[TSN] Rockets Off Season Plans

Hayesfan · Jun 16, 2007

Doesn't really say anything we don't already know, but I thought it was interesting to see another non-Houstonian perspective.

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/news_story.asp?ID=211063
Off-Season Game Plan: Rockets

Scott Cullen

6/16/2007 11:14:49 PM

Another season, another first-round loss for the Houston Rockets in 2006-2007.

Off-Season Game Plan looks at the guard-heavy Rockets and what they may do this summer in an attempt to change their fortunes.

In the last ten years, the Rockets have missed the postseason five times and been eliminated from the first round in the other five years and the inability to advance in the Western Conference playoffs ended up costing Jeff Van Gundy his job as head coach.

The Rockets have two superstars, in Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, that should be a strong base for building a playoff conteder, but it just hasn't happened.

A new coach, Rick Adelman, will get the chance to take the Rockets further than they've gone in the last decade. He obviously impressed Rockets owner Les Alexander.

"One of the first things he said to me was, 'I think I can make life easier for your two big stars,"' Alexander told the Associated Press. "'I can put them in positions where they can, instead of going uphill all the time trying to score, they can be more relaxed and have an easier time scoring.'"

However, even if the Rockets make it easier on Yao and T-Mac, it's the supporting cast that needs to get better.

Whether the Rockets can make the moves necessary to provide a better supporting cast is going to be the challenge facing new general manager Daryl Morey.

Morey jumped right into the job, trading Juwan Howard to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Mike James, but that move only portends a summer of activity because the Rockets' lineup currently is much too guard-oriented.

With a couple of new frontcourt players in the rotation the Rockets will, once again, have a team that has a chance to contend in the Western Conference.

GM/COACH
Daryl Morey/Rick Adelman
Code:
Returning Centres
Player 	     TSN.ca Rating 	Salary
Yao Ming 	103.91 	       $13.26M

Free Agent Centres
Player 	               TSN.ca Rating 	Class
Dikembe Mutombo 	 64.18 	      UFA
Jake Tsakalidis 	 47.02 	      UFA
Yao Ming has been on the verge of breaking out the past two seasons, but injuries have caused him to miss 59 games over the last two years, cutting into his overall impact.

Nevertheless, Yao put up a career-high 25.0 points per game last year and, while he's not particularly nimble, his size proves to be intimidating in the lane defensively.

Particularly with Yao's recent run of injuries, it's imperative that the Rockets have a quality backup behind him. Dikembe Mutombo has been solid in that role for a couple of seasons, but he's now north of 40, so the Rockets may look for a younger alternative.
Code:
Returning Forwards
Player 	           TSN.ca Rating 	Salary
Shane Battier 	  74.08 	        $5.88M
Steve Novak 	  49.34 	        $687K

Free Agent Forwards
Player 	        TSN.ca Rating 	Class
Chuck Hayes 	60.38 	        RFA
After trading Juwan Howard to Minnesota, the Rockets are left with a very thin frontcourt.

Shane Battier is the ultimate team player, selflessly playing terrific defence and spreading the floor with his ability to hit the three. On a team with Yao and Tracy McGrady, it doesn't hurt to have to a player like Battier, who doesn't clamour for touches offensively.

Chuck Hayes is the best, now only, power forward likely to return, even though he's way undersized at 6-foot-6. Hayes uses his tremendous strength to compensate for his lack of height, making him a solid defender and strong rebounder.

A second-round pick last year, Steve Novak earned a spot on the team with his three-point shooting, but then barely got off the bench as a rookie.

The Rockets will have to make some moves in the summer to balance out their roster, adding at least a couple of forwards. Any number of trades will be available -- Ron Artest, Rashard Lewis and Chris Wilcox have been mentioned as possibilities -- due to the Rockets' depth at guard, but they might also want to look at potential free agents like Gerald Wallace, Antonio McDyess or Fabricio Oberto.
Code:
Player  	    TSN.ca Rating  	Salary
Tracy McGrady   	  97.92  	 $19.01M
Rafer Alston 	          69.22 	 $4.55M
Mike James 	          64.94 	 $5.63M
Luther Head 	          61.90 	 $1.12M
Kirk Snyder 	          49.65 	 $2.36M
Vassilis Spanoulis 	  48.64   	 $1.94M
John Lucas 	          47.28 	 $771K
Bob Sura 	            N/A 	 $3.84M
Code:
Free Agent Guards
Player 	            TSN.ca Rating 	Class
Bonzi Wells 	         55.53 	          PO
Though he is one of the most talented players in the league, Tracy McGrady is starting to feel the pressure of having never advanced beyond the first round in the NBA playoffs. Ten seasons into his career, McGrady is now closer to an aging star (particularly because of ongoing back problems) than he is precocious teenager.

In theory, at least, T-Mac's skills should be a perfect complement to Yao, but the Rockets obviously need something more.

The addition of Mike James does present an issue at the point, where Rafer Alston has been starting for the past two seasons. Alston's erratic shooting, combined with his eagerness to chuck it, makes him ripe for replacement.

On the other hand, Mike James isn't exactly the solution for a team looking for more ball distribution at the point. James may be best suited as a combo guard off the bench.

Luther Head is a young and improving combo guard who shot better than 44% from beyond the arc. It's starting to look crowded in this backcourt.

Both Kirk Snyder and Vassilis Spanoulis couldn't find a way to crack the rotation and since there may be fewer minutes available next season, they could be moved for added forward depth.

The arrival of new coach Rick Adelman may also prove to be beneficial to mercurial wingman Bonzi Wells, who was a flop in Houston under Jeff Van Gundy, but performed well previously with a Sacramento team coached by Adelman.

DRAFT
26th - Glen Davis, Josh McRoberts, Aaron Gray

FREE AGENCY
The Rockets have approximately $63-million committed to salaries for next season
Needs: Power Forward

TRADE MARKET
Rafer Alston, Luther Head, Vassilis Spanoulis, Kirk Snyder
Click to expand...

dntrwl · Jun 16, 2007

sums up the thousands of posts of random blather in the GARM in to one page, excellent.

StupidMoniker · Jun 17, 2007

Davis and Gray are reaches at 26, and McRoberts will probably be off the board. Twas a decent look at the state of the Rockets, but the suggestions for the off season are nonsensical.

chris_Rocket · Jun 17, 2007

I want to know who Morey will sign at the 4

The Hungarian Rocket · Jun 17, 2007

McDyess would be a great fit.

Barkley · Jun 17, 2007

The Hungarian Rocket said:

McDyess would be a great fit.
Click to expand...

I agree. Great guy to have on the roster.

MONON · Jun 17, 2007

If the Rockets could sign Oberto from the Spurs, our PF spot would be solved. I know he's listed as a center & TD a PF; but in the Spurs offense, Oberto plays off TD's offensive moves as he would Yao's moves. It would work.

However I doubt he would leave a starting spot on a dynasty for a starting spot on the Rockets.

Pizza_Da_Hut · Jun 17, 2007

Wuck Fonzi Bells

therox3 · Jun 17, 2007

Gray is going to be just another filler NBA big body.

McRoberts is never going to more than a backup in the NBA.

Big Baby could be promising but is still a big ? at this point because of lack of height and weight problems.

JD317² · Jun 17, 2007

Hayesfan said:

Doesn't really say anything we don't already know, but I thought it was interesting to see another non-Houstonian perspective.

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/news_story.asp?ID=211063
Click to expand...

lol the canadian perspective is full of random info that we already know eh????

TriCkz · Jun 17, 2007

therox3 said:

Gray is going to be just another filler NBA big body.

McRoberts is never going to more than a backup in the NBA.

Big Baby could be promising but is still a big ? at this point because of lack of height and weight problems.
Click to expand...

McRoberts could be a starter..

mateo · Jun 17, 2007

I found that refreshing bc it lacked "SF3s HEART off the bench will bring the Rox to the finals...plus we'll bring back Cato and Jim Jackson and Eric Piatowski and maybe even Boki just to be ridiculous."

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[TSN] Rockets Off Season Plans

Hayesfan Contributing Member

dntrwl Member

StupidMoniker I lost a bet

chris_Rocket Member

The Hungarian Rocket Member

Barkley Member

MONON Member

Pizza_Da_Hut I put on pants for this?

therox3 Member

JD317² Member

TriCkz Member

mateo Contributing Member

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