quote:

---

Daryl Morey and the Rockets were fined for comments Morey made on an ESPN podcast in February. Morey discussed the sort of system he would prefer for player contracts. Between the two fines, the NBA hit the Rockets and the GM for $100,000. Does this seem that egregious?

"Personally — and I'll just speak for me personally, this is obviously not the position of the NBA — I like guaranteed contracts," Morey said. "The team and the player come to an agreement. I think that's fair."

Morey also said he would prefer to have a hard salary cap, but with no rules about player contracts.

"I'd have no rules," Morey said. "I would have a hard cap, because I think that's fair and get to a fair revenue split with the players, then I think no rules under that. Each team should be able to do what they think is best underneath that.

"We want the rules to favor the prepared, meaning no rules, except the hard cap. That would favor the teams better at planning, better at forecasting."

He was discussing topics that will come up in collective bargaining, but he did not seem to be stepping too far over the line by talking about his preference, especially since he said it in the context of what he thought would help his team. No one really thinks the NBA or players' association is going to negotiate based on what Morey thinks is best for the Rockets.

---