So did Melo....with young competitive players, you use that to teach them so they don't do it again. Was it a mistake...heck yes.....but it doesn't define a career. At least not for me. DD
Melo is a star, and a selfish ass, with a bad attitude, just like Von. These things need to be considered when talking about long term contracts. Every, single, coach at Florida St. will tell you the same thing about Von, The dude has a ****ty attitude. He has been disrespectful to coaches his ENTIRE career. I know SEVERAL ProAm and College coaches that can all attest to this. If there is one thing I am an insider to, it is Florida St basketball.
I don't doubt this at all, and at some point he has to grow up, which is why you sign him to a reasonable contract. I concede that his attitude has probably stopped him so far from being very successful in the league. If the Rockets sign him, I would hope they hire a life coach, or sports pyschologist to help Von mature.....it would be a smart way to protect your asset. Sometimes players need a little off court help to let them succeed on court. Of course, he could always be JR Rider part Deux. This begs the question, do you wait until a guy gets it and spend big $$$$$ or take a chance on a very talented player as they mature? One is a riskier move but could pay off more.....in the long run..... Honestly whatever the team decides is ok with me, I would sign him...but I like the young guys coming in too. DD
Well this is sort of what the Rockets did last year with Von. He's had a hard time sticking with his previous teams and that may include the Rockets soon. Maybe the Rockets thought last year was that year Von finally grew up, at which point the Rockets have something potentially great on their hands. If that's not the case the Rockets don't see Von and his potential baggage (sports psychologist or life coach) as being worth the effort/hassle. Just the thought of re-signing someone of Vons caliber with the consideration that they might need a shrink to keep them in line sounds ridiculous to me.
As ridiculous as it sounds to me it sounds like good asset managment. I wish they would have gotten Eddie Griffin some help. I think sometimes the teams need to realize these are 19-20 year old kids with a lot of fame and $$$$ suddenly thrust upon them, they will not be equipped to handle it......and if their family life is not strong, it can be even worse. I am a little surprised that some teams do not take a more aggressive approach to these young guys, even contractually, but...I guess they don't have the time to do that and just toss aside talented youngsters who need to mature.... I can understand, I just think maybe they could be a little more pro-active in their approach. DD
You're right about Griffin. I don't think I would have considered that asset mgmnt though. It seems in hindsight he needed help on a more serious level than Von. I could be wrong though.
I have been saying it for years that NBA teams are doing themselves a disservice by not being more proactive with young athletes -primarily from poor or impoverished backgrounds - suddenly thrust into the fast lane of $$$$ and fame. It is not shocking to me that so many of them flame out, they really need to have some sort of program etc that helps these young men grow up. So many quality players don't make it because of immaturity, and maybe the NBA doesn't care because there are so many others that make it, that it doesn't matter. But to me, if you have an exceptionally skilled young player like Griffin, or Von...you should try EVERYTHING in your power to help them reach their potential.....because while getting a safer bet later, is easier, it seems if you have an elite talent level combined with maturity, you are better off... I think they ignore the issues....maybe one day an NBA team will institute some life coach etc.....to help these young men.....I think it would be smart. DD
I don't think that's asset management at all. That's like some kind of life coaching thing that's totally unrelated to asset management. Asset management is all about getting the most bang for your buck. If you get someone help that actually means you're spending more for the asset then you have too, meaning the player you're working on has to has to produce better in order to justify the expenditure. That may be a good move if the player is special (i.e. Yao Ming), but its not a good idea when you can get replacements very easily (Von Wafer). What makes it especially tricky is the fact that you basically have to pay the player more the better he plays, and of course the fact that there is no guarantee the player will improve. As an example, had we used substantial resources to help out Von Wafer he might have done enough to get another team to sign him for the MLE. In our current state there's no way we can afford that amount so we ended up paying to upgrade Wafer just so another team can beat us with him. As I recall the NBA does have some sort of rookie program that's supposed to introduce rookies to NBA life. Beasley and CHalmers were caught smoking pot in those seminars, showing that although you can lead a horse to the water, you can't make it drink. In Griffin's case, he was so messed up I doubt any help the Rox could have given would have fallen on deaf ears.
roslolian: Pretty sure a life coach or whatever would cost a fraction of what you're playing these players (and they don't count against the cap, ha!). Got to agree with DD on this one. Might not have made Griffin a better player, but maybe he'd still be in the league somewhere contributing and alive.
By all accounts, there are programs in the NBA that do just this. Rookies are forced to go through hours of seminars about how to deal with money, life in the fast lane, etc.
I am saying that the players are the asset and part of managing that asset would be to get the most out of them you can.... Think of it like Yao, when the team hired an interpetter for him, that was helping their asset adjust. Same concept. DD
NBA already forces all rookies to attend these seminars. They're given so much money for playing a game. If they can't handle it, the players have to take responsibility and try to help themselves. I don't think it's the NBA's business to intervene and look for each player individually. There's too many players and if they don't can't handle it and can't get the help themselves. They don't deserve the privilege to play in the NBA. Von can go, it doesn't matter. He had one productive season but while hogging the ball when in the game. He forced a lot of shots, while teammates were open. He let Vujavich(sp) to shut him down mentally and the results were shown on the court.
Thank you for bringing this thread back to the statement at hand. The question begs, is there any truth to this rumor? The twitter in question is gone, and from all indications I cannot find a single piece of information supporting this theory. With all these factors in hand, and with the threads digression I think it should be closed until new news comes...
I like the "life coach" idea. We really do need him more than ever next year. JT and Chase will NOT cut it this year.
why isn't this locked?? Its obvious he isn't going there. This was nothing but speculation. LOCK LOCK LOCK!!!!!!
You don't know that, and Morey even said he is still talking to his agent.... The point about the life coach etc, is that it is protecting the team's assets...I understand it is a business and players are ultimatley responsible for their own actions. But if a business can do MORE to protect it's future it should, IMHO. DD
Morey can say all he wants. That is his job but actions speak louder than words. The guy spent money one 3 rookies. The Rockets have guys ahead of him that plays his position. Morey can talk to his agent all he wants but its also on Rick Adelman. He has to coach him. Its up to him if he wants to put up with the knucklehead.
