Bill Simmons - Reggie for Olajuwon rumors

[aefgogreen]

I know he's referenced this before and he said it on his podcast again this week.  But i never recall any rumors that Houston was considering trading Hakeem for Reggie Lewis.  Does anyone else remember hearing this?

[Roy H.]

Nope, and I don't trust Simmons on stuff like this at all.

[Who]

I remember the Rockets putting Olajuwon on the trade market back n the early 90s. The season where he missed time and they accused him of faking an injury. Perhaps as part of some leverage play for contract talks. I can't quite remember. Looking at his stats, it looks like the 1990-91 season when Houston did that (only 56 games played due to injury).

I do not remember the Reggie Lewis part.

But Houston did seriously look into trading Olajuwon. Then they repaired the relationship and Houston's fortunes changed another year on in 1992-93 when they started to build their title winning sides of 1994 & 1995.

[Donoghus]

I've never heard this before. I'm trying to even think of when this would've been a possibility.  Seems like the '92 offseason would've been the only team where this might've been feasible.

Reggie came into the league in '87-88 and was dead by summer '93.  Hakeem was 1st team All-NBA in '87-88 and '88-89 then he was all NBA 2nd team in '89-90.   He was pretty [dang] dominant in that stretch.  Can't imagine Houston would've wanted to trade him them.  He had the eye injury in '90-91 but still had a helluva season.   He had some issues with the organization after that so I would imagine the timeline would've been in the summer of '92 if this ever actually was floated.  At that point, Reggie had come into his own and the Chief was getting up there in age.

[Who]

ClutchFans
@clutchfans

In 1992, Hakeem Olajuwon demanded a trade from the Rockets. The Heat offered Rony Seikaly, Grant Long and Harold Miner. Not sure who they are?

Interesting reply to this on twitter post on a Reddit page

https://www.reddit.com/r/rockets/comments/k8u9hl/in_1992_hakeem_olajuwon_demanded_a_trade_from_the/

The best deal for Hakeem was the only deal the Rockets reportedly agreed to. Vlade Divac, a future 1st rounder, Elden Campbell, and James Worthy for Hakeem. The problem is that Vlade had to be listed on his rookie contract so the salaries couldn't match up; therefore, the trade was cancelled at the last minute due to that salary cap technicality.

The Lakers moved on to trying to obtain Charles Barkley who demanded a trade from the 76ers at the time though Barkley was ultimately traded to the Suns that offseason.

The Rockets wanted Glen Rice or Steve Smith from the Heat, and they got neither-that's why they never even agreed upon to a deal on preliminary terms.

Looks like it was 1992 when Olajuwon had the falling out with the Rockets. Not 1990-91.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-31-sp-231-story.html

Olajuwon, who has played his entire career at the University of Houston and for the Rockets, said too much has been said in the controversy over his injured left hamstring.

?I?m not coming back for them (management),? Olajuwon said Monday. ?It?s for my teammates and the fans, but I would not like to play for the Rockets next season. It?s so obvious after all that?s happened.

?Would you like to work for a management like that, that say all these things? It?s better for everybody to pack at the end of the season.?

Olajuwon was suspended by the Rockets on March 23 when he refused to play after being cleared by a team physician.

The Rockets believe Olajuwon is faking the injury as a negotiation ploy. Olajuwon has repeatedly denied the allegation and has filed a grievance with the NBA Players Assn.

A reddit page (comparing this to Kawhi's issues with the Spurs years ago) that linked to that article also mentioned the Lakers trade in the comment section as being for Worthy & Divac.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/92mpro/the_original_kawhi_saga_hakeem_olajuwon_requests/

The major change in the FO was Leslie Alexander buying the Rockets back in July 1993 and that led to the firing of GM Steve Patterson in August of that year. Without the change in management, things might have been different in 1993 offseason.

It also mentioned this trade rumour

I remember these rumors.

The trade was going to involve four Clippers players, and three first-rounders, for Olajuwon and Sleepy Floyd.

It didn't go through partly because Hakeem turned his life around that offseason by getting more religious.

[Who]

Good article on the breakdown of the Rockets relationship with Olajuwon

https://fadeawayworld.net/the-blockbuster-trade-that-could-have-happened-if-hakeem-olajuwon-didnt-resolve-the-beef-with-the-houston-rockets

Back Story

For a moment, owner Charlie Thomas and Olajuwon had the best player-owner relationship in the league. Olajuwon had spent time with Thomas in his own home. Everything seemed like it was perfect when Olajuwon agreed to an eight-year contract after the Finals. Even former General Manager Ray Patterson, the man who lowballed Olajuwon on his rookie contract, stepped down.

Despite all of this, the Rockets never capitalized on signing Olajuwon. The Rockets had first-round exits in the playoffs each season between 1988 and 1991. Head coach Don Chaney was fired, and Olajuwon didn?t like that decision despite warming up to new head coach Rudy Tomjanovich.

By this time, centers like Patrick Ewing and David Robinson were making more money than Olajuwon. This didn?t sit right with Olajuwon, who began trying to negotiate a new contract.

The Fall Out

Thomas didn?t want to promise Olajuwon a bunch of money because he was trying to sell the team.

Steven Patterson, the new Rockets GM, declared that he and Olajuwon would negotiate a new contract, and if they couldn't find a solution, they would trade Olajuwon. This was on a Monday during the week. The Tuesday after, Olajuwon hurt his hamstring in a game.

Patterson speculated that Olajuwon faked an injury for contract negotiations. The team doctor said that Olajuwon was cleared to play, but Olajuwon got a second opinion and sat out the next game. The Rockets deliberately listed Olajuwon as ?refused to suit up? and then suspended Olajuwon.

The team went on record saying that the team employees would need to take pay cuts, and ticket prices would need to triple to pay Olajuwon the money he wanted.

The suspension was salt to the wounds. It cost Olajuwon $46,900 to sit out all five games he missed, in which the Rockets lost every single one.

Olajuwon had a dedicated history of playing in games, and his teammates claimed that they didn?t believe Olajuwon faked an injury.

The suspension essentially cost the Rockets a chance of making the playoffs. The team was fighting for the No. 8 seed in March. The Rockets missed the playoffs.

Olajuwon wanted an apology and a trade because he lost faith in the team with the injury accusations.

The article also listed the 3 teams that came closest to landing Olajuwon

Trade 1

LA Lakers for Worthy, Vlade Divac, Elden Campbell, and a future first round pick.

Trade 2

Miami Heat for Rony Seikaly, Brian Shaw & Willie Burton.

A different Heat trade than mentioned above. Seikaly in both but the other players are different. B Shaw and Willie Burton vs Grant Long and Harold Minor.

Trade 3

Portland for Kevin Duckworth, Jerome Kersey & Abdelnaby.

Resolution

Ultimately, none of these deals were accepted. Olajuwon never got his apology either. There were some testy times.

Olajuwon called Thomas a coward and had no intention of finding a resolution for their contract talks. Going into the offseason, both sides were on poor terms.

What eventually saved the relationship was a plane ride.Both Olajuwon and Thomas shared a plane to Tokyo for an NBA function. It was a 14-hour plane ride. The ride helped the two sides reconcile.

After all, Olajuwon had spent time in his home. He spent time with his kids. Olajuwon felt like the Thomas family was a part of his family. The two opened up their communication lines and that was the start of something great.

With his teammates backing up his work ethic, the Rockets had everything they needed to invest in Olajuwon again.

The two sides ultimately settled their differences and agreed on a four-year extension worth $30 million.

[Donoghus]

Trade 3

Portland for Kevin Duckworth, Jerome Kersey & Abdelnaby.

This one would've been kinda fascinating.  Hakeem & Clyde reuniting in Portland rather than in Houston years later.

Trailblazers coming of a Finals loss to the Bulls with a core of Hakeem/Drexler/Porter along with Cliff Robinson and Rod Strickland.

[Roy H.]

Trade 3

Portland for Kevin Duckworth, Jerome Kersey & Abdelnaby.

This one would've been kinda fascinating.  Hakeem & Clyde reuniting in Portland rather than in Houston years later.

Trailblazers coming of a Finals loss to the Bulls with a core of Hakeem/Drexler/Porter along with Cliff Robinson and Rod Strickland.

Man is that a fun one to think about.  That team versus the 1993 Suns would have been a terrific matchup, and if they gelled properly they could have made it past the Bulls.

Imagine how that would have changed NBA history.  Does MJ still retire?  Does that change MJ's legacy if he's no longer 6-0?

Now, I don't think a trade like that would have ever been agreed to, but if it had...

Hakeem / Mark Bryant
Buck Williams / Clifford Robinson
Mario Elie / Tracy Murray
Drexler / Strickland
Porter

What eventually saved the relationship was a plane ride.Both Olajuwon and Thomas shared a plane to Tokyo for an NBA function. It was a 14-hour plane ride. The ride helped the two sides reconcile.

Their 14 hour plane ride must have been different than the 14 hour plane rides I've been on, haha.  From my experience, I wouldn't be in the mood for reconciling with anybody.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

ClutchFans
@clutchfans

In 1992, Hakeem Olajuwon demanded a trade from the Rockets. The Heat offered Rony Seikaly, Grant Long and Harold Miner. Not sure who they are?

Is this sarcasm? Seems like anyone who followed the NBA in the early '90s would know who those three are.

[Who]

ClutchFans
@clutchfans

In 1992, Hakeem Olajuwon demanded a trade from the Rockets. The Heat offered Rony Seikaly, Grant Long and Harold Miner. Not sure who they are?

Is this sarcasm? Seems like anyone who followed the NBA in the early '90s would know who those three are.

They are just younger fans. They weren't around in the 90s. The guy who made the twitter post I mean.

There was another bit of the twitter post (that I didn't bother posting) who said people in the future won't know the names of several players in a recent trade. Dinwiddie and some others.

[Donoghus]

ClutchFans
@clutchfans

In 1992, Hakeem Olajuwon demanded a trade from the Rockets. The Heat offered Rony Seikaly, Grant Long and Harold Miner. Not sure who they are?

Is this sarcasm? Seems like anyone who followed the NBA in the early '90s would know who those three are.

They are just younger fans. They weren't around in the 90s. The guy who made the twitter post I mean.

There was another bit of the twitter post (that I didn't bother posting) who said people in the future won't know the names of several players in a recent trade. Dinwiddie and some others.

This is the full tweet for context.

ClutchFans
@clutchfans
In 1992, Hakeem Olajuwon demanded a trade from the Rockets. The Heat offered Rony Seikaly, Grant Long and Harold Miner. Not sure who they are? It's the same reaction fans will have 28 years from now when you mention Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen.
7:15 PM ? Dec 7, 2020

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

ClutchFans
@clutchfans

In 1992, Hakeem Olajuwon demanded a trade from the Rockets. The Heat offered Rony Seikaly, Grant Long and Harold Miner. Not sure who they are?

Is this sarcasm? Seems like anyone who followed the NBA in the early '90s would know who those three are.

They are just younger fans. They weren't around in the 90s. The guy who made the twitter post I mean.

There was another bit of the twitter post (that I didn't bother posting) who said people in the future won't know the names of several players in a recent trade. Dinwiddie and some others.

This is the full tweet for context.

ClutchFans
@clutchfans
In 1992, Hakeem Olajuwon demanded a trade from the Rockets. The Heat offered Rony Seikaly, Grant Long and Harold Miner. Not sure who they are? It's the same reaction fans will have 28 years from now when you mention Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen.
7:15 PM ? Dec 7, 2020

Ah, I see. Thanks for the additional context.

Still, I think I'll remember Dinwiddie, LeVert, and Allen 28 years from now.

[Who]

Some more Dream rumours

https://hoopshype.com/lists/the-ones-that-got-away-the-biggest-almost-trades-in-nba-history/

Purportedly, a trade package of Rony Seikaly, Glen Rice and Steve Smith was sought from the Heat in exchange for Olajuwon and Sleepy Floyd, something the Heat would deny, citing the trio as being their ?nucleus?.

This denial came after several months of smoke, which of course came from a fire at some point, and similar smoke was said to be emanating from the Indiana Pacers (based around Rik Smits) and the Seattle SuperSonics (surrounding Derrick McKey and Nate McMillan).

Interesting Pacers & Sonics mentions.

Another billowing cloud of smoke came from the Los Angeles area, where both parties were interested. The Lakers, reportedly, dangled a package of AC Green, Byron Scott and James Worthy for The Dream, while additionally, it was widely understood that the Clippers were very interested in putting together a package.

The sticking point? It seems hard to believe, but, apparently, it was Stanley Roberts.

Roberts, who has the power to veto any trade, already has said he does not want to play for the Clippers. However, if his opinion can be swayed during his stay in LA, the Rockets could be knocked out of the running for Roberts. He then would be included in a deal sending Charles Smith from LA to New York with Doc Rivers. The Clippers also would get Mark Jackson.

That trade would put the Rockets back to square one in trying to trade Olajuwon.

The Rockets hope to avoid starting from scratch again. But Roberts holds the key. If he decides he does not want to play in LA, he could open the door to trade Olajuwon. Even then, though, it will not be easy.

.....

The deal would send Olajuwon to the Clippers and Sleepy Floyd to the Clippers or Knicks. Houston would receive Danny Manning and Loy Vaught from the Clippers, Roberts from Orlando and Gerald Wilkins from the Knicks, if he can be signed before the trade.

The Clippers would receive Olajuwon along with Jackson and Charles Oakley from the Knicks while giving up Manning and Vaught to Houston and Smith and Rivers to New York.

Danny Manning & pieces for Olajuwon is something I remember hearing before.

The sub-quote above is from a Houston Chronicle article. I can't see the full article. Only the quoted bit from the Hoopshype article. You need to be a subscriber to see their archived article - is what it says when you click on the link in the Hoopshype piece.