Team report as of May 5th .. guys this is interesting !

TEAM REPORT
From SportsWritersDirect -- May 5, 2000
GETTING INSIDE


When teams begin talking to Cuttino Mobley, a major selling point will likely be playing time. Many could offer Mobley more than the Rockets could match (about $4.1 million). But unless someone breaks the bank, and maybe even if they do, Mobley could still be moved to return to Houston.

But while it is clear what the Rockets could offer financially, minutes could be the key and the Rockets don't want Mobley to worry about the currency that might matter to him most, minutes.

He played starter's minutes, finished most games and averaged almost 16 points a game. He not only was on the court in the deciding moments, he was usually given the ball and the chance to the decide them.

But any team willing to outbid the Rockets' chances to match offer sheets surely will plan to give Mobley the ball, time and likely a starter's job. The Rockets might still prefer Shandon Anderson starting at the off guard and moving to a forward spot when Mobley gets in the game.

The problem all this poses for the Rockets is that they will draft without knowing whether they will have to replace Mobley. And they do not want to take a player that might make him wonder about that playing time.

To that, they have the added conundrum of facing a draft deep only in the sort of player they have reasons not to choose. With Courtney Alexander, Quentin Richardson, high schooler Darius Miles, DerMarr Johnson, Mike Miller and Morris Peterson, the draft has plenty of shooting guards and small forwards, some likely to be around at the Rockets current draft spot at No. 9.

But if they pick a small forward or shooting guard, Mobley might wonder if he could still get starter minutes off the bench. But if they don't pick a perimeter scorer, they could have a huge hole that could have been filled if Mobley leaves.

NOTES, QUOTES, ANECDOTES


Television reports quickly circulated this week that the Rockets worked out Auburn's Chris Porter. Porter would not seem a player the Rockets would need to see in May. He's surely not a top 10 pick. He is probably a small forward, a position the Rockets do not need and would look elsewhere to fill. And they have not started working out players. But a player about Porter's size, with big hair, Auburn gear and a headband was seen at the Westside Tennis Club, site of the Rockets training facility and basketball offices. The only problem is it wasn't Chris Porter, just a tall friend of a friend. ... How slow is the offseason? Walt Williams, Pig Miller, Shandon Anderson and Devin Gray took in a Thunderbears Arena football game with Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, who also owns the indoor football team. ... The Rockets and the Harris County/Houston Sports Authority are expected to reach an agreement on a new arena plan within the next two weeks, in time to be considered in a referendum in the November elections. The Sports authority has already gathered much of the funding through the visitor's taxes used to build the Astros' Enron Field and the construction of a new NFL stadium. But the voters would have to approve the agreement on a downtown basketball arena.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think it's important for us to go out there and grow. Hopefully we can keep the nucleus of this team together, add a couple pieces here and there to help the team." -- Rockets guard Shandon Anderson

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL


Moochie Norris was signed to a non-guaranteed contract for next season when he signed for the duration of last season in February. He is now considered an asset as a backup point guard to Francis, a good fit because of his ability to create off the dribble.

But that would make Bryce Drew expendable. A first-round pick in 1998, Drew is down to the third point guard on a team built around a player at the same position, making minutes scarce for a player that desperately needs playing time.

Drew has struggled to make the transition to NBA point guard after being a star shooter for his father at Valparaiso. Though he has some tools, he still has not shot with the swagger of an outside gunner and does create like a true point guard. But he did produce consecutive 20-point games when Francis was hurt, potentially inspiring interest in trade talks.

Drew might not seem to be too great a commodity in potential trade talks, but he did draw extensive interest at the trade deadline.

DRAFT OUTLOOK: The Rockets' draft priority might be to get inside strength and the top of the draft has some to offer in Kenyon Martin, Stromile Swift and Marcus Fizer. All three, however, are likely to be long gone by the time the Rockets pick if they remain at their position at No. 9. Even centers Joel Pryzbilla and if he comes out Chris Mihm would be gone.

Other than Etan Thomas, no one fits that description that will likely be around at No. 9 and is even close to worth taking in the top 10.

With that in mind, the Rockets are likely working to move up, and could be working on some complex packages that could even involve the $4.5 million worth of trade exceptions.

Such deals are rare because they would bring in both a high pick and a high-dollar player. But the Rockets have pulled off otherwise rare deals often -- see Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen and Steve Francis -- and are unlikely to accept drafting in a position that does not work for them.

FREE AGENT UPDATE: Forward/center Tony Massenburg is a free agent that fits now more than he did when he was acquired in the Steve Francis trade.

At 33-years-old by next season, Massenburg might be moved to chase the largest contract he can get at this stage of his career. But because he missed all but 10 games last season (he was out since suffering the first of two groin pulls Thanksgiving morning) and teams are especially wary of big men coming off injuries, it is difficult to determine what he can command on the free agent market.

Massenburg would give the Rockets, a team that allowed too many game-winning lay-ups, inside muscle. He can run with the Rockets young, fleet backcourt and can hit the jump shots left open when teams double-team Francis or Mobley.

ROTATION REVIEW: Point guard Steve Francis (18 ppg, 6.6 apg, 5.3 rpg); Guard Shandon Anderson (12.1 ppg, 3 apg); Small forward Walt Williams (10.9 ppg, 4 rpg); Guard Cuttino Mobley (15.8 ppg, 2.6 apg, 3.6 rpg); Forward Kenny Thomas (8.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg); Guard Moochie Norris (6.9 ppg, 3.1 apg); Center Kelvin Cato (8.7 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.89 bpg); Forward Matt Bullard (6.7 ppg).

INJURY UPDATE: Guard Bryce Drew, bone spur surgery; Center Hakeem Olajuwon, respiratory condition; and forward/center Tony Massenburg strained groin.


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