Howard looking for chance at success in Houston

wireonfire · Jul 1, 2004

Sounds he is excited. So don't worry about his no-show.

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/sports/9059262.htm

Howard looking for chance at success in Houston

JOEL ANDERSON

Associated Press

HOUSTON - Juwan Howard has been booed off the floor by his own fans, endured ceaseless criticism over his $100 million contract and played for two of the NBA's worst teams the past two seasons.

Howard's 10-year career has been marked mostly by disappointment and bad luck, something he hopes will change after being traded from the Orlando Magic to the Houston Rockets.

"What I've gone through in the past has made me a lot stronger," Howard said Thursday. "The last couple of seasons have been rough."

Howard was part of a blockbuster deal on Tuesday that brought him, two-time league scoring leader Tracy McGrady, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines to Houston and sent Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato to Orlando.

The trade freed Howard from a miserable two-year stretch with Denver and Orlando, when his teams went a combined 38-126 and each season finished with the NBA's worst record.

He joins a Rockets team that made the playoffs last season for the first time in five years and, following the trade, looks like a serious contender in the Western Conference. With McGrady and 7-foot-6 center Yao Ming leading the way, Houston has an All-Star duo that could rival the Los Angeles Lakers' championship twosome of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

The 6-foot-9, 230-pound Howard is excited about teaming up with Yao in the Rockets' frontcourt, if only because he'll no longer be forced to play center instead of his natural position of power forward.

"Everyone in the league would like to play with someone of that stature," Howard said. "This is the first time I've had a chance to play with a true center. Hopefully it'll be a walk in the park."

That would be a welcome change for Howard.

He's averaged 17.8 points and 7.4 rebounds a game with Washington, Dallas, Denver and Orlando, even earning All-Star honors in 1996. Last season, he was second on the Magic in scoring (17.0 points per game) and first in rebounding (7.0).

But those workmanlike numbers were eclipsed by the huge contract he signed with Washington following his All-Star year.

Washington made the playoffs only once in his seven seasons there, and a short time after signing the contract, Howard faced constant criticism that he was overpaid. Fans eventually grew frustrated with his and Washington's on-court struggles, and boos filled the arena at nearly every home game.

"My contract always overshadowed what I could do on the floor," Howard said. "But sometimes, as you know, winning cures everything."

Howard then took about a $15 million a year paycut to sign with the Magic last offseason, thinking that Orlando was a young team on the rise. In another bit of bad luck, he turned down offers from league champion Detroit, Minnesota and Chicago.

"I thought (Orlando) had the makings of a pretty good team," Howard said. "This past season ... it was tough."

Rockets manger Carroll Dawson said that despite those struggles, Howard's former coaches all spoke highly of his positive attitude, leadership skills in the locker room and work ethic.

"They used a lot of adjectives I've never heard about another player," Dawson said. "It was really heartwarming to hear. Not to be overlooked is that he's a fine, fine basketball player."

The addition of players such as McGrady and Howard have also made Houston a popular destination for free agents. Dawson said he's already fielded plenty of calls from interested players.

"If you're a free agent, Houston's name comes up," Dawson said.

The agent for Lakers point guard Derek Fisher, a member of three championship teams in Los Angeles, acknowledged talks with the Rockets started early Thursday morning.

"There's a lot of interest in Derek," Mark Bartlestein said. "But we're really early in the process."
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codell · Jul 1, 2004

"The agent for Lakers point guard Derek Fisher, a member of three championship teams in Los Angeles, acknowledged talks with the Rockets started early Thursday morning."
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I didnt even know CD could stay up that late.

MrRolo · Jul 1, 2004

I hope Howard doesnt jinx our team with his bad luck

smoothie · Jul 1, 2004

my guess is fisher will sign for half or 2/3 of the MLE. he isnt my first option, but it looks like thats who we want.

olliez · Jul 1, 2004

Originally posted by MrRolo
I hope Howard doesnt jinx our team with his bad luck
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I hope this post doesn't jink Clutchfans....

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