Alexander goes gaga over Rockets' talent To owner, team has look of greatness By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle Look out, Lakers. And we're not just talking about the Lakers of Shaq and Kobe. The Lakers of Magic and Kareem, the Celtics of Bird and McHale and of Russell and Cousy, and the 76ers of Chamberlain and Greer apparently all will have to make room in their most exclusive club. The Rockets, one informed but perhaps biased observer believes, will soon have to be added to the roll call. "I love the team," Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said Wednesday. "I think this is one of the great teams ever assembled." The Rockets won 28 games last season. But in case anyone with a dropping jaw thought Alexander had an unintentional slip of hyperbole, he made sure it was understood that he meant every word. "I swear I believe that," he said. "I think we have unbelievable talent. We're young. We're a little immature in terms of experience on the court. We have a great center now, and (Kelvin) Cato's been playing great at Westside. We have a great point guard (Steve Francis). Cuttino (Mobley) is a great two. We have three guys competing at the four position. We made this team to be long and lanky and can shoot." Asked his expectations, Alexander said: "Playoffs, and I think in the future, championships." The presumed "great center" of the Rockets' future championship teams, Yao Ming, is unsigned and has not received official clearance from the China Basketball Association to join the Rockets as planned next month. But Alexander remained as confident that Yao will be signed before the season as he is about the Rockets' future. "We're still in contract negotiations with his agents, and we haven't gotten the release from the basketball association (in China)," Alexander said. "The night we drafted him, I knew this would be a long process that wouldn't end quickly, that these things would happen. This is the process I anticipated. Their agents want some things we haven't been willing to deliver. "I never thought it was a formality, but I never thought it was something that wouldn't occur. It's a process. We're going through the process. I think they're serious, but they'll think we're reasonable. We're very reasonable people. I think we'll get it done. "When you have a $12 million contract ... there's always terms and conditions and people arguing over this and over that. It's just normal. I think everything will fall into place by the time the season starts." Neither Alexander nor Yao's agent, Erick Zhang, would discuss details of their negotiations, though both said they have reached agreement on the value of Yao's contract, which is limited by the collective bargaining agreement, and the up-front payment Yao would receive. "It's business as usual," Zhang said. "I don't want to get into the details, and I don't want to make predictions about how the negotiations will go. We'd very much like to have the agreement done as soon as possible, regardless of when the release is done." The Rockets on Wednesday signed 6-10 center Steve Goodrich and 6-5 forward Pete Mickeal to non-guaranteed contracts. Alexander spoke after announcing a 3-point shooting competition sponsored by the Rockets for Houston area high school varsity players: "Cuttino's Clutch City Shootout." Players will compete throughout October, with the semifinals and finals to take place at halftime of Rockets games throughout the season. "I was never in a situation like this when I was younger," said Mobley, who will serve as the tournament's spokesman. "When the organization brought it to my attention, I was right on top of it, ready to do it. I'm very excited for the season, excited about this program. And to have kids to come out from the whole city to win money (eight winning schools will split $25,000) is a big thing." Though he did not reach Alexander's extremes, Mobley also expects the Rockets to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1999, his rookie year, and considers making the playoffs the measure of a successful season. "We should (make the playoffs,)," Mobley said. "We went through ... three years straight where we didn't make the playoffs. Injuries killed us last year. This year, there should be no excuses. We're excited about the playoffs. Anything else is uncivilized. "I'm excited about ... Yao. Steve's healthy. Mo Taylor looks great. I'm like a little kid, I'm so happy to be able to play."
