Trade would be OK with Rockets' Olajuwon By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon, eligible to come off the injured list today but frustrated and uncertain with his role, has told team officials he would welcome a trade or a chance to be waived. "I just want what's best for the team," said Olajuwon, who has been frustrated and uncertain with his role on the club. "I only want to do what's best for everybody, and that's what I said." Sources said Olajuwon did not demand a trade and understands that the chances of a deal, given his $16.5 million salary this season, is remote at best. Olajuwon would not address other questions and would not discuss his conversations with Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson. Olajuwon and Rockets owner Les Alexander had a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, but it was postponed, although sources said Olajuwon had no plans to request that he be moved. "My feeling is it's hard for me to visualize Dream playing for anywhere but the Rockets," Dawson said. "Getting him well and getting him back out there is what we're trying to do. "We've been talking a lot. In all our conversations, Dream has been very congenial, very cordial." Dawson said he believed Olajuwon would complete his career with the Rockets. Dawson would not discuss specific trade possibilities. According to sources, Phoenix offered the Rockets a package that included Anfernee Hardaway, Cliff Robinson and one of the Suns' reserve centers, likely either Daniel Santiago or Rueben Garces. But the sources said the Rockets quickly turned down that offer, unwilling to commit to the remaining 4 1/2 years of Hardaway's contract, which would have assumed all of the salary-cap space they had been planning to use this summer to pursue free agents. Olajuwon, according to sources involved in talks with him, told the Rockets he understood they could not assume contracts that would take up cap space beyond this season. Olajuwon, who will turn 38 next week, on Tuesday missed his ninth game with a swollen right knee. Before being placed on the injured list Jan. 9, he was averaging 10.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 25.6 minutes in 29 games in this last season of his five-year deal with the Rockets. "I just still really think, for all he has done for the Rockets, it would be hard for me to see him playing for anyone else," Dawson said. "I still think this will work out." ------------------ President of the Jason Collier and Mo Taylor fan club! Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
Screw the Rockets if they don't find a way to keep Dream in ugly stripes. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
