Aug. 10, 2001, 5:29PM Rockets make deal to acquire Glen Rice By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle Unable to strike a deal to bring back Shandon Anderson's all-around talents, the Houston Rockets reached agreement on a three-team deal today to bring in Glen Rice's top-shelf shooting touch, sources confirmed. Rice, a 12-year veteran coming off a down season with the New York Knicks, would give the Rockets shooting accuracy and range Anderson had not had in his two seasons with the team. He also would be a more natural forward, as opposed to Anderson who had been moved to forward when Cuttino Mobley took over the starting shooting guard spot. Rice, 34, struggled to carve out a consistent niche with Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston and with plantar fasciitis. But he is still considered one of the league's best pure shooters, averaging 12.2 points on 46.2 percent shooting and 42.9 percent 3-point shooting in 75 games last season. A 6-8, 220-pound forward, Rice will earn $28.5 million over the next three seasons, taking the rest of the Rockets salary cap space, other than room saved to keep the rights to Eddie Griffin and Moochie Norris. Rice, a first-round pick of the Miami Heat in 1989 out of Michigan, where is was the most prolific scorer in Big Ten history, is a three-time NBA All Star and a member of the Lakers 1999-2000 championship team. The Rockets had tried to acquire Rice before the 1999-2000 season, but the Lakers were not willing to take on Scottie Pippen's contract. He has averaged 19.5 points per game in his career, making 45.8 percent of his shots and 40.4 percent of his 3-pointers. In his 12 seasons, he has missed just 52 games. His best season, 1996-97, was wsith the Hornets when he averaged 26.8 points and was the All Star game MVP. Anderson averaged 8.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season. He averaged 12.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in his first season with the Rockets, increasing his scoring every month. He has started every Rockets game the past two seasons and has not missed a game since 1996-97, his rookie season, a streak of 335 consecutive games played, the fifth-longest active streak in the league. Anderson made 44.6 percent of his shots and just 27.1 percent of his 3-pointers last season. The Knicks will also pick up Anderson's former Jazz teammate Howard Eisley from the Mavericks. The Mavericks will receive Mugsy Bogues and trade exception money to make the deal acceptable financially.
"But he is still considered one of the league's best pure shooters, averaging 12.2 points on 46.2 percent shooting and 42.9 percent 3-point shooting in 75 games last season." This is not true. Rice shot 44% from the field last year (43% the two previous years) and 39% from 3. How could the Chronicle miss that? It seems Rice isn't any better from the field the last 3 years than Mobley.
Just a note for the capologists out there; we won't be paying Rice 27 million over 3 years from what I've heard. It will be more like 22 million. I don't know the exact details, but somehow the Knicks have already paid 6 million towards his contract/extension?
Maybe Rudy and the team can get Rice to accept whatever role he's given with the Rockets. He hasn't been the happiest camper in NY. He's prone to complaining about his role now and again. Hopefully the change of scenery and positive influence of the Rockets personell will help that.
Yes, Les only has to pay $20+Mil due to Rice's arrangement with the Knicks. However, the full $27+Mil is applied toward the cap. Literal "payback" for the last few years when a former Rocket point guard has been Matt "Two Paychecks" Maloney.
These moves may not amount to a championship but I applaud the Rockets for trying and not just staying with what hasn't worked. Playoff bound?? Old School
Just so there aren't any misconceptions, the reason Rice didn't shoot much better then Cat was because Rice was injured, and he didn't have a defined role with the Knicks. They didn't use him consistently, and when they did use him he didn't fit in well with their system. The Lakers pretty much did the same thing to him.
