In the NBA, the highest level basketball league in the world, making money is definitely the most important thing for players, but there are also some famous stars who always take the initiative to cut their salaries in order to leave no regrets in their careers. Choosing to join a championship-level team "hold the thigh" to win the championship, like Payton and Malone back then went to the Lakers to join Kobe and O'Neal. Unfortunately, the Lakers were defeated by the Pistons that year.
And a few years ago, the All-Star power forward David West also cut his salary to the Warriors, and finally won a championship and retired.
In fact, there are some players who regard the Rockets as the biggest favorite to win the championship, and actively join the Rockets to join Harden and Westbrook wanting to win a championship ring, such as DeMarre Carroll last season. player of.
Carroll has always been one of the best defensive forwards in the NBA. He first went to the Spurs last season. However, due to the inconsistency with Popovich’s tactical philosophy, Carroll was not reused in the Spurs. Before the All-Star Game, Carroll also reached a buyout agreement with the Spurs. The former gave up $810,000 of his salary and finally completed the buyout agreement with the Spurs. After that, Carroll quickly and the Rockets The team signed and became a member of the Houston Rockets.
Although Carroll had a lot of chances to play in the regular season, but after the NBA rematch, Carroll's status in the Rockets plummeted. At that time, although the Rockets Westbrook and Gordon were injured and unable to play, D'Antoni It is recognized that 8 people rotate.
In addition to starting the 5 Tigers, the Rockets only used Jeff Green, Rivers Jr. and McLemore on the bench. As for fringe players like Carroll, D'Antoni would never consider using his. .
Even when the Rockets needed a change in the playoffs, D'Antoni didn't think of Carroll. As a result, the Rockets played in 12 playoff games, and Carroll only played 2 games and 6 minutes in the garbage time symbolically.
thinks of losing $810,000 for nothing, and going to the Rockets and Harden's joint operation. I wonder if Carol feels any regret?
In fact, after parting ways with the Spurs, the veteran Carroll was not the only Rockets who came next. According to reports, there were still many teams interested in Carroll at that time, but Carroll didn’t know what was going on. With the Rockets, they have never had decent contacts and negotiations with other teams.
Perhaps in Carroll’s view, Harden and Westbrook’s teams are already top-notch. After all, they were able to compete with the Warriors. Now Paul has moved from the guard position and upgraded to a Harden-Westbrook combination. Isn't it closer to the championship?
Carol is already old, he hopes to win a championship in the last few years of his career before retiring, so he chose the Rockets he is optimistic about, even if he loses 810,000 US dollars! Unfortunately, this decision was too hasty. The Rockets do not have the position of Carroll. In this way, Carroll is really better off going to a team that can play. Although the
championship sounds nice to say, being able to play in the NBA may be more valuable than a "smashed" championship title. Carroll is now a free agent, and I hope that when he chooses his next home in the future, he will never make such a decision again.