Rockets GM Daryl Morey fires back at Mavs’ Mark Cuban
By Mike Dyce
The Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks rivalry might not have boiled over into the court or into the national fan base’s attention, but it is one of the most intriguing and entertaining rivalries in the NBA.
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Aside from the in-state and geographical rivalry implications, there is the verbal shots that have gone back and forth between the two front offices, for instance the Rockets’ standing contract offer to Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki,
“I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ He asked if we’d trade Dirk,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in August, via Pro Football Talk. “At first I thought it was taunting, but now knowing more about Daryl I don’t think it was in hindsight. That’s just not his style. It says a lot about their approach more than anything else. They just have a different understanding and approach to chemistry than we do. Some teams, and that’s not just the Rockets, just put together talent and the talent takes care of itself. We think chemistry matters.”
It might have taken a while Rockets general manager Daryl Morey finally fired back at Cuban.
“Let’s be clear: If the money’s equal between the Rockets and Mavericks, I think players are picking Houston. Every time,” Morey said, via Yahoo Sports. “For Dwight [Howard], I just don’t think it was a hard choice between us and Dallas. If you want to win, you’re going to want to join our organization. We have a first-team All-NBA player in his prime.”
Morey is overlooking Chandler Parsons leaving Houston for Dallas, though one could argue that’s because the Mavericks structured the deal in a way that the Rockets couldn’t match.
And in response to Cuban’s chemistry claims?
“Our teams have had great chemistry, and it’s something we believe in. Hey, if Mark believed so much in chemistry, he wouldn’t have busted up a title team for cap room.”
Now it’s time to see if this rivalry builds on the court. After Parsons defected from Houston in favor of the Mavericks he shared his feelings on them looking for a third superstar and his disappointment that he wasn’t considered said third superstar. There was some back and forth with some of his former teammates.
When Houston and Dallas play, it might be must-watch NBA this season.
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