Rockets also pursuing Dampier (UPDATE: Rockets make 2-year offer)

He would fit nice next to Scola... or even next to Yao

 

I'm all for bringing in Dampier at this point. After the first two games, it seems this team is still god-awful in low post defense when Yao isn't on the floor. If Dampier can help that at all, then we need to bring him in.

 

If we do sign Dampier, I'd rather buy out Jermaine Taylor than lose Ishmael Smith....

Ish Smith >>>>>>> Jermaine Taylor !!!!

Hopefully Morey see's it the same way....

--RB

 

Damn wtf is he taking so long for? If he signs I hope we don't lose Ish Smith.

 

JT, not wow, would be ciao...

 

I don't think Les would be very happy about that. He did spend $2.5 million just to get Taylor's rights.

If Dampier signs then Ish is gone and Lee will likely be playing backup point whenever one of Brooks/Lowry are hurt.

 

Yao playing with "the 2nd best center in the west". Oh the irony...

 

I hate the guy, but I think we do need him now. I just don't see who they can cut to make room for him. I think Ish Smith deserves a spot on this roster.

 

He should no doubt be the starting Center when Yao is off on back-to-backs. Chuck Hayes is not a center. Don't understand why he lost all that weight for Adelman to still play and start him at center. I'm tired of seeing other, taller players rebound and get tip-ins over Hayes. Keep him as Scola's primary back-up for now or just throw him in as a defensive specialist from time to time and let Hill be Scola's backup.

 

If the Rockets pass up the opportunity to improve their interior defense simply because they don't want to buy out JT, then they don't deserve to go anywhere this season.

I understand it's more money than they may want to spend, but after the last two games, the Rockets need to do something to help the defense when Yao isn't on the floor.

 

he won't really help

adelman isnt gonna play him

we've got jordan hill

 

2 losses does wonders for Dampier's stocks.

 

Someone's getting traded.

We've got too many players at the 4/5 and not enough at the SF position.

 

What else is Morey gonna do?

 

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=17747

 

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=17747

"The Houston Rockets have long been in pursuit of one more big man to shore up their front line and add additional insurance in the event of another injury to Yao Ming, and now, according to sources close to the situation, the Rockets have found their man.

Houston has been just one of many teams interested in signing free agent center Erick Dampier, and HOOPSWORLD has learned that they are now going to ultimately win his services. The former Dallas Mavericks center has been pursued by a number of team, including the Miami HEAT, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns, but the Rockets offered the best financial package, as well as a shot at being a part of a potentially-contending team.

The situation for the Rockets, of course, is tenuous at best when it comes to the center position. Yao Ming is easing his way back into the lineup after missing an entire season with a broken foot. His minutes are limited and he isn't able to play in back-to-back games, meaning the Rockets have only Brad Miller and Jordan Hill on nights when Yao is unavailable. Miller was an excellent offseason addition and is certainly a capable starter, but he can't play 48 minutes a night and if he were to get hurt the Rockets would really be in trouble.

Dampier spent the last six seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, and averaged 6.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in 55 appearances last season. In July he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats, who exercised a termination clause in Dampier's contract and made him a free agent.

Dampier is not, by himself, a championship piece, but he does understand how to run the pick-and-roll, which will help Rockets head coach Rick Adelman free up his lightning-quick guards on the offensive end, and he is also still a solid defender. He's the shot-blocking threat Houston loses with Miller in the lineup, and he's a much stronger deterrant than frequent center Chuck Hayes, whom the Rockets would prefer to use primarily at forward this season.

It will likely take some time for Dampier to get into game shape, as he missed training camp and preseason, but he will eventually be a solid piece for the Rockets, who have struggled defensively in their first two games of the 2010-11 season.

Houston's roster is already at 15, meaning someone will have to be waived or traded to make room for Dampier. It's most likely that person will be promising point guard Ishmael Smith, who was an unlikely candidate for the final cut after preseason, but played so well the Rockets simply couldn't let him go. Now, with the need at center superceding the need for an additional small guard, Smith is probably the odd man out."

 

No, not Ish!

 

Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=17747#ixzz13iovYS21

Screw that!

Just buy out Tayler!

 

Hmmm ... sucks to give up on Ish, but maybe the Rockets can get him on the Vipers and bring him back into the fold after a subsequent trade.

 

We need Ish!

Lowry can't be counted on as backup to Brooks!