, 2001).]
I guess you just don't recognize the fact that with out Hakeem we would not have even one, much less two championships. I don't think letting the man have six months from a season that we have no chance at the championship is asking too much. And please don't tell me about how much he has benifited from the Rockets. He would have made his money regardless of where he played. ------------------
crash.... (or should i call you "clair"(voyant)) i had not realized that you had the ability to know the "unknown" this well. who's to say what we would have won without dream. no one knows, but i keep hearing how we wouldn't have won **** w/o him. whose to say who we would have drafted, traded for, etc. i do. why not sign him to two more years @ $18 million per season, and let him go to aruba while we try to win games? where does it stop? the last i checked, if you have a job, and you have the ability to make it, and they are paying you - you go to work. get a grip. dream is not to be deified. he has been - and still is - appreciated. now he's getting ridiculous. IMO, he can sit in that corner holding his breath with his thumb up his...as long as he wants. the rockets have to pay him. that's fine. but we don't have to abide by the desires of what is proving to be a very selfish man. ------------------ [This message has been edited by verse (edited January 20, 2001).]
I think it's time for Dream to realize that he signed his name on the dotted line and that he only plays elsewhere this year if it's in the best interest of the Houston Rockets. By the way, what makes Hakeem think he will be a bigger part of an already established playoff team? One of the reasons he wants out (if I'm not mistaken) is because he wants to play a bigger part on the team. Who on earth would allow him to play a major role on an established team? ------------------
You know, Hakeem has tried his best to play and help the team. For some reason, Rudy has been there to slow him down at every turn. Right from the start of the season, no matter how well Hakeem was playing, Rudy would yank him at the eight minute mark, and he wouldn't play til the third quarter. Then, when the fourth quarter came, he would put in a group consisting of Francis, Mobley, Williams, Thomas and Bullard. Even when opponents would be running fourth quarter layup drills, Hakeem was glued to the bench. Then he made some very true comments that the Rockets have to have a low post presence to succeed. I don't think anyone will argue with that. Then, the biggest blow of all comes: Hakeem said quite clearly that he was ready and eager to play 7 games ago. So what did the Rockets do? They put him on the injured list. Why should Hakeem have to put up with this? If Rudy isn't going to play him and take advantage of his very much present abilities, then why should Hakeem have to remain on the team? He wants to play. He has never said that he wants to be the main offensive focus. He has said many times that he just wants to make a positive impact. Well, Rudy and the gang won't let him. Don't blame Hakeem for wanting to join another team. The Rockets are just plain disrespecting the guy by not using him. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
Do you think we could have won a championship with out Dream? Even Rudy credits Dream for the championships. In any event Dream got us two championships. No one else has been able to deliver that to Houston in an major sport! Is it possible that we could have found a way to win championships with out Dream? I guess if you live by the rule anythings possible. But really, what would have been the chance? Slim and none I think. And if you think Dream is so selfish then you should not mind seeing him leave. ------------------
Crash1579. I believe you are a Miami Heat fan wanting Hakeem to quit the Rockets so he can join your team. Well, like someone said in one of the previous pages, Hakeem signed a contract and is bound to it. He can not bully his employeer into forcing a waiver or a trade. The Rockets best interest is in whats good for the team the individual comes 2nd. If Hakeem wants to play for the Heat so bad he can sign with your team this summer. He would still have alot of time to play for them (I think he wants to play for 2 more yrs). And another note. Hakeem did not win the championship for us, the team did. He was a vital part of our victories, but it is insulting to the other players for you to make it sound like he won the championships for us. That is not a wise insinuation. The organization will do what it needs to do first and then worry about Dreams little demands latter. We want to win a championship too, you know. As I said before, you and your pathetic team (the Heat) can have him this summer. ------------------
Since you are only on your first post I will forget your asinine comments as ignorance. If you spend some time reading through some of the posts you will see my affiliation has been stated. I am a Rockets fan first and foremost. I am a Mavericks fan second. If you have a problem with that then seek help. As far as Hakeem trying to bully Les, you don't have to worry about that since Les holds Hakeem's contract. But please tell me, how is parking Dream on the IL in the Rockets or Dreams best interest? And please don't insult either of your intelligence or mine by saying Hakeem is not healthy enough to play! ------------------
Mr Crash, you are funny. I didn't quite understand what you think I need HELP with. What kind of help do you want me to get. Do you think I need psychological help because you like the Rockets and the Mavericks? Explain what kind of help I need because I dont get that. I thougth it was funny though. As for my use on the term "Bully". Well, in society we call that a figure of speech. I didn't mean Hakeem is beating up Les. Les isn't getting hurt. Don't you worry little fella. Finally, you don't know if Hakeem is hurt or not. A matter of fact you dont know anything because you aren't a Rockets Trainer, Coach, or Hakeem. I dont know anything about how Hakeem is feeling either. Evidently, the coaching staff and the trainers thinks that he aint truckin 100% buddy boy. I don't think they put him on the IR out of spite. If the Rockets do not see that it is in the teams best interest to trade or waive Hakeem then they shouldn't bucko. ------------------
As a matter of fact Hakeem has said publicly that he is fine. Maybe you should do some research before spouting off hot sports oppions. ------------------
Crash You are wrong. Let's just say this If the rockets had not Drafted Dream because of his hometown ties they would have drafted this certain gaurd out of N. Carolina name Mike Jordan I think Sampson, McCray and Jordan would have won something. Not to mention Wiggins and LLoyd. Rocket River I love Hakeem but to say that we would not have won anything without him is too bold a statement to go unchallenged. ------------------
Look Damnit stop trying to piss on my parade! Actually that line up does look pretty awesome. Would have been fun to watch anyway. Let me change my stance just a little if you are going to throw Jordan into this. Regardless as to what could have, should have or would have, Dream is still the only one to bring us a championship and that means a lot to me. Besides if we did not draft Dream then we would have drafted Sam Bowie...right? ------------------
I don't think we owe Hakeem anything. Why is it that he can be a role player for Miami, but he won't be one for us? We are making a run at the 7 or 8 seed in the playoffs without him right now. If he thinks he is going to go to Miami and win a title then he is mistaken. The best teams in the NBA are in the West, and with him we would have a legitimate shot at upsetting a 1 or 2 seed. He's just being selfish. Either suit up, or shut up. ------------------
It sends a message to all the young players on our team telling them that b****ing, whining, and moaning about your playing time and number of touches will get you nowhere fast. Face it, we have a young team, and they need to know exactly where the line is drawn. if Les, CD, and Rudy allow Hakeem to walk all over them in this instance, it will send a bad signal to other players campaigning for playing time. ------------------ "Of course, everything looks bad if you remember it!" Homer Simpson
While I agree that we should & do respect Dream, I also feel that Dream should respect the team & his obligations to the team. Let me ask everyone a question. With Dream asking to be waived, has he ever offered to give back the $16.7 million that he's making this year? Or, does he want to have his cake & eat it too? He has talked throughout his career about doing whatever is neccesary for the team to win & yet, now he's unhappy with the way that Rudy is using him, so he wants out. Isn't Rudy paid to make the decisions about game strategy & on the court player moves? Does Dream not trust Rudy's abilities anymore? Were Rudy's decisions just fine until they no longer featured Dream as the go to guy? Hey, Dream! Quit being a hypocrite. Practice what you preach. Instead of complaining about not getting enough minutes or not being the go to guy, you should use the minutes that you do get & make it impossible for Rudy to justify taking you out of the game. You really want to help this team? Just shut up (unless you have something constructive to contribute)& fulfill your obligation to this team by playing with the "Heart of a Champion". Show these young kids what veteran leadership is all about & quit acting like some Prima Donna. I believe that if you do that, then there is no way the Rockets would risk losing you. Just give Rudy's new offense a chance. Even though you've earned the respect & love from your fans, teammates, coaches, & all of the sports fanatics around the world, that doesn't give you the right to pitch a temper tantrum. You're not a three year old anymore. If you truely choose to play for another team after this year, then I & all the other Dream fans will respect your decision. ------------------
With everyone talking about Dream needing to honer his obligation to the Rockets, can anyone tell me of one single time he has refused to go onto the floor and play? ------------------
Well, nothing as overt as Pippen refusing to go back into a game. But Hakeem's "injury" isn't all that bad; he could have played any number of recent games. Since finishing his stint on the IR, he was allowed to go talk to the Heat. Basically, he has refused to play for the Rockets for awhile. But the organization has put on its best face, as it should. ------------------
How about this, Crash5179: As long as the Rockets are paying for Hakeem to play for the Heat, perhaps they would consider picking up Alonzo Mourning's salary, just to be nice guys? Or perhaps, back in the real world, I suggest that when you agree to pay off the remainder of the 16mil on Hakeem's salary, then you can feel free, take the high road, and talk about what bad guys the Rockets and Les Alexander are for not releasing our poor maligned saintly basketball hero. Until then, I think your ability to grasp the balance between what is owed Hakeem and what is owed Hakeem ($$$) is somewhat suspect. ------------------
