Welcome to Houston, LeBron James. Hope you find everything to your liking. Give a shout if we’ve missed anything.
Did you notice the extra chocolate on your hotel pillow? Don’t mention it, LeBron. That’s how we roll in Houston.
Sorry this is a short visit, because one day isn’t enough time to appreciate what a great place this is. Here’s hoping you can come back next summer, spend a day or two, soak in our neighborhoods and restaurants and friendly people.
You’ve got a big decision coming up, and amid all the talk of you playing for the Knicks or Nets or maybe staying with the Cavs, we hope you’ll consider us.
You’d love it here, and you don’t have to take my word for it. Ask anyone who has played here. It’s one of the NBA cities others are measured by. Players love it here.
I don’t know all the factors you’re going to consider, but if you want to win a championship, if you want to play for a smart, first-class organization, you might not do better than the Rockets.
That’s where we’ll begin. If you’ve got questions about real estate, shopping or weather, we can answer ’em all. Who needs Manhattan’s crosstown traffic when you can have Allen Parkway?
We know there’s no right answer to this puzzle unless, of course, you decide to stay in your hometown. We won’t even try to talk you out of that. You belong in a Cleveland uniform the way Carlos Lee belongs in an Astros uniform. Oops, bad example.
No-lose situation
There’s no way you can lose in any of this. You’ll make any team competitive the moment you put the uniform on. You’re the whole package. As one of your potential future teammates, Shane Battier, said Tuesday, you combine “unparalled athleticism, freakish size and otherworldly talent.”
Yes, the Knicks will tempt you, because, well, it’s the big city. Truth be told, Donnie Walsh is a smart general manager and Mike D’Antonio a terrific coach. You can’t go wrong there, and we’ll admit there is that whole Madison Square Garden mystique thing. Being the guy who leads the Knicks back would be special.
Having said that, we’ve got a nice little thing going right here in Houston. Have you checked out our little team? We’ve got the hardest-working band in show business. If you like toughness, unselfishness and smarts, you’ll love our Rockets. They’re a living, breathing example that all those things coaches preach about — teamwork and making the extra pass and taking care of details — really work.
About all our Rockets don’t have is a superstar, and that’s where you enter the equation. If these Rockets had this core of players with you and Yao Ming next season, they might win a championship.
Think of it, LeBron. The Knicks can offer a lot, but they can’t offer the chance to win a championship immediately. All we’re asking is for a chance to make a pitch.
Model organization
Listen to what we’ve got to say, and then check us out for yourself and decide. We can offer a model franchise that does things the right way. Good organizations begin at the top, and that’s true of the Rockets.
Our owner, Leslie Alexander, is the best. He’s smart and tough, and he hires really good people and gives them the resources to do their jobs. He understands that good rosters aren’t just about having one or two franchise-caliber players. He understands it goes way beyond that.
So when his general manager came to him last summer and wanted $6 million for three second-round picks, Alexander whipped out his checkbook and gave him the money. The Rockets used one of those picks on Chase Budinger, and he appears on his way to stardom.
Now, about that general manager. His name is Daryl Morey. There’s no one in the NBA better. He can find good players in the second round when some general managers can’t find them in the first round.
And there’s the coach. Rick Adelman understands the NBA as well as anyone on earth. He played in the league and has coached in it forever. He’s one of those coaches who will put his teams in position to win, who knows the things that are important to players. You’ll never find a coach more fun to play for.
Impact player needed
You’ll like these players, too. They’re fearless, smart and a lot better than some people think. They did things last spring no one thought possible and are doing them again this season. They’re a joy to watch.
But as much as we love these Rockets, they’re not going to win a championship without at least one impact player. You happen to be one of the two best players on earth, and you happen to be a free agent who’d be a perfect fit.
How about giving us a listen?
