Rockets still adding Spree?

*warning - the following 'info' is from hoopsworld which i have come to notice is very much disliked by almost everyone here. I am simply pasting this article and not taking it for anything as i have heard that accuracy is not one of hoopsworlds strong points*



In case you missed it in Friday’s Texas Triangle, the Houston Rockets are about to finish their work for the offseason. Latrell Spewell began telling friends and family last week that he had reached an agreement with the Houston Rockets. Shortly after that we heard that Derek Anderson had also reached an agreement with the Rockets. Both of these rumors have now been confirmed. Tony Dutt, Anderson’s agent, officially informed the Lakers on Sunday that his player would be signing a two-year deal with the Rockets. "I think he loved the fact of the team concept, and he's gonna earn every minute that he plays,” Dutt told KRIV over the weekend. He will certainly have to earn every minute. The Rockets have a glut at point guard, where they say Anderson will play. At least they have a glut today. That may change in the next 48 hours.

The Anderson signing doesn’t leave a roster spot for Sprewell, but the Rockets and Timberwolves reportedly have a plan in effect to take care of that. Minnesota made Sprewell a more than fair offer ($21 million), but he cited his starving family as a reason why he couldn’t accept it. You’ve surely heard that story by now. What we don’t know is what amount the Rockets have agreed to pay the aging shooting guard or for how long they will commit to him. Given that he garnered about as much interest on the free agent market as a skunk in heat, the Rockets have surely made a deal that won’t jeopardize next summer’s salary cap space, expected to be in the range of $4 million. However much they sign him for, they have to unload at least two roster spots. They need one for Sprewell and one for Lonny Baxter.

While we don’t know exactly who will be leaving, we can make some educated guesses. Given that the Wolves just sent out Sam Cassell and brought in Marko Jaric, it is reasonable to think that they might want to add a veteran point guard to help Jaric mature as a floor leader. Charlie Ward could certainly fill that role. The Wolves are also losing Ervin Johnson to free agency, and will need a big body to take up some minutes. Eddie Griffin is said to be back in the fold, but he is also a free agent as of today. Juwan Howard has been on Kevin McHale's wish list in the past, or they might be willing to take a chance that Vin Baker has something to give next season.

Baker exercised his player option for next season and said he very strongly believes he will be a contributor. If you add Baker’s $7.4 million to Ward’s $5.6 million you find a salary that could feed an Army, if carefully budgeted (and if you shop at Sam’s). Sign Sprewell to a one-year deal worth $13 million, free up Ward’s salary space next summer instead of having to wait until 2007 – the Rockets could actually come out pretty well in this deal. 2006 will see some key free agents like Peja Stojakovic, Kareem Rush, and Jason Terry. How nice would it be to add Peja to a lineup with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady? That’s a team that could even challenge the San Antonio Spurs.

Expect an answer to the Sprewell question in the next two days. Derek Anderson will ink his two-year deal, Sprewell will come in trade, and the Rockets will ink Dikembe Mutombo and Yao Ming once they have their free agent dealings all taken care of. Not a bad summer’s worth of work for a team with no salary cap space.