An Unnecessary Education on Daryl Morey
I've been reading the FanPosts lately, and there's been this strange common theme: Some people aren't aboard the Daryl Morey bandwagon. Yes, by choice.
Complaining about Daryl Morey's body of work is senseless and greedy. It's like handing your parents back the twenty Christmas presents that they got for you because you wanted twenty-one.
It's like asking Ted Williams to hit .500. Or blaming LeBron James for the Cavaliers' postseason failures. Or refusing to take $21 million over three years because you've "got a family to feed." It just makes no sense.
Thankfully, this is a lesson for the minority, and as unnecessary as it should be, it needs to be delivered. I'd like for our community to stop embarrassing ourselves. Especially by the time we find a Grizzlies blog for SB Nation. Once they see how much we've been harassing a guy like Morey, they'll wonder if anyone out there has even heard of Chris Wallace.
Just so you know, Lee, Dave, and myself are not the only folks singing Morey's praises. ESPN's Bill Simmons gave Morey his due, writing that Morey should be admired simply because "he is batting .900." Kelly Dwyer of Ball Don't Lie picked Morey for Executive of the Year. Simmons is golden when it comes to basketball, and Dwyer is practically a blogging legend. You'll rarely find more rational opinions out there.
To review, here is what Morey has managed to do over the past couple of seasons:
The Impossible Moves
- Swapped an aging, costly, and selfish point guard in Rafer Alston for a young, cheap, intelligent, and efficient point guard in Kyle Lowry. This is extremely hard to do. Impossibility Scale: 9/10
- Signed a cheap journeyman in Von Wafer and gave him a chance to compete in the pre-season. Wafer turned into a lethal shooter and aggressive wingman and kept our season from tumbling. All of this, from a guy to whom we paid a minimum salary and lost nobody to acquire. Impossibility Scale: 8/10.
- Swapped Vassilis Spanoullis for Luis Scola. From the inter-division San Antonio Spurs. Impossibility Scale: 9/10 + 1 = 10/10. Bonus points for being one of the most badass moves in franchise history.
- Somehow found a way to acquire talented players even with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady taking up 70 percent of the cap. Trevor Ariza is the first player that Morey has had to really open up the wallet to sign. And that was just the MLE. Impossible Scale: ???
The Generally Smart Moves That Other GM's Might Flub
- Kept Carl Landry in Houston and out of Charlotte by matching an offer sheet. Oh, and who drafted him out of Purdue? Morey.
- Signed James White for an extra year to develop him. Dude scored 26 points per game in the NBDL. Why not spend a few bucks to give him a shot?
- Traded Steve Francis in order to sign Dikembe Mutombo.
- Re-signed Chuck Hayes. This took more balls than you might think.
- Got rid of Bonzi Wells and Mike James.
- Convinced Trevor Ariza to come to Houston for the MLE, thus filling the spot voided by Ron Artest. Ariza could have gone to Cleveland and won a championship. But he chose Houston instead.
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43 comments
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Comments
First of all genius, you cannot rate imposibility. Either it is impossible or it is not. And If your are looking at Kelly Dwyer for sound basketball knowledge, you need Yao to step on your head.
1) Kyle Lowry is just another one of Houston long list of 2ed rate PGs.
2) If Von is so deadly and explosive, why isnt Morey resigning him? I love what Von brings and Morey needs to stop moping over himself and resign Von.
3)pat on the back
4)This just sums up the rest of your reasons for sucking on Moreys bottle and therefore is not a reason in itself.
1) Carl Landry is a solid backup, but he is easily replaceable. He has potential but his athletisim is at its peak and thats where his game is.
2) 26 points in the NBDL was not 26 points against the Lakers so until James actually proves he belongs in the NBA, he is just another Gereld Green. He cant dunk from the free throw line with Dwight or Duncan in the way.
3)clap clap clap
4) Chunck is undersized and a liability on offense.
5) A no brainer move.
6) If Cleveland would have offered a starting spot to Ariza, he would have been gone. Ariza is a poor subsitute for Ron.
by Dudeman on Jul 11, 2009 5:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Genius
Kyle and brooks bring a one two punch on PG no other team in NBA has.
Von is asking more than 3.5 mil a year. he will eventually sign with us once he realises he has no value outside
slap on the head
You just want to hate.
Carl is a average backup , but for 3 mil a year he is worth every penny for the energy he brings as a SUB.
Don’t judge White yet, because he might surprise you this coming season
Chuck is an asset on defense. When yao was out, he did an amazing job on Gasol
A no brainer move, no wonder other teams still have them . Maybe they are too stupid, you want to apply for GM for NO Hornets?
Cleveland still has a shot at a championship and ariza would get decent minutes. Convincing him to come to houston where we barely have a team as of now, IS a geniuses work.
The impossibility scale might be useless, but the fact that is wasn’t possible and Morey got it done is by itself a slap on your face.
Thanks !
by Sidwho on Jul 11, 2009 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
1) Kyle Lowry is just another one of Houston long list of 2ed rate PGs.
Kyle Lowry is a great defender, good passer, and efficient scorer.
2) If Von is so deadly and explosive, why isnt Morey resigning him? I love what Von brings and Morey needs to stop moping over himself and resign Von.
Because his skill-set is limited and there is no reason to give in to his contract demands.
4)This just sums up the rest of your reasons for sucking on Moreys bottle and therefore is not a reason in itself.
Well, if you weren’t so dense, you might understand that fielding a good team while most of your payroll is injured (and Tom is exaggerating a bit; last year it was about 51% of payroll on the bench in the Lakers series. This year it should be higher, at least until McGrady comes back) is a huge accomplishment and a testament to the quality of players on the roster. So, yes, it is a reason.
1) Carl Landry is a solid backup, but he is easily replaceable. He has potential but his athletisim is at its peak and thats where his game is.
"Carl Landry is not perfect, therefore his acquisition is not an accomplishment." Does that seem like a good statement to make? No, and that’s because it’s a stupid thing to write.
2) 26 points in the NBDL was not 26 points against the Lakers so until James actually proves he belongs in the NBA, he is just another Gereld Green. He cant dunk from the free throw line with Dwight or Duncan in the way.
"White is not perfect, and so picking him up isn’t good."
4) Chunck is undersized and a liability on offense.
"Chuck is not perfect, and so he sucks."
6) If Cleveland would have offered a starting spot to Ariza, he would have been gone.
And if rocks were brains, you’d have some.
Ariza is a poor subsitute for Ron.
Ariza is better than Ron. There, I said it. He’s just as good on defense (perhaps better), and he doesn’t think he’s Ray Allen.
you cannot rate imposibility. Either it is impossible or it is not.
Thanks, Captain Modality.
And If your are looking at Kelly Dwyer for sound basketball knowledge, you need Yao to step on your head.
If you think Dwyer doesn’t know what he’s talking about, then that is a compliment to Dwyer.
Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.
by Only_A_Lad on Jul 11, 2009 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
nice to see a person of intelligence.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
by Tom Martin on Jul 11, 2009 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
pfft
you ever doubted me?
Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.
by Only_A_Lad on Jul 11, 2009 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow, i think i have just seen the dumbest thing anyone has ever written on this blog.
1. ariza is better. i completely agree with wat Only_a_Lad said because ariza is better at D than ron is because he is more lengthy, quicker, he’s strong enough, and he doesn’t take a 24 second dribblethon around the whole court and fire an unbalanced three like ron does. and ariza was a lot more efficient from the 3 pt line than ron was.
2. now this is the dumbest one. why the hell would u compare white scoring 26 points in the NBDL to scoring 26 against the lakers. the lakers are one team and they are the best team. besides white would not start so he would not get as much mintues as he did in NBDL, again u have no idea what you are talking about.
3. the chuck wagon is amazing. hes 6’6 and he dominated gasol in the playoffs on D. yes he sucks in every category on offense but still he is a very solid back up considering that landry is more offensive than hayes is, therefore you have your choice of offense or defense. (not to mention they are both jacked).
4. do yourself a favor and don’t comment on anything else to avoid embarrassing yourself again.
"We don't need refs, but i guess white guys need something to do."- Charles Barkley
by Rockets 4 Life on Jul 11, 2009 11:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
before i get criticized
i meant to say ariza is just as good if not better than ron at D. he isnt better quite yet but he will be very soon.
"We don't need refs, but i guess white guys need something to do."- Charles Barkley
by Rockets 4 Life on Jul 11, 2009 11:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed....
Now let’s see him keep Von Wafer, and get a more than good Center, and I’ll pull the Bandwagon!!!!
by kmbrly429 on Jul 12, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Umm
he is a genius. So much so that teams are totally scared to deal with him. Which leads to me to http://www.thedreamshake.com/2009/6/23/922759/are-teams-scared-of-morey
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
by ak2themax on Jul 11, 2009 5:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
BREAKING NEWS
It has just been confirmed Daryl Morey is NOT God. You can all stop worshipping him now.
by Dudeman on Jul 11, 2009 6:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m not really sure why you’re being so obtuse about this subject of all things, but it’s hilarious.
by Jeffrey on Jul 11, 2009 6:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bill Simmons is NOT golden
Simmons tends to make some rather odd predictions and analogies about teams before they have really accomplished anything. Such as…
• "The ‘09 Cavs are the ‘91 Bulls reincarnated… everyone keeps underestimating them and nobody realizes that they are about the blow thru these last 2 rounds."
Statements like these are why I don’t take Bill Simmons seriously. He constantly makes comparisons that blow up in his face. His columns and mailbags can be entertaining but I wouldn’t go as far as to say that he’s got a rationale opinion. He fancies himself as a know-it-all but when his ironclad predictions are wrong he quickly retreats with excuses. I don’t take him or Kelly Dwyer’s consistent pessimistic articles as the most rationale opinions out there.
That said, Daryl Morey is definitely doing a phenomenal job as the GM of this team. He has done a great job of injecting youth, athleticism, and skill into the roster. He has utilized his assets in the draft extremely well. He has picked and developed good players such as Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry through the draft. Both players were excellent value for their respective draft positions. He has parlayed other picks into Ron Artest, Shane Battier, and Luis Scola. Three gifted players that fit the roster. His draft this year netted Jermaine Taylor, Sergio Llull, and Chase Budinger. Three guys with potential to be solid role players. I expect Taylor to eventually develop into a guy that can inject instant offense into the game off the bench. Three more players that are good value for second round picks. He also has done a good job thus far in free agency in adding Trevor Ariza to the roster for a fair and reasonable contract with the medical exception they obtained from Yao’s injury. Morey has done a fantastic job of constructing a roster of players that know their roles and fit their roles for this team well. Morey hasn’t overpaid for anyone. All Morey needs is a healthy superstar for this team and I like this team’s chances against anyone. The Rockets have a deep roster that complements each other. Rick Adelman is a great coach that was hired by Morey. I don’t know what is not to like about the job Daryl Morey has done thus far. His record is pretty damn good.
by you got shook son on Jul 11, 2009 7:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
How plainly stupid can you make yourself sound?
If Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan were injured every season, Phil Jackson wouldn’t have a title either. You’re argument is juvenile and immature.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
by Tom Martin on Jul 11, 2009 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fail
Phil Jackson is a coach. Do yourself a favor and never post again.
by Dudeman on Jul 11, 2009 11:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fail Part 2
You should listen to your own advice.
by you got shook son on Jul 11, 2009 11:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
dude YOU fail at blogging
you just criticized morey for not having a ring. than u go against your own argument and say that phil jackson is a coach and saying that HE earns the rings, not the players. GM’s and coaches are completely different. gm’s get players with talent and rely on their coaches to develop them. the last time i looked. the rockets BEAT the lakers 3 times without their two best players. thats how good our coach is and morey for trading alston and bringing in lowry. imagine the lakers without kobe and pau. who is their next option? ariza? no, odom? no. brooks did a great job for a no.1 option for scoring in that series. im not saying he will carry that over into next season but he will be in the 15-19 pts per game mark. u need to read your stuff before u post it and make yourself look stupid.
"We don't need refs, but i guess white guys need something to do."- Charles Barkley
by Rockets 4 Life on Jul 11, 2009 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh lol
I didn’t even read his post when I ask how many championships he had I though we were still talking about the illustrious genius Morey.
by Dudeman on Jul 12, 2009 12:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
my point
Is that to win a championship, you need good health on your side, no matter how good your team is. Without good health, Phil Jackson would not have won a title, and thus would look much worse. This doesn’t have to do with GM or coach – it has to do with championship image, which you seem to care so much about. I guess John Stockton is a pretty lousy point guard. HE AINT GOT RINGS ON HIS FINGER.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
by Tom Martin on Jul 12, 2009 2:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Most GMs Never Win Championships
Just because Morey has yet to win a championship after three years on the job does not mean he has done a poor job as GM. By your reasoning then very few GMs are qualified to lead a team. So has Kevin Pritchard done a horrible job as the architect of the Trail Blazer squad because he has yet to win a championship? Is Sam Presti doing a terrible job in Oklahoma City because his team just won 23 games last year? No. Most teams have to be built from the ground up and it takes time. Yet, you fail to look at the fact that only one team wins the championship each year. That team that wins not only has to be talented but has to have a certain degree of luck. Every break needs to go right and injuries must occur infrequently the whole season in order to build the continuity every team needs during the season in order to go deep into the playoffs. When your two best players (players that when healthy have proven to be superstar caliber players) are seemingly injured throughout the year and rarely finish the season on the active roster then a title is not going to happen. How is it Morey’s fault that T-Mac and Yao are injury-prone?
by you got shook son on Jul 11, 2009 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
i like this guy
13 points in 39 seconds. Enough said.
by Duhoh on Jul 11, 2009 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ok so if Houston had RC Buford as its GM with the exact same situations, would you say the same?
he did bring 4 titles to one of the more smaller markets in the nba. . .
13 points in 39 seconds. Enough said.
by Duhoh on Jul 11, 2009 9:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, I Would Say The Same
If the Rockets had the same roster with the same circumstances and R.C. Buford was in charge, I would still consider him one of the best general managers. Injuries have ruined Houston’s roster during the entire T-Mac and Yao era and yet they still have managed to win 50+ games in four out of the last five years. That’s pretty impressive considering the injury issues that we all know too well with T-Mac and Yao.
by you got shook son on Jul 11, 2009 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
*yawn*
Noone remembers or cares how many games you win. Its all about bringing that trophy home.
by Dudeman on Jul 11, 2009 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
HA
I’m glad you get the whole idea of what the goal of each season is.
by you got shook son on Jul 11, 2009 11:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Has Morey achieved this goal?
No. Will he next year? NO. So until we get close Morey will always be the nerdy GM who used formulas to scout and sigh players. Until then, he fails. Please, stop collecting his tears and hanging them in your grotto to adorn because there is no excuse why a third banner isnt hanging at the Toyota Center.
by Dudeman on Jul 12, 2009 12:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.
by Only_A_Lad on Jul 12, 2009 12:48 AM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
lol
"We don't need refs, but i guess white guys need something to do."- Charles Barkley
by Rockets 4 Life on Jul 12, 2009 2:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+ 16
Felt like it was an appropriate number of Internet Points to award you.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
by Tom Martin on Jul 12, 2009 2:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Uh
I never said there would be a third banner hanging if Yao and T-Mac were healthy. The Rockets would have had a much better shot at winning it all if they had a season of clean health, though. That is not a shocking revelation or anything. With the injuries the Rockets had by the time they got to the second round, I was pleased with the progress they made and the near upset of the Lakers with such a depleted roster. Injuries continue to handicap this team. Until T-Mac expires or his massive contract is willingly taken by a team desperately shedding 23 million dollars worth of contracts in a salary dump nothing can be done to improve the roster. Yao’s 17 million on the cap also constricts what can be done in terms of upgrading the roster. Those are players whose contracts were already on the books before he got there. How can you fault him for that?
by you got shook son on Jul 12, 2009 1:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It almost seems like deliberate stupidity.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
by Tom Martin on Jul 12, 2009 2:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Deliberate Stupidity? Perhaps.
The word that keeps coming to my mind is “trolling”.
Probably a bit of Column A, and a bit of Column B?
by DribbleHooper on Jul 14, 2009 3:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tom, Morey is good, but your math skills are questionable ...
For Scola, 9/10+1 is not equal to 10 :-).
Excellent Post,
Kari
by Kari on Jul 11, 2009 10:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This is why I am avoiding math classes at all cost in college :)
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
by Tom Martin on Jul 12, 2009 2:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well here is your first leason
Tmac+Yao ≠ Championship.
If Morey is/was the all knowing oracle you people claim him to be, this injury issue would have been advoided if Morey would have recognized the problem earliar.Tmac and Yao have talent, but having 2 injury-prone allstars lead a team was Morey’s biggest mistake. He further put Yaos health in danger by never getting a suitable backup for him. We would be having a must better season if Morey had..
1) Reduced Yao’s regular season minutes. Develop a backup center.
2) Traded Tmac to the pistons.
Think of it. Yao would not be injured because the stress on his foot would be limited, Rip and Tayshaun Prince, would be in our lineup, and Ron would be back a
by Dudeman on Jul 12, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
first off
yao was never injury prone when we got him, only t-mac was, and he played the majority of the games when he first got here. 2nd. the pistons would not trade rip and tayshaun for t-mac who just had very serious surgery that could possibly ruin his career. ron would not be back too. it was just a one year thing.
tell me Dudeman what morey should be doing and what players he should be signing/trading. i’m very interested to hear what u think he should do.
"We don't need refs, but i guess white guys need something to do."- Charles Barkley
by Rockets 4 Life on Jul 12, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
An Honest Question
For those who are skeptical of Morey, exactly what moves should he have made? I’ve seen a lot of overlap between the “Morey isn’t special” crowd and the “T-Mac and Cook for Paul and Chandler” crowd, so I’m going out on a limb and suggesting that the people who don’t appreciate Morey are simply unrealistic psuedo-fans upset at him for not trading expiring contracts for Lebron James.
by seanbergmanrules on Jul 12, 2009 11:51 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
yeah reminds me of baseball fans who get mad their GM
for not trading an aging overpaid veteran for Roy Halladay
"Sometimes Joe (morgan) doesn't like facts to get in the way of his opinions."- billy beane
"That was a great pick...if this was 2002" Me, to guy who selected Barry Zito in a fantasy draft
www.27ClubPeak.blogspot.com
by harendaman365 on Jul 13, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

















