Q&A on Rockets' Players

[Champ06]

I'm not sure anybody had read these Q&A on Rockets' players.

By Damien Pierce
Rockets.com


Q: What exactly are the Rockets trying to accomplish by trading for Shane Battier? Is it too risky to see what could have been gained by keeping draft pick Rudy Gay?

A: Since Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming are in the prime of their careers, the Rockets are trying to win now.

The Rockets believe they can make that happen by acquiring veteran players who will compliment their two All-Stars.

Battier is that kind of an addition. Sure, he doesn’t have a lot of flash to his game and he probably isn't going to have a bunch of 40-point games. But the forward is a dependable starter who will get 10 to 12 points every night and he can knock down the open jumper when teams are doubling McGrady or Yao. He is also one of the NBA’s best defenders.

The Rockets didn't need scorers with McGrady and Yao on the roster, they needed guys who can do all the little things. That's Battier.

The Rockets wouldn’t have gotten such a sure thing in Gay. He might turn out to be a nice player in the league, but he might not live up to his potential. No one knows. But the one thing the Rockets did know is that they couldn’t go into the upcoming season counting on him to be in their rotation. He’s an unproven rookie.

Bottom line: Battier makes the Rockets a better team.

Q: What is the status of Tracy McGrady's back and will Bob Sura be healthy for next season?

A: McGrady is back. The Rockets’ scoring machine resumed shooting last month and hasn’t had any setbacks. He’ll even be hosting the T-Mac Celebrity Softball Tournament on Aug. 5. So you can always swing his tournament to check out his back for yourself.

Sura, however, is wait and see. He recently returned to the practice court, but he hasn’t played in almost 15 months because of a career-threatening knee injury. Training camp will be the key for him.

Q: Do you think Chuck Hayes could be a big part of the Rockets this upcoming season because of his rebounding ability?

A: The Rockets would love for that to happen. The team needs a high energy guy who will draw charges, grab loose balls and be a pest on the defensive end.

Q: Is Hayes that guy?

A: He certainly can be, but he has to earn his minutes. Hayes improved his conditioning in the off-season and he is – as you mentioned -- a solid rebounder. He could eventually be the Rockets’ answer to Dallas’ Josh Howard, although there aren't many guys in the league who can match Howard's athleticism.

Hayes just has to prove that he deserves to be on the floor in crunch time.

Q: With the trade for Kirk Snyder, what becomes of John Lucas?

A: The trade for Snyder didn’t have a direct affect on Lucas since the two guards play different spots on the floor. Snyder is a shooting guard and Lucas is a point guard.

However, the signing of Greek point guard Vassilis Spanoulis is another story.

Lucas could end up competing with Spanoulis for the backup role in training camp since the Rockets need someone to spell starter Rafter Alston. Could the Rockets keep both? Absolutely. That would give Lucas more time to grow as a third point guard who runs the show in practice.

Lucas showed he is ready for an opportunity after his showing in Las Vegas. He had a great week in Sin City and he has a good shot of being in a Rockets uniform for the season opener.

Q: Why is Maciej Lampe playing on the Suns' summer league team?

A: The Rockets had a one-year deal with Lampe, which means the forward is currently a free agent. He is spending the summer with the Suns.

Q: What's the point of getting Lior Eliyahu in the draft?

A: Why acquire Eliyahu? The Rockets, like every NBA team, are always looking for a project in the second round that could turn into a valuable player. Eliyahu fits the bill.

The Rockets didn’t give up much to land Eliyahu since they ended up shipping cash to the Orlando Magic on draft night.

Sure, the Israeli guard isn’t ready for the NBA. But he is fearless driving to the bucket like Spurs guard Manu Ginobili. He just doesn’t have the range of the Spurs guard. Eliyahu is expected to remain in Europe next season to work on his shot and become a more attractive option for the Rockets.

Just look at what the Rockets did with Spanoulis. The red-and-white got his rights in the 2004 NBA Draft and allowed the Greek point guard to develop over the past two seasons. After signing him on Wednesday, the Rockets are hoping they’ve added depth at the guard positions.

The Rockets found a second-round bargain if Eliyahu develops his game. If not, they didn’t give up much to get him.

[akuma]

m_cable wannabe. seriously, thanks for posting that. nothing i really didn't know already, but still a good read.

[dream2franchise]

I think they posted one of the more tasteful Battier/Gay e-mails. :D