Rockets dealing with draft uncertainty Associated Press This much is certain: the Houston Rockets have three first round picks in Wednesday's NBA draft and they want to trade for a higher pick. After that, there's not much that general manager Carroll Dawson is ruling out as the Rockets, once a playoff fixture, try to get back to championship caliber. "We started right away as we do every year (looking for trades) but there's more to talk about this year because we have more ammunition," Dawson said. "With three first round picks, you don't get the door slammed in your face as quickly." The Rockets have the No. 13, No. 18 and No. 23 picks in the draft but they'd like to package one or more picks in a deal that would give them a selection higher than No. 13. "I think this is one of those drafts where you can look back in five years and a good number of these guys will still be on rosters," coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "We are looking for guys to fit our system and also we've got to look at size. I think we are one of the smaller teams in the league." The Rockets are looking for a forward to complement their guard tandem of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley. "If we keep the three picks, we hope to get a blend of those needs," Tomjanovich said. Keeping the picks wouldn't be too bad in Dawson's opinion. "You don't see drafts this deep too often," Dawson said. "In past years, we might not want the three picks. This year we're comfortable with all three." The Rockets could end up wheeling and dealing as they did with their two picks last season. The Rockets drafted Joel Przybilla of Minnesota in the first round last year and traded him to Milwaukee for Jason Collier of Georgia Tech. They picked Eduardo Najera of Oklahoma in the second round and traded him to Dallas for Dan Langhi of Vanderbilt. Dawson has been getting calls from teams with lower picks, trying to move up in the draft. "We're trying to go the other direction," Dawson said. "We want to come up and we're getting a million calls from people wanting our 23rd and 18th picks. This is the busiest we have ever been that I can remember." When the Rockets finish with the draft, they still have more roster work. The Rockets have six free agents, including future Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, 37, who plans to play next season and might return to the team, if it can fit him under its adjusted salary cap. Forward Maurice Taylor, also is a free agent and likely would seek work elsewhere if the Rockets are successful in the bidding for forward Chris Webber. Other free agent Rockets are Shandon Anderson, Matt Bullard, Moochie Norris and Sean Colson. The Rockets missed the playoffs last season for the second straight year despite improving from 34 victories in 1999-2000 to 45 last season. The Rockets were the first team to miss the playoffs with 45 victories since the NBA expanded to a 16-team playoff format in 1983-84. The off-season has been a tough one for Dawson and Tomjanovich, both trying to figure all the angles. "There are a lot of options out there and I wish it wasn't that way," Dawson said. "We wouldn't look like this (sleepy). I don't think we've slept in a week. If it would stay the same, we could leave. But everyday we come in and everything is different." http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/954090 ------------------ The Mo Taylor Fan Site "Basketball players win basketball games. Athletes win track meets."-- Shane Battier Draftsource.net-- the premier source for draft info. Profiles, rankings, mock drafts, and more! Cat's Mock Draft
The Rockets are either spreading misinformation to act like they are not desperate to move up (to lower the price), or they are laying the groundwork for justifying to the fans not moving up. Reading between the lines, it appears they are having little luck moving up. ------------------
that's what I'm worried about..{sigh}.. ------------------ Rarely is the question asked: Guns kill squirrels than REDRUM to fools across the nation?
I don't know JBC.It seems like when you combine this statement with Rudy's comments about bigmen/guys that can shoot, it would be the first of the two....Classic Liar's Poker.Thats their MO all the way...playing it cool before a big deal. ------------------
"There are a lot of options out there and I wish it wasn't that way"......classic I'm sure they have many contingency plans...all of which are most likely really good.It sounds like they EXPECT to move way up to me. CD using the media to work whatever GM. ------------------ [This message has been edited by hardwood (edited June 26, 2001).]
You guys seem to be reading between the lines way to much! to me all this means is "we have been trying to move up but so far no luck!" .. that doesn't mean it won't happen but it seems to me like they may just have to settle for what they got! and so are we. ------------------ When will I reach 1000 posts ?
