Howard was nearly a Rocket

[LarsV8]

New excerpts from Clutch:

In March, the Rockets remained steadfast in their willingness to “rent” Howard and stayed involved in talks with the Magic. At the Toyota Center on trade deadline day after the dust cleared, I was told that Rockets GM Daryl Morey was the last one standing in the Howard chase. Weeks later I was informed that when Rockets front office personnel called it a night in the wee hours of the morning of the trade deadline, they believed they were going to land Howard later that day. The 6-foot-11 center reversed course and agreed to not exercise his opt-out clause to become a free agent, instead staying with the Magic for another year.

It wasn’t until this week that we could say it definitively — multiple sources tell ClutchFans that had Dwight not opted in, he was coming to Houston in a trade.

[zapatasblood]

I have seen news that said the Lakers were the last team standing but if the Rockets was the last team standing then sweat I guess. I mean he did suddenly changed his mind and signed that opt out clause so I really do not know what to think. Maybe he heard he was going to Houston and then changed his mind. Also heard he changed his mind because he was not going Brooklyn. Do not know

[MaxRider]

i hear that rumor after the trade deadline
but after he keep changing his mind and making all those comments
i don't want him
i rather give Hibbert the max

[x-]

i don't want him
i rather give Hibbert the max

That's Mayo, Beasley and Hibbert now? Also Spencer Hawes, no?

[Alex I Be]

He must have heard he was being traded to Houston, so he opted in. Houston is a business city, not a glamour city. Thats why wont land these selfish superstars. Ive been saying for a long time, F*** Chris Paul, Carmelo, Deron, Dwight (of course I only mean it if we cant get them). We should be looking to get all star players like the Eric Gordons, the Josh Smiths, Monta Ellis's, Andre Iggypops', Danny Grangers', Al Jeffersons' etc of the NBA. Cause this team we got, like it or not, cant compete. Ya might not like these players, but its the only shot we got in being a playoff consistent team.

[HTown_TMac]

He must have heard he was being traded to Houston, so he opted in. Houston is a business city, not a glamour city. Thats why wont land these selfish superstars. Ive been saying for a long time, F*** Chris Paul, Carmelo, Deron, Dwight (of course I only mean it if we cant get them). We should be looking to get all star players like the Eric Gordons, the Josh Smiths, Monta Ellis's, Andre Iggypops', Danny Grangers', Al Jeffersons' etc of the NBA. Cause this team we got, like it or not, cant compete. Ya might not like these players, but its the only shot we got in being a playoff consistent team.

those players won't do anything but make us more mediocore.

It's bound to work out sooner or later. We were in 2nd place with Deron Williams, second place to Dwight the first go round, so hopefully... third time is the charm.

[MaxRider]

i don't want him
i rather give Hibbert the max

That's Mayo, Beasley and Hibbert now? Also Spencer Hawes, no?

i didn't mention hawes
i did mention mcgee

[College Boy]

He must have heard he was being traded to Houston, so he opted in. Houston is a business city, not a glamour city. Thats why wont land these selfish superstars. Ive been saying for a long time, F*** Chris Paul, Carmelo, Deron, Dwight (of course I only mean it if we cant get them). We should be looking to get all star players like the Eric Gordons, the Josh Smiths, Monta Ellis's, Andre Iggypops', Danny Grangers', Al Jeffersons' etc of the NBA. Cause this team we got, like it or not, cant compete. Ya might not like these players, but its the only shot we got in being a playoff consistent team.

those players won't do anything but make us more mediocore.

It's bound to work out sooner or later. We were in 2nd place with Deron Williams, second place to Dwight the first go round, so hopefully... third time is the charm.

I would actually disagree with that.

As you know, in the NBA you have your Tier 1 Elite, Tier 2 Really Good, and Tier 3 Good players (obviously the scale doesn't stop there, but for the sake of expediency we won't go further). Your LBJs, Kobes, Dwights, Durants and to a slightly lesser extent Wades and Roses of the world are certainly Elite level players. But you don't need 2 or more Tier 1 players to contend, even in the modern NBA landscape. I would contend that if you give me 3 Really Good players from that list we are legitimate contenders. Heck, just give me Granger/Iggy and Jefferson/Hibbert (assuming we still have Lowry or Dragic (preferably Lowry)).

Just look at Boston. As highly as I regard Pierce and Allen, KG was the only one of them that was a Tier 1 player at any point in time (IMO). And he certainly was no longer that by the time they won. And if you ask me it gave them the advantage to win sooner than Miami could, because their roles were much more defined and their rotation was much more balanced.

Personally, I'm in favor of the 2-4 year rebuilding route. I say 2-4 because we already have a lot of good young pieces, so I don't think it would be as extensive of a process as other teams. Our problem now is that we have a bunch of Tier 3 guys, and that is what is keeping us mediocre. I say we suck for 2 years, get 2 high draft picks and add that to a 4 or 5 guy core that we keep from this roster and build from there.

[zapatasblood]

those players won't do anything but make us more mediocore.

It's bound to work out sooner or later. We were in 2nd place with Deron Williams, second place to Dwight the first go round, so hopefully... third time is the charm.

We can all dream on getting Williams and Howard but it will not happen. I right now believe specially after reading that article that Williams will be in Brooklyn suffering for one more year and Howard will join him after that season. Howard will be in Brooklyn no matter what.

[zapatasblood]

I with College on doing an actual rebuild for 2-3 years but it seems we have a strong chance of renting Howard for a year before he runs off to somewhere he actually wants to play at. And if it does not happen I would not be opposed to renting Jefferson and J. Smith for one year since the Rockets will not try to rebuild via the draft.

[Zubby]

I feel like every year I hear the "Houston was hours away from Superstar X"....

[MaxRider]

I feel like every year I hear the "Houston was hours away from Superstar X"....

i hate that

[zapatasblood]

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride

[moofs]

Old news.

[HTown_TMac]

I would actually disagree with that.

As you know, in the NBA you have your Tier 1 Elite, Tier 2 Really Good, and Tier 3 Good players (obviously the scale doesn't stop there, but for the sake of expediency we won't go further). Your LBJs, Kobes, Dwights, Durants and to a slightly lesser extent Wades and Roses of the world are certainly Elite level players. But you don't need 2 or more Tier 1 players to contend, even in the modern NBA landscape. I would contend that if you give me 3 Really Good players from that list we are legitimate contenders. Heck, just give me Granger/Iggy and Jefferson/Hibbert (assuming we still have Lowry or Dragic (preferably Lowry)).

Just look at Boston. As highly as I regard Pierce and Allen, KG was the only one of them that was a Tier 1 player at any point in time (IMO). And he certainly was no longer that by the time they won. And if you ask me it gave them the advantage to win sooner than Miami could, because their roles were much more defined and their rotation was much more balanced.

Personally, I'm in favor of the 2-4 year rebuilding route. I say 2-4 because we already have a lot of good young pieces, so I don't think it would be as extensive of a process as other teams. Our problem now is that we have a bunch of Tier 3 guys, and that is what is keeping us mediocre. I say we suck for 2 years, get 2 high draft picks and add that to a 4 or 5 guy core that we keep from this roster and build from there.

For starters.. I regard both Pierce & KG as tier 1 players. Also, we won't be rebuilding, and the last three years, you let you know that we are gonna try and win. Add those two players, we make the playoffs, but we are a team like the 6ers or Pacers. A good playoff team, but not a contender... Just my opinion.

[zapatasblood]

Wait don't you have to make the playoffs to be a good playoff team. So yeah a good lotto team, but not a playoff team. Now that is the truth.

Edit: Win a playoff series

[inquisitive]

i heard this morning on 790 AM sports radio where Matt Jackson said the same thing that Larsv8 posted. He also said they were having a guest come on to talk about how the Rockets will go after both DWilly and D12 this summer so the Mavs will have some competition for both, but i wasn't able to wait since i had to catch the bus for work.

[x-]

i heard this morning on 790 AM sports radio where Matt Jackson said the same thing that Larsv8 posted. He also said they were having a guest come on to talk about how the Rockets will go after both DWilly and D12 this summer so the Mavs will have some competition for both, but i wasn't able to wait since i had to catch the bus for work.

http://www.sports790.com/player/?mid=22098239 Starts at 2:53

[MaxRider]

i heard this morning on 790 AM sports radio where Matt Jackson said the same thing that Larsv8 posted. He also said they were having a guest come on to talk about how the Rockets will go after both DWilly and D12 this summer so the Mavs will have some competition for both, but i wasn't able to wait since i had to catch the bus for work.

http://www.sports790.com/player/?mid=22098239 Starts at 2:53

those never end well
1. going hard at Bosh
2. going after Gortat
3. going after Melo (before traded to NKY)
4. going after DWill (before traded to NJN or BN)
5. going after DHo (before opt in)
pretty sure i missed some

[x-]

Can't succeed if you don't try.

It may take a while, but persistency usually pays off.

(Or as rocketsballin would say, STOP BEING SO GODDAMN NEGATIVE *****!)



Oh wow. I just saw he got banned. What the hell?

EDIT: Looks like he got banned for this:

if it was, imagine lebron in the huddle late in games...



teamates - now thats all nice everything but im just saying, you know...its a law

That's weak.