<a href="http://rockets.clutchfans.net/744/five-houston-rockets-who-came-out-of-nowhere/">The Undiscovered Country: Five Rockets Who Came Out of Nowhere</a>
Good read, you could have really added Mario Elie to the list. I believe he was going from team to team when we got him and nobody thought much of the move at the time.
Here's to hoping Ishmael Smith is another out-of-nowhere undrafted player that does well! Von Wafer could be considered for this list, too.
The 2 Chucks are the standouts to me as well. Funny I knew about Matt Maloney back in college because my brother used to play ball with him when they were at Penn. Needless to say I never expected him to show up and be a big part of the Rockets at any point.
Did we really pass on Tim Hardaway? I don't remember that, could someone fill me in on the back-story?
Other favorites from the past that come to mind: Major Jones (FA I think) and Caldwell Jones Walter Berry (All-American at St. Johns who took years to find a niche with the Rox finally) Billy Paultz (an ABA refugee who was a poor man's Bill Laimbeer without the nastiness.... just the shooting) Allen Leavell (late draft pick-- started for years at PG)
SOLID, and loved every letter of it. Others to note - either struggling or about out of the league. Bill Willoughby Lewis Lloyd Vernon Maxwell Andre Barrett Avery Johnson Oscar Torres Von Wafer David Wood DD
Great article! Clutch, Just a suggestion: Let the authors of these blog posts post them, so that we can give the rep for it. I read the article when you tweeted it, came in to rep Jeff, and was denied.
Come on DD, you know Maxwell played for 6 seasons after the Rockets was signed as the starting point guard for the Sixers (the logic of Max as a PG with Stackhouse as a SG made no sense though) Avery Johnson, come on man, you know he became a Spurs favorite after leaving the Rockets.
Thanks Clutch and Jeff, Instead of most people here crying havok and let slip the dogs of war, you have restored my faith in Clutchfans
I like that idea. I checked with Jeff on this one and fixed the initial post... I'll check with Derek, Bima and others on future comments threads.
i thought the homepage was saying the rockets signed moochie "out of nowhere" ...scared me for a sec.
Thanks. Mario didn't make the list because he was playing in the NBA prior to joining the Rockets. They actually made a trade to get him, but he did certainly improve his career standing here.
He was definitely on the short list, but didn't quite make the 5. Speaking of, feel free to add your own, particularly if you know any old timer examples.