"Is Houston Looking at Jermaine O'Neal?"

http://www.***************/article_22933.shtml

Rockets: Is Houston Looking at Jermaine O'Neal?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Bill Ingram
for ***************
Aug 2, 2007, 12:00


If the Indiana Pacers launch the 2006-07 season with Jermaine O'Neal it will be a surprise. They've been shopping him for much of the summer, with the Los Angeles Lakers being a primary target. In fact, if the Lakers had been willing to part with Andrew Bynum at last year's trade deadline O'Neal would probably already have 20 or so games as a Laker under his belt.

In June it was all about the New Jersey Nets. The Pacers had interest in Richard Jefferson, who was being offered around, and also Nenad Krstic. Though that deal is now thought to be completely dead, it would have been one that made the Pacers better immediately, as Jefferson is in his prime and Krstic could arguably be the best center in the Eastern Conference if he's healthy this season.

So let's take it one step further, since I've been asked some version of this question a number of times over the last couple of weeks. The Houston Rockets have agreed to terms with Chuck Hayes, but haven't officially announced his signing. Is there a reason for this? They also have a huge crowd at the point guard position, as well as some other pieces that don't fit Rick Adelman's system as well as they fit Jeff Van Gundy's. One spot where the Pacers need the most help is the point guard position, where Jamaal Tinsley is about as inconsistent as they come and has a hard time staying healthy. Rafer Alston would certainly give them the floor general they lack, but what else can the Rockets possibly offer the Pacers to make it worth Jermaine O'Neal?

Nothing.

You'd have to include Tracy McGrady to even get them on the phone, and it would probably be hard to even sell that, given McGrady's back issue.

That doesn't mean the Rockets won't get something done. If the Rockets get desperate for a back-up to Yao (and it seems Mutombo might end up in Boston), they could send Alston back to Miami and get Michael Doleac in return. Doleac isn't a great piece, but Miami has Smush Parker now and they aren't actively looking for another point guard. It's also conceivable that Houston could land Brendan Haywood from the Washington Wizards, who gives you about six points, six rebounds, and a block in roughly 22 minutes per game. Haywood isn't a huge deal, either, but if Yao goes down the Rockets are better off with Haywood starting than Doleac.

There is one other name out there that should be of interest to the Rockets. The Atlanta Hawks, who are always in need of help at the point, are shopping Zaza Pachulia. Pachulia's a big body who can play the four or the five and could help acclimate Luis Scola to life in the NBA. Alston, in turn, could be a great asset to Acie Law, who will be looking to make a big splash in his rookie season. It would be much easier with a familiar face and an NBA veteran giving advice and leading the way.

So in answer to the question that keeps popping up: No, the Rockets probably aren't going to make some blockbuster deal happen. At the same time, they don't really need to. They have acquired a couple of combo guards in Steve Francis and Mike James who will help them push the tempo. They have two All-Stars in Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. All they really need to be championship contenders is a tweak here and a tweak there. Pachulia would be the kind of tweak that could take them to the next level.