It was still a move based on moneyball method. Les hired Morey as assistant GM in 2005 to go towards a moneyball method. Moneyball is not based on who makes the trade, it's based on using obscure statistics as the primary method to find "undervalued" players. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/magazine/15Battier-t.html
One thing Morey has going for him. The Rockets have had 3 straight seasons with him in charge winning 50+ games in the regular season. To me, that's impressive considering (1) first time its happened in the history of the franchise, (2) we've had just rotten luck injury-wise to key players in each of those years. Further, he's been able to keep us away from the luxury tax each year. We can nitpick certain moves, sure, but to me that record speaks to solid management overall.
Morey was clearly heavily involved in that decision. But that doesn't mean it isn't the type of move the Rockets would have made without him with the team. I distinctly remember Carrol Dawson saying after the move that GMs of other teams were calling him and congratulating him on the decision. I don't think he's the kind of person to just make something like that up, and I also don't think he'd take credit for an acquisition he didn't support. Morey's feedback helped lend confidence to the team's front office and owner that it would be a solid move. That's basically what we know. The story that the whole thing was orchestrated by Morey, and the rest were skeptical about it, is to my understanding unsubstantiated.
I have all the respect in the world for CD. He did a great job the many years he was around and never wanted any of the spot light. Was everything perfect? No, but he always tried to build a winning team and he always took bold steps. No Gm will be perfect. As Much as I've like what Morey has done, he will not be perfect either. I just hope he shows the loyalty and longevity that CD did. Thanks DD, Thanks Old Man Rock for showing the youngsters around here all the love we have for CD.
It looks to me like the team decided that trading the draft pick + Swift for an established and solid mid-level player was an option they were seriously going to consider. It was part of the strategy of getting back quickly to contender-status. If Roy was available, they would have taken him. Without their number 1 option around, they were looking to trade if the right opportunity came up. My thinking is that would have been the strategy with or without Morey. That the Rockets decided to take Shane Battier as that mid-level player could very well have been Morey (it's not clear how much Carrol Dawson thought of him before the trade). Suppose Morey was out of the picture. Who were some other mid-level players available at that time that Carrol Dawson might have traded the pick+Swift for instead?
"Near the top". He may have been near the top of Carrol Dawson's list of best mid-level players as well. Apparently he wasn't at the top of Les Alexander's list.
Disagree - CD built the Sura/Barry era team out of thin air by identifying and signing / trading for the same kind of undervalued/overachieving players that DM pursues. I think that DM likely learned alot about the non-math assessment of players by working with CD for a year.
Durvasa, that's called falling on the sword. CD during his tenure with the rockets always went for the high ceiling guys. He was leaving the organization and just fllowing the request of what the incoming guy wanted. I know for a FACT that wasn't dawson or jvg move. now whether you believe it or not, i'm just saying.
HUH? Are you Kelvin Cato, Mo Taylor, or Moochie Norris? Shandon Anderson? We didn't win anything with CD in charge. The period between The Dream and Yao eras was not good at all. The team won nothing...
As noted earlier in the thread, CD became GM in 1996. AFTER the back to back titles. The person most responsible for the first title should be Steve Patterson, and Rudy for drafting Robert Horry and Sam Cassell (and for getting Charlie Thomas to make peace with Hakeem). Steve acquired Maxwell, Thorpe, Kenny Smith, Carl Herrera. Getting Mario Elie was more then likely a Rudy move even if Steve pulled the trigger. The 2nd title was Rudy pulling the Drexler deal, because he had full personnel control by then as the coach.
However he also had the luxury of Dream, Dm the GM had broken Yao Ming and brokeback Tmac. Had DM been the one drafting would he have picked MJ instead of trading for Ralph Samson and created a dynasty even longer than the Celt's Russell era? We will never know....
Stevierebel, Let me clarify the above post. CD made the draft choice for Sam Cassell(potential and eventual all-star), in the previous season. Then, CD brought Clyde Drexler mid season and won the championship. CD knew that you needed at least 3 all-stars for a championship. Hakeem couldn't do it with a bunch of roleplayers. It was tried and failed. Morey's model was to use the MLE or bi-annual exception to sign all his players. If they get a lottery pick, instead of drafting a high ceiling potential all-star, they trade him away for the best MLE or cheaper - type roleplayers(Battier, Scola) available. If you don't have that option, then you buy cheap draft picks(Brooks, Leunen, Landry, Newley) for the rotation or to be stashed away instead of trading for an all-star. If that is not available, then you sign NBDL level players to minimum contracts.
CD did some great things as a coach but I have to agree his GM stint was avg at best....one question I had was the Steve Francis trade was it a success or failure? He was a good player but in a dark time in Rox history and Steve did allow us to get us TMAC but that didnt lead to anything but 1st rd exits. The Eddie Griffin trade did not turn out well but honestly that was more about the player, may he rest in peace, then CD, the move in general was a no brainer. He did make some moves but honestly it wasn't till JVG got here that the franchise began to turn around and Morey has finished the revivial.
Can't believe this thread made me take DD's side on an issue. CD was all class. The OP is the opposite. Dawson worked his magic to the tune of 2 titles and the best ever stretch in Rockets history. He deserves better than mockery from fans who probably cheered the majority of his moves. He made mistakes out of loyalty to his players, rewarding their service too much, but he was never shy to pull the trigger on the big deal. Something that can't be said of many GMs.
Horse crap, Rudy had the team in the playoff hunt in Yao's rookie year, when he went out with cancer. Then JVG came in, with an improved Yao...and won a grand total of TWO more games the next season. Let's at least get our facts straight. And Rudy and CD made all the personel moves...they were a team...Rudy acknowledges it in his book. CD has helped the organization a ton...whether people like to believe it or not. And one day, people may look back at Morey's career, and cherry pick bad deals.....Mike James, Steve Francis, Brent Barry....for instance... Not everything works. DD
I'm confused by what you're asking/saying : 1) Ralph Sampson was a #1 pick who was won by coin flip (trivia : heads). 2) MJ was in the Hakeem Olajuwon draft (1984), not the Ralph Sampson one (1983).
