[CHRONIC] Sign-and-trade is best chance for Rockets to land Bosh

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7088998.html

As the Rockets waited to line up their meeting with coveted free agent Chris Bosh, hoping the race does not end before it begins, there was word Wednesday that Bosh was planning to sit down with them.

The Miami Heat seemed to be in position to reach a rapid agreement to sign Bosh, the Rockets’ primary target, with a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Raptors. Bosh, however, indicated through third-party intermediaries he “definitely” would consider the Rockets and specifically cited an interest in playing with Yao Ming and the chance to play on “a world stage,” a person with knowledge of his planning said.

The Rockets had hoped Bosh would be most driven to find a team with which he would win quickly, giving general manager Daryl Morey a chance to argue that the Rockets’ deep roster would offer a better chance than a Heat or New York Knicks roster gutted to create the salary-cap room needed to sign free agents.

Whether Morey might still get the chance to make that case was unclear. With Bosh’s input, the Raptors had worked out the framework of sign-and-trade deals with several teams, including the Rockets, the individual said, but had not been told to complete a deal.

The Rockets, however, had to get in line behind teams with cap room. They expected that, but it does not make waiting easier.

“For us, the free agents would have to move through a sign-and-trade,” Morey said. “The agents are focusing on the teams with room. That’s to leverage their original teams so they can go through sign-and-trade where they maximize their money. The free agents will make $30 million more through sign-and-trade.

“I think they’ll all look at us. It’s such a big decision for all the free agents. They’re making a five- or six-year decision. I think they’ll all very carefully evaluate their options.”

Hawks to keep Johnson?

The Rockets, who had limited, late talks with the Phoenix Suns at the trade deadline, do not have a meeting scheduled with Amar’e Stoudemire, who opted out of his contract but could turn in Morey’s direction if Bosh is off the market.

The Atlanta Hawks were readying a max-contract offer for Joe Johnson that would likely keep him in Atlanta. Although the Rockets had considered pursuing Johnson, this could be good news for the Rockets if it takes Johnson out of a potential pairing with Bosh in New York.

Johnson was expected to begin the process with the Hawks, with conversations expected with the Knicks and Heat and today with the Dallas Mavericks. Heat guard Dwyane Wade will be in Chicago to meet with the Bulls.

For the Rockets, the process began by extending qualifying offers to forward Luis Scola and guard Kyle Lowry, keeping their rights to match any offers they receive.

The offers are not made as proposals for their next contract; only to make them restricted free agents. Scola received an offer of $4.1 million for next season and Lowry $2.97 million, amounts determined by their previous contracts and collective bargaining rules.

Morey has said Rockets owner Leslie Alexander has directed him to match any offers Lowry or Scola receive.

With much of the attention on the Rockets’ pursuit of Bosh, the Rockets took out an ad in today’s Chronicle declaring Lowry and Scola are “key pieces to a team on the rise” and asking fans to comment on each player’s Twitter site.

“As far as our financial impact, Leslie is basically saying, this is the season we’re all in, whatever resources we need,” Morey said.

Returning a possibility

Scola has said he would welcome a return to Houston but intended to consider his options. Lowry, however, has said that while he is happy with the Rockets, his preference is to find a starting job.

“We appreciate their position and how much they value Kyle,” Lowry’s agent, Andy Miller, said. “If they are adamant, why not make an offer and show how much.

“Kyle likes playing in Houston, likes the personnel and staff, and has a strong relationship with the front office. He would have no problem returning.”

Either player could be part of a sign-and-trade deal the Rockets might pursue, but only if that is their choice.

Rockets forward Jared Jeffries chose not to become a free agent, letting the team know in writing shortly after the season that he would not opt out of the $6.9 million remaining on his contract.

The Rockets had an early-termination option on Chuck Hayes’ contract but did not exercise it, with Hayes due $2.3 million next season.