Just because you fall short one year doesn't mean you have to revamp your roster in the offseason. What tweaking did the lakers do after getting blown out by the celtics? The Magic were practically the same team than from a year ago? The Cavs? You can't have a blockbuster deal every off season. Just be patient.
I don't understand why we have to rehash ancient history here, but I'll do it anyway . When Morey traded the Gay for Battier, he was trading a risky player for a sure thing. Gay had a questionable work ethic and disappeared in games at Uconn, there was a big bust factor with Gay. We chose not to take the risk and went with Battier. Now, did Morey admit that he made a mistake when he tried to trade Battier back for Gay?? No. Because time had passed and Gay had proven that he could play in the league and he wouldn't flake out, the risk had run out on Gay. I'll use an example. Morey is a contestant on Deal or No Deal. He's down to his last 2 briefcases, 1 million or 100 dollars, the Banker offers him 600k. He chooses 600k, then the host asks him which briefcase he would have opened and he would have chosen the 1 million. Then Morey turns around to the host and says, I'll give you back the 600k and choose between the 2 boxes again... Does that mean it was a mistake to take the safe money/ safe player? Of course not!
Do you honestly think that is a good trade. Tracy's expiring is one thing, but to add Lowry and Landry to get Vince would be terrible. Look at what Orlando gave up. Alston, Battie and Lee do not come close to equaling a package of Tmac, Lowry and Landry. Just ask yourself if you would trade Tmac, Lowry and Landry for Alston, Battie and Lee. If you say no, which I would hope you would, then it wouldnt make sense to trade those three for Carter cuz in the end he was only worth Alston, Battie and Lee. Same goes for the RJ trade. I wouldnt trade Tmac, Lowry and Landry for Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Oberto. Like others have mentioned, there is plenty of time left in the offseason. Its quite clear the Rox are still up to something. Whether or not that gets done is another matter. If nothing happens by the start of the season then yes, there are some concerns. Even then though, opportunities will exist until the trade deadline. The last thing the Rox should do is make a knee jerk reaction trade cuz the Spurs, Magic, and Cavs did something. Thats how you end up blowing up a team like Phoenix did with getting Shaq, and Dallas trading for Kidd. As for heaping praise on Morey, I agree buying second round picks is not being a great GM, that reflects more on being a great owner. If those players pan out however, then yes that is being a great GM. Morey identified these guys and found a way to get them on the team while giving up very little. so if they become good players then he deserves major credit.
If you have so much insider knowledge, please do share, otherwise dont get all pissy if somebody doesnt believe what you say. If I start saying that I know for a fact that the Rox had a deal to trade for DWade, but didnt jump on it you wouldnt believe it. Im assuming you are not an employee of the NBA so you are free to talk about any info you have. If the Amare deal is dead what does it matter now if you reveal this minor detail that prevented it. Otherwise, stop going back to this self made man, retired at 35, hunters win championship BS that you always throw out there. No matter who you really are, at the end of the day you are simply a fan posting on a message board. All that crap you throw out there just makes you sound like an A-hole.
All those 2nd rd picks are a huge waste of money unless they're going to be included in a larger move by the front office.
Hmm. So it doesn't matter how much better Gay performs than Battier, you'll never change your opinion that it was a good trade? Interesting. Well then lets say we had the first pick this year and, to everyone's shock and horror, we drafted Budinger with it. I can just imagine your reaction... 6/25/09: Draft night October: Budinger scores 100 points in first game December: Budinger records first ever triple-triple when he drops 230, 119 boards, and 106 assists February: Budinger awarded MVP at All-Star game. No, not the All-Star MVP, the regular season MVP, Stern figured there was no reason to wait until May June: Rockets win NBA (now renamed National Budinger Association) championship: Seriously though, Gay for Battier will go down as a slightly less lopsided version of Bagwell for Larry Andersen.
These attention whoring threads need to stop. Lee, your basketball acumen is no better than most people on this board. It is not on the same f-ing planet as Daryl Morey. You have no concept of the salary cap. You have made trade proposals that make you look like a damn fool yet you strut around here like you are Jerry West. Just stop.
If you knew 1% of what Morey knew in terms of basketball, people, finance, maybe you would be running a multimillion dollar professional sports team too. But since you don't, you sit on your high horse in front of your computer, trying to sound like an expert, when all you are is an expert of panic. Don't pretend you aren't just another internet moron, just like the rest of us. Thank god we have a GM who won't panic on a whim or act out of emotion or desperation and mortgage our future like the Suns did with Shaq, or like Dallas did in reaction. This is a message board so anyone can state their opinions. But in the end your opinions will mean SQUAT to the Rockets. So please just save your breath, your stress, and save the rest of us your incessant whining. Enjoy the team that you call yourself a fan of. And leave the rest to the professional.
Amen. Not that I am an expert myself, but Lee, your knowledge of basketball, in my amateur opinion, is an embarrassment. Get off ESPN Trademachine and leave the trade proposals to Morey. The guy that gets paid for it.
I'm not fazed by the name calling because that has never bothered me. In the nba, just like most business, its not what you know, but who u know. Not to go on a rant, but let me propose orr give you and others a proposition. I'm running a team trying to get the best players and the best setup possible. I want the best to replace my retiring gm. Who would u think can spot the best basketball talent, a scout for 20 yrs that helped draft players who helped build the foundation for the championship team or a guy that was crunching numbers just 4 yrs prior and had no experience in basketball period? See, through it all, I've never said morey hasn't made any good moves. Brooks was adelmans guy and landry was lindseys guy, scola was a good move. A great gm will pull all stars out his picks or trades. Look no further than Pritchard in portland. The Blazers were in terrible shape the same time the rockets were in the lotto. They were over the cap, had to restore a image, and regain the confidence in the community. In that same 06 draft, he pulled roy and aldridge. Of course roy is one of the best wings already and L.A. is a really good player right the all star level. Through aggressive trades and boldness, he also attained Fernandez, drafted Oden who have been injury plagued. This past season, he got bayless and also have webster coming back from injury and a guy like koppen overseas who can play. The rox beat Portland in the playoffs, but portland is loaded and have a lot of players a lot of teams want. Pritchard gets the players because he's ultra aggressive and understand by instincts that this league is won with difference makers. If there is a player on the board that both portland and houston want, do you have confidence morey will get him before pritchard? I know many don't agree with a lot of my post because most are the truth and the truth hurts. As a poster posted early, morey was trying to get the #2 and Gay. Yes, u heard it right, the same Rudy Gay he traded for shane. I can at least say at least he admits when he was wrong and try to correct the problem. Have anyone else noticed that it seems now all the players being drafted is a athletic wing? I wonder why? The off season isn't over, but a team like the spurs have just rebuilt on the fly and once rasheed signs with them, its a wrap.
Perhaps you should reread the analogy first before making such a nonsensical response. Either that, or you have no clue what the draft is about. For example, the #8 picks right before Gay: Channing Frye, Rafael Araújo, T.J. Ford, Chris Wilcox. Draft picks are RISKS for a reason. Established players are not.
Alright, let me use a simpler analogy. Taking Battier over Gay is like going on Deal or No Deal, being down to your last 2 briefcases 1 million and 500K, and accepting an offer of 501K from the banker.
Ah! There in lies the root of all your Morey hate. I think I am beginning to understand now. You are bitter over Morey's hire over your 20 year scout friend. I guess this is your "inside contact" as well. Or maybe this is you yourself? 20 years of hard work, overlooked for a newbie in the business. This is hilarious, and beyond childish. Grow up. In sports and in business, it is cut throat. Just because you worked hard for an organization for 20 years does not entitle you to ANYTHING. The people who helped build the foundation of a championship team, aka, luck into the 1st pick and drafting a no brainer Hakeem Olajuwan, were the same people who grossly overpaid for the likes of Mo Taylor, Kelvin Cato, Moochie Norris. The same people responsible for HORRIBLE draft choices such as betting the farm on Eddie Griffin, passing on Rashard Lewis after promising him, Boki Nachbar and on and on. One lucky 1st pick does NOT justify, or make up for years of ineptitude, utter financial irresponsibility, and failure. Before Morey's arrival, our roster was mired by dead weight contracts crippling our ability to compete. Since he has shrewdly revamped our team where now we have 0 bad contracts and flexibility to win now and in the future. Can you really blame Les for wanting to go a different direction after complete incompetence for years? Les may not be the greatest basketball mind, be he did not become a billionaire without being smart, and a shrewd businessman. He saw where the league was headed, the new mathematical approach that has revolutionized baseball. He took a calculated gamble on a smart new comer, and has since proven correct. Sometimes, being intellegent(as evident by his MIT education), and innovative trumps your "20 year experience". Especially when 10 of the 20 years was utter failure. I really can't see how you can argue Morey being anything less than one of the best up and coming GMs. Thats of course without being clouded by your jealousy and unhealthy suppressed hate/bitterness. Truely, I am sorry your boy(or you) got the shaft. I am sure his(or your) 20 years of service deserves commendation. However, we are all, mostly, grown-ups here. Let go of the childish grudge. Stop picking at every move Morey makes. Your motives are now painfully obvious, they are not rooted in basketball, but in bitterness.
Rome wasn't built in a day. The reason this thread is 1 star is because it is short sighted. Look beyond today and see that we now have a few more horses in our stable. Who's knows how they will pan out. Bet your 401K on the fact that the future of this team is in good hands, and we are fine.
What worries me is that so many people think Morey is a genius. He may very well be. But having that reputation is not helpful at the negotiation table - you scare people away. Maybe he should forget about being a perfect GM and make a couple minor mistakes so that people are more willing to deal with him when it really counts, like what happens to the Lakers and Spurs.
