The Way We Hear It Houston Rockets By Basketball News Updated Wednesday, April 5, 2000 So, who’s going to start at center for the Rockets next season? Right now it looks like it’ll be either Hakeem Olajuwon or Kelvin Cato, but that’s far from a sure bet. For one thing, we’re told there’s a decent chance Cato won’t be with the club next season. As for Olajuwon, not only is his health a concern, but now we’re hearing it’s possible he’ll be asked to accept a buyout on the final year of his contract. No one with the team will say anything on the record regarding Olajuwon and a potential buyout. Olajuwon has said he plans to get himself in great shape and decide then if he can go another season, and we’re told he definitely sees a buyout as a less-than-honorable way to end his career. Ultimately, though, things could be pretty wide-open inside with the Rockets, for whom no one other than Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley has been so outstanding that his job is completely safe. As one insider describes it, "This season was little more than a lab experiment, and the Rockets will evaluate their findings afterwards and make all the necessary decisions then." Points to bring up: 1)According to insiders Cato might not be w/the team next yr? Move up the Lottery maybe ? I guess that they might have been dissapointed with him after all. 2)A buyout possibility ? Maybe Hakeem would agree but we never know... it is a possibility though? 3)Francis and Mobley are safe... but first we have to sign mobley , but it seems they are going to do their best to do so. ... my question is , how about Anderson ? it seems to me his job would be safe too . The suspense is about to start ! ------------------ Thanks Hakeem for all the memories and the 2 championships... The torch has been passed... Francis , the making of brand new great memories for us rocket fans !
I would be more than happy to trade Kelvin Cato for Raef LaFrenz... straight up one for one. ------------------
I think it is unfortunate that Clutch lended cc.net's respectability to Basketball News' 'journalism.' I'm not saying that I know that all or any of the things revealed in the article are untrue. But I do find most of them hard to believe, and -- considering the source's reputation with me -- I'd sooner dismiss it entirely. ------------------
