Rockets pick up the option on Hayes' contract (final season)

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/rockets/notes.htm?csp=34

Houston Rockets Team Report

The Rockets reversed their plan on center/forward Chuck Hayes, choosing to pick up their option on the final season of his contract rather than sign him to a longer contract as a free agent.

The decision could indicate their plans for many players, even center Yao Ming and point guard Aaron Brooks.

Last season, the Rockets opted not to sign any free agents beyond the current collective bargaining agreement. The decision on Hayes (in keeping with their team policy, they won't make the move until the deadline) seemed to be an indication that they would stick with that plan.

Several players are eligible for extensions, and under usual circumstances, the Rockets would likely begin talks with Brooks this summer on a long-term contract. If they are hesitant to sign players with the current system when they don't have to, that could prevent the team from working on a deal with Brooks until after the new CBA.

Yao, who would be going into the final season of his contract unless he chooses to opt out, would also be eligible for an extension, though the team might not have sought to extend his contract anyway until he can demonstrate his recovery from extensive foot surgery.

That position would not, however, impact the decision to match any offers for Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry, who are free agents and would likely have to be signed beyond the current CBA to be signed at all.

Hayes started all 82 games last season, averaging 4.4 points, 48.9 percent shooting and 5.7 rebounds.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: If any game typified the Rockets' determination not to concede to their circumstances through the season it was a late season game in Boston. The first game after they were officially eliminated from playoff contention, the Rockets were without Shane Battier, David Andersen, Jared Jeffries, Kevin Martin and Trevor Ariza. Aaron Brooks hit a 3 with nine seconds left. Chuck Hayes switched to Paul Pierce to force a miss at the buzzer. And like the season as a whole, the Rockets finished strong with little to gain, outscoring Boston 10-2 down the stretch in overtime to get the win.

TURNING POINT: With the Rockets holding an 11-point second half lead against the 76ers, Kyle Lowry sprained his left ankle, the Sixers came back and the Rockets lost all the momentum of their first half of the season. Including the Rockets' loss that night to the 76ers, they went 4-9 while Lowry was out, the start of an even longer stretch in which they followed some of their best wins with their worst losses.

NOTES, QUOTES

—Rockets general manager Daryl Morey estimated that there is a 50 percent chance that the Rockets would trade either up or back in the draft. Morey considered the draft deep enough to have a chance to get the player he prefers with a later pick than his current spot at No. 14 but would prefer to move up if possible.

Aaron Brooks, Morey's first pick as a general manager, is the only player he has taken with his own pick.

"We're working on everybody, looking at move-ups, which we always do, and maybe moving back," Morey said. "I think there's some very good players in early picks, and it's very deep all the way to 60.

"We're always just trying to maximize the value of our pick. If that means move up to get a quality player, we'll do that. If we can get the same guy we would take 14 at 22, we'd look for an opportunity to move down, as we did in the Donte' Greene (2008) draft."

—Rockets assistant coach Elston Turner, who had interviewed for the head coaching position with the Philadelphia 76ers that went to Doug Collins, was the first interview of the Chicago Bulls. Turner, 50, had previously been considered for positions with the Timberwolves last season and with the Suns in 2008.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Even though we're proud of a lot of what we accomplished this year, we weren't a playoff team and we do feel like we're short of having the roster to compete at the highest level." — Rockets general manager Daryl Morey

ROSTER REPORT

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Aaron Brooks became the starting point guard after the 2009 trade deadline, and dramatically increased his responsibilities as the Rockets' go-to scorer at the end of shot clocks, quarters and games. The NBA leader in three-pointers, he became just the sixth player ever to have 200 3s and 400 assists in the same season.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: David Andersen contributed at times, but never developed defensively enough to early a starting spot or starter's minutes at center. He played regularly in the middle of the season when his long-range shooting helped Carl Landry post up inside. After Landry was traded, Andersen's minutes decreased with Jordan Hill beating him out as the first backup big man off the bench. He missed the final month with a sore back.

FREE AGENT FOCUS: Guard Kyle Lowry and forward Luis Scola are both restricted free agents and Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said he would match any offer they receive. Scola would be just fine with that, and hoped that he could reach a contract agreement with the Rockets quickly. Lowry said he would like to find a chance to start, but said he would be happy if he is back, too.

PLAYER NOTES:

—G Kyle Lowry, who will be a restricted free agent, said his goal was to find a starting position but added that he would be happy if the Rockets do match any offer he receives, which is what general manager Daryl Morey said he plans to do.

—F Luis Scola was officially named to the initial Argentina National team roster. He had said he intended to play in the World Championships and did not consider his free agency to be a reason to sit out the international competition. He said he will have time to visit with NBA teams after the July 1 start of free agency before reporting for the start of national team workouts.

—C David Andersen, who sat out the final weeks of the regular season with a sore lower back, is fully recovered and plans to play for the Australian National team. He returned to Australia shortly after the end of the season.

MEDICAL WATCH:

—C Yao Ming is expected to be limited to walking on a gravity-control treadmill until a checkup in late May, and the Rockets expect him on the court soon after and in full workouts by July. They believe he will be ready to start training camp without restrictions.