[AOL Fanhouse] Rockets' future remains wide open

djohn2o12 · Dec 22, 2010

As if the question of Yao Ming and his future wasn't enough for the Houston Rockets to ponder, there's this.

"It's not just with Yao, but a lot of people -- from coaches on down," veteran small forward Shane Battier so accurately surmised on Sunday. "It'll be an interesting summer for the Houston Rockets."

To say the least.

The ripple effects of Yao's situation will be felt throughout the summer, with his potential decision to retire making matters more clear cut and a possible return meaning gray area galore for the Rockets.

And since Battier brought it up, we'll start with the uncertain future of Rockets coach Rick Adelman.

The coach who is in the final season of his contract is plenty accomplished, having entered this season as one of 11 coaches to reach 900 wins with a mark of 902-577 that led to 16 playoff appearances in 19 seasons. There were already rumblings entering this season that Adelman was considering his coaching end, and one would think that scenario only grows more enticing if Yao retires.

Besides, it's not as if he has any clear vision of who he'd be coaching.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey wisely declined to discuss contract extensions with Yao and the other eligible players last summer not only because of the looming lockout but because of the health concerns that always surround the man in the middle. Yet in light of his season-ending (and possibly career-ending) left ankle injury, the Rockets now find themselves with a laundry list of players wondering what happens next and a roster that sits at approximately $40 million next season.

Yao, Battier, center Chuck Hayes, and forward Jared Jeffries are all set to be unrestricted free agents this summer, and fourth-year point guard Aaron Brooks will be a restricted free agent. Yet even those with long-term contracts aren't necessarily safe, among them recently signed forward Luis Scola.

While the 30-year-old Argentine is playing the best basketball of his life after signing a five-year, $47 million deal last summer, he is expected to be part of any prospective blockbuster trade should the Rockets go that route before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. League sources indicate that Houston has been a quiet, yet consistent, entrant in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes for months, yet Scola has only recently become a logical possibility to be included in the pursuit of the Denver small forward as Houston couldn't trade him until Dec. 15.

Scola has been through this before, having heard his name surface in trade rumors last season when he was in the final year of his contract. And while he has no interest in leaving Houston, he said he must find a way to focus on his play even if the possibility of his departure is being discussed privately or publicly.

"The less I worry about it, the better it's going to be for me and my game and the team," Scola said. "I got caught in all the trade stress before, and it didn't help me. I need to learn from that, to learn that you can't control it, you can't know it, you don't know what's going to happen, and you've got to be ready to play every day.

"I always said I just want to be here. This is my place in the NBA. I want to be here. I feel very related with the team. I believe in the team. I believe that we could be doing something sometime soon. But you're in the NBA. You don't control these things, but I really want to be here."

Shooting guard Kevin Martin was brought to Houston last season in large part because of how Morey envisioned him fitting with Yao, leading some to speculate that he is no longer considered part of the long-term future. But sources close to the team continue to say that Martin has not been made available, and he said he wants to remain so long as the Rockets aren't starting from scratch.

"Rebuilding is definitely not something I want to go through again," said Martin, whose contract runs through 2013 and has a combined $24 million remaining after this season. "Daryl thinks I'm an important member of this team, especially on the offensive end, for many years to come. But this being the business, you just never know."

Consider it the Rockets' new motto: you just never know
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http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/22/rockets-future-remains-wide-open/#cntnt

hourocket365247 · Dec 22, 2010

cool post....

the_hustler · Dec 22, 2010

Scola has been through this before, having heard his name surface in trade rumors last season when he was in the final year of his contract. And while he has no interest in leaving Houston, he said he must find a way to focus on his play even if the possibility of his departure is being discussed privately or publicly.

"The less I worry about it, the better it's going to be for me and my game and the team," Scola said. "I got caught in all the trade stress before, and it didn't help me. I need to learn from that, to learn that you can't control it, you can't know it, you don't know what's going to happen, and you've got to be ready to play every day.

"I always said I just want to be here. This is my place in the NBA. I want to be here. I feel very related with the team. I believe in the team. I believe that we could be doing something sometime soon. But you're in the NBA. You don't control these things, but I really want to be here."
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interesting quotes there.

KingStevo10 · Dec 22, 2010

Keep Scola a rocket

he belongs in rocket red! just like Ron Artest

the_hustler · Dec 22, 2010

Another fanhouse article here -->
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/22/rockets-quick-to-remind-theyve-won-without-yao/

Rockets Quick to Remind They've Won Without Yao

"Yeah," Martin said when asked if it was his best season. "I was scoring more points one year in (Sacramento), but it was just because I was the only big-time offensive player and I was shooting a lot, so my percentages were low. Now it's just playing within a system and being effective. It's not just about putting up big numbers, but being effective.

"I just feel like I'm in a really good rhythm right now. (Houston) coach (Rick) Adelman gives me a lot of responsibility, and that's what I've always wanted, so I just take that and respect that responsibility he gives me and set that example for other guys."

Asked if he still dreams of being an All-Star for the first time like he did in five-plus seasons in Sacramento, Martin said he has changed his outlook on that front."In my mind, and our organization and throughout the league, it's just about being an All-Star caliber player and I feel like I'm an All-Star caliber player," he said. "Put me out there with any two-guard and I'll stand my ground. I really don't look at it like going to the game or anything like that, it's just having respect within the organization and from your teammates."

Scola said there is a certain comfort level that comes with knowing Yao is out of the equation for now. "Everybody has been freaking out about Yao going out, but the truth is that we've been playing without Yao the last year and a half," Scola said. "Nothing has really changed. It's been the same the last year and a half.

"We can't worry about the long-term (situation). We have to worry about the team, the games, tomorrow's game and just being supportive (of Yao). That's the only thing we can control."

Veteran small forward Shane Battier, who has played with Yao since 2005, is as supportive as they come.

"Our first thoughts are with Yao as a person," he said. "Forget the basketball part for a second. He (likely) has to go through another surgery. It's another long recovery. That guy has had his share for the rest of us. You feel poorly for him because he doesn't want to be hurt. He wants to be competing and playing to the best of his ability. So we know he's taking this as well as he can, but it's tough."
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worzel gummidge · Dec 22, 2010

"The less I worry about it, the better it's going to be for me and my game and the team," Scola said. "I got caught in all the trade stress before, and it didn't help me. I need to learn from that, to learn that you can't control it, you can't know it, you don't know what's going to happen, and you've got to be ready to play every day.

"I always said I just want to be here. This is my place in the NBA. I want to be here. I feel very related with the team. I believe in the team. I believe that we could be doing something sometime soon. But you're in the NBA. You don't control these things, but I really want to be here."
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That is true team spirit unlike all the fairweather attitudes/posts that have creeped onto the board lately.

Old Man Rock · Dec 22, 2010

Cool post... Cool quotes. I love Scola's desire to be here. I know there are more talented PF's and we could upgrade his spot maybe. But I really think he is the kind of guy that you win championships with. So I would rather upgrade the center position than trade him.

As for next year, watch us against the Heat next week to get an idea of what the future holds. If we play solid against them and going forward become a good them expect to hold serve pretty close to roster we have. Obviously AnJeffries is gone before we even get there. Also Hayes is gone most likely. But Battier depends if we trade Budinger or not. If we don't do something special in this ANthony deal we will probably sign another defensive center in the off season. I think Dalembert would be a possibility. And of course we still have New Yorks pick (Yes I say NY because I am sure they will be below us). We will also sign Yao and should be back by the new year. So that leaves us with

Yao
Miller
Scola
Patrick Patterson
Jordan Hill
Bud or Bat
Williams
Martin
Lee
Brooks
Lowry
Ish
Rookie
FA Center

That leaves us only one spot on the Roster. Also I expect Adelman to be resigned. Of course if going forward we play below 500 then I expect a lot of roster moves. One of the problems on this squad is we have made to many adjustments to the roster every year and there is very little stability. Watch the heat game if should give a look into the future for this team.

Carl Herrera · Dec 22, 2010

Rebuilding is definitely not something I want to go through again," said Martin, whose contract runs through 2013 and has a combined $24 million remaining after this season. "Daryl thinks I'm an important member of this team, especially on the offensive end, for many years to come. But this being the business, you just never know."
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Understatement of the year.

STUD · Dec 22, 2010

Old Man Rock said:

As for next year, watch us against the Heat next week to get an idea of what the future holds. If we play solid against them and going forward become a good them expect to hold serve pretty close to roster we have. Obviously AnJeffries is gone before we even get there. Also Hayes is gone most likely. But Battier depends if we trade Budinger or not. If we don't do something special in this ANthony deal we will probably sign another defensive center in the off season. I think Dalembert would be a possibility. And of course we still have New Yorks pick (Yes I say NY because I am sure they will be below us). We will also sign Yao and should be back by the new year. So that leaves us with

Yao
Miller
Scola
Patrick Patterson
Jordan Hill
Bud or Bat
Williams
Martin
Lee
Brooks
Lowry
Ish
Rookie
FA Center

That leaves us only one spot on the Roster..
Click to expand...

Hypothetical: What if we get a pick around 13-16 and draft a Score 1st PG like Kamba Walker or Brandon Knight(if they both come out)

Would we still sign Brooks in the off-season?

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[AOL Fanhouse] Rockets' future remains wide open

djohn2o12 Member

hourocket365247 Member

the_hustler Member

KingStevo10 Member

the_hustler Member

worzel gummidge Member

Old Man Rock Contributing Member

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