In the lead up to the 1984 draft the blazers had the 2 pick. They offered Clyde and the 2 pick(Rockets would've choose Jordan) for Sampson
PS Sampson isn't a bust the twin towers is part of our legacy. But injuries are an unfair part of basketball.
Draft picks: Sergio Llull, Zhou Qi, Sam Dekker, Joey Dorsey, Luther Head, Mirsad Turkcan, Bryce Drew... Signings: Cato, Lawson, Melo, Swift, Ryan Anderson, Joe Johnson, Michael Carter Williams
Draftwise, it's Eddie Griffin hands down. He cost the Rockets 3 first rounders including Richard Jefferson and accomplished almost nothing in his brief time here. At least Sampson gave us a few good years and got us to a Finals which we only lost because we were up against one of the greatest teams ever assembled. Tradewise, I guess Pippen although it was a one-year failed experiment, so the damage was minimal. The real damage from that deal was when we traded him to Portland and took back players like Cato and extended him on a ridiculous contract. I'd also include T-Mac. I know that's gonna sound crazy to most folks, but what did he really accomplish here as a Rocket? We never won a playoff series with him. I'll cut him some slack on 2008, but the Rockets flat out choked in 2005 and 2007. When they finally broke through in 2009, he was on the bench in street clothes.
The team didn't really experience much success with him. They had 4 straight lotto seasons and then one quick first round flameout. Rudy T and Carroll Dawson are partly to blame for that thanks to the horrible roster they constructed, but Francis never accomplished much as a pro when it came to winning.
