James rejects Rockets' free-agent bid <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"I had to have two things; only one team gave them to me," James said, without identifying the team. "Everyone gave me the same amount of money. I specifically asked for a player option on my third year and a trade kicker and they said 'no.' I had to have those two things. "After what they put me through, I couldn't sign with them without those things." James, who said last week that getting traded by the Rockets would in no way influence his decision, turned down the Rockets' offer to return to his adopted hometown. Players can begin signing with teams on Wednesday, but James said his decision was final. "End of game. I'm done," James said. "I want to get back to just me, get all the nonsense out of the way. This ain't fun. I'm not for sale. I've been telling people that from beginning all I want to be is a basketball player. I'm still not appreciated. I'm still young at this game. I still have a lot to prove. The thing I have to prove is you can win a champion with Mike James. "Carroll Dawson (the Rockets general manager) said to me a story about how bad he wanted to get me. When I left Detroit, he really wanted me, really wanted me This trade fell through, that trade fell through then he finally got me (from the Bucks in exchange for Reece Gaines and a second-round pick.) The only question I had was, 'then why did you trade me?' "I wasn't a bad kid. I'm family man, first one in gym, last to leave. That was the question I had. They can trade me. Whenever they're ready to get rid of me, they can get rid of me. You're in a rhythm, the kids are in school, and they say 'go somewhere else, pack up and go' with no repercussions to it. Another school, another place to live, another way to live. You have to go shopping because you were in a hot place and traded to Antarctica."</div> source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports...kn/4040066.html looks like he's still pissed about getting traded last season...
Well, I saw this coming. He had no intentions on coming back, he just wanted us to feel stupid for even entertaining the thought of him coming back. The Rockets have some serious work to be done. We had an opportunity to get younger in the draft, and turned it down only to get older. We had an opportunity to get faster and more athletic, but we chose to get slower and more unathletic. Teams have been active in the offseason signing free agents left and right. The only FA we signed was Chucky Hayes. But I'm not suprised, Van Gundy's history exposes his obsession with old, slow teams. That's the only way he can coach. The Rockets need to seriously go in a different direction. Van Gundy's only bringing the value of the team down.
I'm glad that we didn't sign James, after the details came out. A player option in his last year would mean about $7 million, and unless James' value skyrockets then, he'll pick it up, giving us dead weight. And if he doesn't do well, we can't even trade him? C'mon, this is the NBA, players get traded, get over it. James will be 35 when he does pick up that player option; how much help do you think he'd be to Minnesota then? The Rockets and Mavericks didn't lose out on anything, the Timberwolves made a bad decision and will regret giving in to James' demands two years from now. I guess we'll be left to bringing in Spanouliss with part of the MLE and spending the other part on either a swingman or a reserve big man. Not necessarily a bad thing given our financial situation; a sign-n-trade was virtually impossible as we had no players other teams would want besides Head.
I wonder how long until KG complains about not getting the ball Bosh took some little jabs at James after the season about needing a pass-first PG. I'm pretty sure KG will be more vocal if he feels the same way. I'm not really sure what Minny is doing since Foye is another undersized 2, to go along with James and Troy Hudson who's more of a scorer than a passer as well. And what are they going to do with Jaric?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm glad that we didn't sign James, after the details came out. A player option in his last year would mean about $7 million, and unless James' value skyrockets then, he'll pick it up, giving us dead weight. And if he doesn't do well, we can't even trade him? C'mon, this is the NBA, players get traded, get over it. James will be 35 when he does pick up that player option; how much help do you think he'd be to Minnesota then? The Rockets and Mavericks didn't lose out on anything, the Timberwolves made a bad decision and will regret giving in to James' demands two years from now. I guess we'll be left to bringing in Spanouliss with part of the MLE and spending the other part on either a swingman or a reserve big man. Not necessarily a bad thing given our financial situation; a sign-n-trade was virtually impossible as we had no players other teams would want besides Head.</div> I agree...I think we should Sign John Lucas III, a swingman, and a back up PF or SG. Use our MLE on swingman and PF and then use w/e we have left to get Lucas to a contract.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting johnny33:</div><div class="quote_post">I wonder how long until KG complains about not getting the ball Bosh took some little jabs at James after the season about needing a pass-first PG. I'm pretty sure KG will be more vocal if he feels the same way. I'm not really sure what Minny is doing since Foye is another undersized 2, to go along with James and Troy Hudson who's more of a scorer than a passer as well. And what are they going to do with Jaric?</div> KG doesnt complain. he is a real man about everything he does. if we are winning, he wont care. if he thinks james is shooting too much, he will tell him.
If he didnt want to come to Houston, he should have went to Dallas then. If he wants a championship he should came to Houston or either went to Dallas. But Minnesota?? WTF?? Im so mad right now.I really wanted Mike James. He was begging to come here. And he dont wants to come here? He's a punk! Man he should have came here.. He said he didnt care about the money. So there was no reason for him to go somewhere else.. Man I really wanted Mike James to come here. But there is a good reason he didnt come to Houston. He would have taken shots away from McGrady and Yao. But i really wanted Mike James. and seeing him go to Minnesota instead of Dallas and Houston was dumb. I wanted James
I don't get why Rocket fans are so persauded that he's the perfect guy for thier team. Not only will you have to pay for a 30+ Mike James, you'd have also got with him his "Mike James feels he is a superstar and doesn't get hsi props" speech (courtesy of himself) every week and you would have also gotten the "there's 22 seconds left on the shot clock so I might as well force up a shot" routine as well. Granted, he was clutch for the most part in Raptor land and I enjoyed him on the team but I think he certainly thinks too much of himself. Down the stretch, he wants the rock in his hands, all the time. I wish him good luck in Minnesota and let's hope he doesn't get chased and beaten by a frustrated KG if the Wolves keep losing due to his lack of passing. Ricky Davis and Mike James on the same team . I hope it works out for the sake of KG and the Wolves fanbase.
I wonder who we are gonna use our MLE on. Well since we are not getting Mike James.. I hope the best for the Rockets. And wish that they make the best use of the MLE.. and i hope the rockets make it to the second round..
Mike James was a perfect fit comming off the Bench for the Rockets because he is a guy that can create for himself, and get his own shot. Sounds selfish, but the Rockets had nobody else that did that very well last year when TMac went out.
Minnesota sure likes the combo guards. Are they going to play both Foye and James in the starting lineup or what?
I still am bothered by the trade of James for Alston. Alston is a serviceable PG, but he did not do anything last year that made me think the trade was worth it, and believe me, I was watching and hoping for Alston to have his Rockets break-out season but he didn't. I still don't like the original trade we did a year ago...
Who cares now? Trade is done.. Forget it now.. James will suck anyways.. And plus if he would've came to Houston.. Then Juwan Howard was gonna whoop his @$$ again..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Umair15:</div><div class="quote_post">And plus if he would've came to Houston.. Then Juwan Howard was gonna whoop his @$$ again..</div> after he steals his sunglasses
