Veteran journalist Chris Baldwin created quite a stir in the final hours before the trade deadline after blasting Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey for what he believes a 'huge blunder' the executive made two years ago.
Baldwin, a Rockets beat writer and former editor at CultureMap Houston, wrote an opinionated article on Pepper City, expressing his frustrations on Morey for trading Jeremy Lin to the Los Angeles Lakers two seasons ago.
Baldwin, a six-time Associated Press Sports Editor winner during his time at the Asbury Park Press (NJ), really thinks the Rockets lost more than just a role player when they unloaded the former Harvard standout.
Other than his ability to fill in the boxscore sheet in limited playing time, the writer opined that Lin's competitiveness and ability to make everybody better around him made that Rockets team more complete than now.
He also went on to say that the Rockets (currently in 9th place in the Western Conference with 27-28 card) will struggle to return to its elite status because of Morey's approach.
Via Chris Baldwin of Pepper City:
"Heart isn't always easy to quantify in professional sports, but you should know when you have it on your roster. Morey had it in Lin, but never seemed to care. Instead, the Rockets discounted, dissed and eventually discarded one of the NBA's more unique talents. Lin makes players around him better. When Lin's on the court and allowed to run the point, it's easier for his teammates to score.
Morey will desperately struggle to try to sneak the Rockets back into the playoffs this spring, because his owner, Leslie Alexander, will accept nothing less. But even if that's "mission accomplished," this is a franchise going nowhere. It turns out that Daryl Morey built a house of cards."
Other than his disparage on Morey, Baldwin also accused James Harden of padding up his statistical line without really making an impact on the floor and Kemba Walker for embracing the same Hero Ball philosophy Harden has. All of these are made in defense of Lin.
It's easy to say Baldwin must be a die-hard Lin fans for going the extra mile in lambasting the people that made things tougher for Lin then and now. On the other hand, he has also a point.
Lin isn't a superstar-type of a player. Like what Baldwin describes him, he's a low-ego guy who's willing to anything - even if it would compromise his production - just to get the W. In short, Lin is someone any contender wants to have on their roster - a winner. And that's probably the Rockets sorely miss this season.