The worst possible news was, perhaps, the best possible news for the Rockets and a multitude of NBA agents. Maurice Taylor had completely severed his Achilles tendon, meaning he would very likely take 10 months to recover from surgery performed Wednesday. Taylor will miss the entire 2001-02 NBA season. That revelation puts the Rockets in a stronger position to receive a disabled player exception worth about $3.25 million from the NBA. The Rockets will apply for the exception but it could be several weeks before they hear back from the NBA on their application. A vote of the NBA board of governors is required for approval of the exception. Had Taylor suffered a partial tear, he would have had a chance to recover this season and the Rockets likely would have been ineligible for the exception. The news of Taylor's demise caused a wave of NBA agents to perk up. A league source told ESPN Insider that the agents for both Anthony Mason and Marc Jackson attempted to contact the Rockets. Both players have run out of teams with the money available to sign them to the deals they're seeking. With Houston's latest windfall, they've found some hope. However, Rockets GM Carroll Dawson isn't so sure that he'll use the exception if they get it. "If you look at our team right now, we've got two centers, we still have two power forwards in Kenny Thomas and Eddie Griffin, and we have three 3s in Glen Rice, Walt Williams and Dan Langhi," Dawson told the Houston Chronicle. "Rudy (Tomjanovich) moves the 3s over a lot to play the 4, which Glen Rice did in New York last year quite a bit. And we used Walt that way. There are interchangeable parts. Rudy likes versatile type players, and fortunately we have a lot of those. So it doesn't affect (the thinking) a whole lot." Yes that was Don Cronson, Mason's agent, screaming in the background. A source close the Rockets told Insider that the team isn't holding its breath that it will actually get the exception. In the past, a very strict standard has been applied by the league, which has been burned twice, when Sean Elliot and Alonzo Mourning made comebacks before the seasons ended. Even if the Rockets do get the exception, they're not sure what to do with it. Adding a player like Jackson or Mason to a multi-year deal may help in the short term, but could cause major chemistry problems in the long term when Taylor returns. "I think Carroll and Rudy will look at the long-term here. This basketball team is still a few years away. There's no immediacy right now," the source told Insider. Cheaper options include Sonics free-agent Jelani McCoy and Heat free-agent Duane Causwell, but the truth is that the Rockets may use the chance to develop their young players. Thomas has shown flashes in his first two years and Griffin is still considered by many to be the most talented player in this summer's draft. Dawson also said that talks with free-agent Moochie Norris were progressing. "We talked again (Wednesday). We'll probably meet face to face as early as next week. It's going along well. He's a vital part of our team."
When is Walt's contract up? This might factor in when it comes to deciding whether or not to pick someone else up for multiple years.
Man CD is as cool as the other side of the pillow. I think: 1. We will use the Exception 2. We will get a BARGAIN!!! If not. . . Cd will do exactly what he said. no pressure No muss no fuss. . . . Let the Free Agents come to us why pursue them? Rocket River
Anyone else notice that CD didn't mention Tmo as a 3? Looks like OP was right, Tmo's a 2 (unless CD thinks he might cut the poor guy).
