This idea has been talked about in a couple of threads on the BBS. However, I'd like to see what the majority think our organization will do with the Hakeem situation. It's July 11. We're one week away from the time to actually sign free agents and prepare for next season's team. And, as most of you who follow the free agent process, commitments are made prior to that date. In fact, I'm surprised there haven't been more commitments than Mutombo to Philadelphia and Houston to New York. We got lucky the last two seasons with Mo Taylor and Shandon Anderson, who didn't sign until late and were left with the Rockets as one of their only options. It isn't the case this year. This year was supposed to be our year. We were going to be in the races for all the major free agents and get that physical enforcer we need. I sure can't tell it right now. I talked to someone on this BBS yesterday who said that Hakeem would probably sign within 3 days of July 18, and that everything would be fine. That may be right. However, waiting even that long will cost us dearly in pursuing other free agents. Antonio Davis is said to be deciding between Chicago and Toronto right now, two teams that aren't quite what he wants. Chicago has the money, but not the chance to contend. Toronto has the money, but is out of the US and probably can't contend. The Magic can't come up with the money. This is our chance. And what are we doing? Waiting for Hakeem to become available, according to everyone close to the situation. The Spurs may be close to getting Chris Webber. Would that open the door to us getting Robinson? Yes, if we made the effort. But, unless the Rockets are keeping talks extremely silent, it appears we aren't going after him right now either. Nazr Mohammed said he wanted to commit by this weekend, if I remember correctly. He hasn't even visited the Rockets, and he isn't on the list for the rest of the week, again unless the Rockets held a very private meeting. My problem does not lie with Hakeem anymore. Through his demand to be involved in the offense, his request to be traded, and his salary demands I have come to realize that he is not the man I thought of him to be. And that hurts. However, this isn't getting the publicity that it should, and we have to remember the majority of the fans don't know about clutchcity.net. They don't go online and read the basketball websites. They casually follow the game, and know that for the last 16 years Hakeem Olajuwon was the Houston Rockets. And some, especially the older fans, might desert the team for a period of time if Hakeem were to leave. My problem is I doubt the Rockets have the guts to move on from Hakeem and make a strong offer to someone like Antonio Davis. PR is a part of any business, but shouldn't it take a back seat to winning basketball games? We do not owe Hakeem much. We've payed him 16 million dollars per year for 5 consecutive years. What he has done for the city and team is tremendous, but we should not feel obligated to him for life. He has been payed very well. The object of a basketball team is to win games, not play to the casual fan. We have been loyal beyond belief. We passed up an unbelievable trade offer from Toronto. We involved him more in the the offense. We've done everything he's asked, so it's not a matter of us being loyal or not. Let's take a look at some factual evidence on Hakeem: 11.9 points per game 7.4 rebounds per game 26 minutes per game 58 of 82 games played 38 years old Those are fine numbers. However, is that the type of player that should make everyone take a backseat to him? Is that the type of player you call at 12:01 AM July 1 to say he is your top priority? Is that the type of player that makes you tell bigger free agents that "We can't make a move until we resolve the situation with him"? I am becoming more and more afraid that the organization doesn't know when to break things off. I love what he's done for the city, the team, and he won us two championships. But he's not the same player physically, and he's not the same person either. The argument for keeping Dream at a higher salary, and waiting on him, to a large extent deals with what he's done in the past, as a player and as a person. But do trade requests, demands to be more involved in the offense, and salary increase demands remind you of the Hakeem we all love? I hope not. They remind me of just another basketball player. Until he changes his tune, he needs to be treated like one, and we should start the recruiting with Antonio Davis, Nazr Mohammed, Marc Jackson, and others. The question I have, however, boils down to this. Rudy loves Hakeem. The fans love Hakeem. However, his demands are beginning to hurt our team. Do you think the Rockets are willing to put personal biases, history, and PR aside to improve our team? I'd surely hope so, but lately I'm beginning to question whether the Rockets will do that. ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site [This message has been edited by The Cat (edited July 11, 2001).]
Don't move on him, move HIM ON. ------------------ "How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak. Because someday you will have been all of these."
How is he hurting our team? You're just speculating. What do you think Chris Webber and Antonio Davis are doing right now? That's right, making up their freaking minds. Does anyone begrudge them for that? Not to my knowledge. Do their respective organizations stop functioning as a result of these players' actions? It's extremely naive to think that the Rockets' brass is just sitting in an office, twiddling their thumbs, waiting for Hakeem to call. If you don't think they are exploring every single option available to them as we speak, you must not have much confidence in them. ------------------ "I guess that's YOUR theory"
The Freak I agree with you 100%. This is part of the business of free agency and alot of this is total speculation. I think Chris Webber finally talked to Sacramento on Sunday. ------------------
I don't think that they are doing nothing. However, I am beginning to think that they aren't making any serious movement until they talk to Hakeem. Remember this quote? "You can talk," Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said. "But there's a lot of things we don't know yet. Dream's not here right now." That to me implies that they aren't looking at making any serious offers until the situation becomes more clear. If what OP says is true, they still have not talked to Hakeem, so they still don't know what to expect. I'm sure they have "talked" with people from a number of free agent camps. However, now is the time to get very serious with people such as Antonio Davis, Nazr Mohammed, Marc Jackson, etc. and I'm worried if the Rockets will do that with the Hakeem situation unclear. ------------------ Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! The Mo Taylor Fan Site
Well Freak, the only way the Rockets can sign free agents is to come to an agreement with Dream or renounce him. They can talk to free agents all they want, if Dream doesn't negotiate with them they're going to have to eventually renounce him and the Rockets are apparently doing everything they can to avoid doing that. ------------------ "Instruments are like women: After a while, you want to make love to another." - Nicolas Godin of the musical duo Air
So, at what point does Jeff start a "Dream Summary" thread like the "Webber Summary" to ask us all to put our remarks in one place. I wish everything was in one place. *sigh* Such is the fun of the BBS, chasing down the best comments and choosing where to respond.
All remarks related to Hakeem's hiring of an agent go here. ------------------ "I guess that's YOUR theory"
The Cat, I'd have to say that, as of this moment, Dreams actions (or lack of action) hasn't hurt us. However, with the 18th fast approaching, I (like you) am concerned that Dream (allegedly) hasn't come to the negotiating table. You are right about the fact that it will hurt us if this drags on for too long. I want Dream to come back as much as the rest of the fans do, but the fact of the matter is, that he isn't head & shoulders above the rest of our options for the center spot. His main advantages are that he knows our system & the Rocket's sense of loyalty to him. I may be way off base with this thought, but not coming to the negotiation table even once makes me think that he's trying to force the Rocket's to renounce him, so that he can go to Miami or Orlando for the $4.5 mill exception. He knows that we'd only accept quality talent in a sign & trade deal, which could weaken the team & hurt his chance of winning another ring. Does anyone know if the reported asking price of $10 mill was actually proposed to the Rockets by Fegan or is it a number that was mentioned to the press? In all negotiations, you have to have at least one meeting in person, by phone, or by written document & then you start your negotiation tactics (ie..., being unavailable). In answer to your actual question, I don't know. But let me plant this thought in your mind. With the new arena coming after next year, this might be the right time (from a PR perspective) to let Dream go to another team. While there might be a backlash from the fans next year (which I personally doubt), the following year they'll all be back as a result of the new arena (like what Enron Field did). To set up the renouncement, they could go to the press & let everyone know that Dream is refusing to even talk to them about a contract & that they have to do what's right for the team in the long run. After all, when Dream retires, it'll still be the team that the fans go to see, not just one player from the past. I'd be willing to bet almost anything that Dream, immediately gets his butt to the negotiating table. A good businessman doesn't like bad publicity. ------------------ Nothing is impossible, if you believe it's possible.
I just wonder, if the orginization wants to pay 10 million to have Dream retire a Rocket. ------------------ I do not believe in god. And it is nice to know that I am going to hell with Hitler, and McVeigh. Although I do not know why.
Knowing Rocket's propensity to surprise us, it will not be out of character that both parties had already talked but keeping things under wrap to avoid a bidding frenzy. Think it will be prudent for us to wait until the 18th before commenting about Hakeem's disloyalty and Rocket's lack of activity chasing big agents. ------------------
