Fine, players signed in the offseason, then: Nene (2016, 2017) PJ Tucker (2017) Luc Mbah a Moute (2017) Tarik Black (2017) Carmelo Anthony (2018) James Ennis (2018) What are you talking about, "quality"?! These are(/were at the time) quality signings. Are you talking about a "Ray Allen to the Heat" or "David West to the Spurs"-type signing? Those are EXTREMELY rare.
that is by no means an impressive list... certainly not 'our pick of free agents...' and look at how those worked out... a couple were mutually beneficial... some the team didnt even retain for that 1 year sweetheart deal... a couple got froze out by MDA... to get guys on the cheap they have to feel its going to be an otherwise beneficial situation for them... how many of the above were able to use their time in Houston as a springboard to future earnings - or a ring?
Well: - nobody wants to play with James Harden - players know Daryl Morey will trade them away at some point - Tilman Fertitta likes to sign players with incentives just to have a chance to end up paying them less - Rockets announcers are the worst in the league - fans on Clutchfans at some will grow to hate them and scapegoat them Not sure i forgot something... Spoiler
Grass is always greener on the other side. People were dying for Markieff and threw a fit when we didn't get him. He was straight up trash in OKC.
First 3 is quality, but the latter 3 I’d hardly call ring chasers that others coveted. Melo did take the minimum so I’ll give you that. Yes that’s what I meant, but it just feels like other teams have had their share of very good players still able to get much more elsewhere who sign for cheap. Maybe it’s not factually true. This thread was not meant to trash Houston or the Rockets, I’m legitimately wondering.
Well then you should list what other teams got so we can compare instead of playing the “it seems like...”
We have had plenty of quality guy sign on to ring chase. However! True "ring chasers" as in, not worried about minutes or future dollars just trying to get that ring are always going to go the easiest route. We have never been that. We've been #2 at best so we logically pick 2nd at best of that group. The other type though that probably is what you mean are guys who sign with "contenders" for cheap on 1 year deals. These aren't normally true ring chasers. They have some reason why they can't get real money that year and they sign somewhere that is a contender and most importantly, that will PLAY them. That way they can contend and rebuild value.
Would Trev count as a ring chaser? He took a team friendly account during the Dwight era when he could have gotten more from the Wizards right?
That's pretty much it. Unlike GS, who were stacked before KD came, or Lebron's Cavs, the Rockets haven't been a clear favorite to even make the finals. Maybe it's unfair, but the Rockets' GM has built a reputation as treating players as assets too. Big men don't line up to play for MDA either.
