How the Rockets landed Dwight without tanking (And a flow chart!)

[D.o.s.]

Via Mike Prada on the SBN main page:

full size picture: http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2882831/rockets_dwight__2_.jpg

As we move forward in a new CBA where teams must spend 90 percent of the cap and fend off tanking accusations from fans, general managers will yearn for the ability to rebuild while keeping the team competitive. Daryl Morey just provided all of them the blueprint to doing just that.

Full article can be found here:
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/7/6/4497948/dwight-howard-houston-rockets-daryl-morey-nba-free-agency

[Boris Badenov]

I just happened to be marveling at this earlier, and was on this page which shows their roster as of two years ago:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2011.html

Pretty impressive. They haven't won anything yet, but they certainly have acquired a ton of talent.

[lightspeed5]

this is what i tell people. it takes patience, but we need to forget about the milsaps and alridges and jeffersons of the world, and aim for a SUPERSTAR. not a psuedo star, or overpaid star... we need a legit superstar to compete. if it means tanking in a draft, than so be it, a chance at a superstar is better than calling dwight howard and him telling us he doesnt want to come.

[GreenEnvy]

Wish Morey was our GM 

[D.o.s.]

I just happened to be marveling at this earlier, and was on this page which shows their roster as of two years ago:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2011.html

Pretty impressive. They haven't won anything yet, but they certainly have acquired a ton of talent.

Agreed. And they successfully navigated the premature decline of their two best players of the last fifteen years while still competing for the playoffs.

If I were a Rockets fan, I'd be singing Morey's praises from the rooftops.

[Who]

A non-stop turnstile of players coming in and going out. Never really growing anyone or anything. Not developing a team. Fans never able to grow attached to anyone because they'll be gone in a year. Just showcasing 'em and trading 'em. Over and over again.

A different type of ugly.

[Boris Badenov]

A non-stop turnstile of players coming in and going out. Never really growing anyone or anything. Not developing a team. Fans never able to grow attached to anyone because they'll be gone in a year. Just showcasing 'em and trading 'em. Over and over again.

A different type of ugly.

You think they'll showcase and trade Harden and Howard?

[Who]

A non-stop turnstile of players coming in and going out. Never really growing anyone or anything. Not developing a team. Fans never able to grow attached to anyone because they'll be gone in a year. Just showcasing 'em and trading 'em. Over and over again.

A different type of ugly.

You think they'll showcase and trade Harden and Howard?

To get to this point -- I meant. 

[rondoallaturca]

A non-stop turnstile of players coming in and going out. Never really growing anyone or anything. Not developing a team. Fans never able to grow attached to anyone because they'll be gone in a year. Just showcasing 'em and trading 'em. Over and over again.

A different type of ugly.

I don't think it mattered to management because they have an ambitious end goal in sight, and they accomplished it. I don't think we'll be hearing them looking to move Harden or Dwight anytime soon. Not just that, but the one player they DID decide to keep and develop turned out to be a budding young stud named Chandler Parsons.

[Cman]

A non-stop turnstile of players coming in and going out. Never really growing anyone or anything. Not developing a team. Fans never able to grow attached to anyone because they'll be gone in a year. Just showcasing 'em and trading 'em. Over and over again.

A different type of ugly.

I don't think it mattered to management because they have an ambitious end goal in sight, and they accomplished it. I don't think we'll be hearing them looking to move Harden or Dwight anytime soon. Not just that, but the one player they DID decide to keep and develop turned out to be a budding young stud named Chandler Parsons.

Well, its been six years and counting (Morey joined Houston in 2007), and they haven't actually accomplished anything yet. The future is looking good, of course.

Wish Morey was our GM 

I'm pretty happy with our current GM. I'd take him over Morey.

[Boris Badenov]

Wish Morey was our GM 

RocketsEnvy?

[fairweatherfan]

It's missing the piece where David Stern saved Morey from himself by vetoing the Gasol trade, allowing them to get Harden (and by extension Howard).

Morey's a good GM but that was a bad move that would've best case locked them into a slightly better shade of mediocrity for a couple years.  And that's only if Gasol stayed healthier in Houston than he did in LA.

[BballTim]

Via Mike Prada on the SBN main page:

full size picture: http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2882831/rockets_dwight__2_.jpg

As we move forward in a new CBA where teams must spend 90 percent of the cap and fend off tanking accusations from fans, general managers will yearn for the ability to rebuild while keeping the team competitive. Daryl Morey just provided all of them the blueprint to doing just that.

Full article can be found here:
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/7/6/4497948/dwight-howard-houston-rockets-daryl-morey-nba-free-agency

  An aside possibly, but I don't think many of the people who use the phrase "provided a blueprint" really understand what it means. They probably think telling someone to buy a lottery ticket provides them with a blueprint for winning powerball.

[action781]

Trevor Ariza was signed with the mid-level exception.  Not an injury exception from Yao nor cap space freed up by Artest.

[LarBrd33]

Would have been easier had they tanked.  Those 3 years of .500 basketball where they missed the playoffs slowed down their process.