Now that the trade is official, I think it's only proper for Rocket fans to thank Steve, Cuttino, and Kelvin for everything they gave to the Rockets & Houston. They were the whipping boys of this city & board for a long time, but in retrospect, I think Houston basketball fans can thank them for a lot. Steve - You brought a new level of excitement to H-town that had been slowly dissipating since the last championship year in '95. You brought exciting, high-flying, crowd-pleasing basketball to a team in transition and a acity starving for a franchise player to take the torch from Hakeem. A lot of us were hard on you because we saw the potential for greatness that just didn't materialize, but no one can ever question the energy, passion, and heart that you bring to the court. We wish you the best in Orlando and success in the East. I have a feeling you'll do well there. Cuttino - In a draft where we had 3 1st round draft picks (none named Rashard), you ended up being our biggest draft-day steal in the last 10-15 years. Few remember that you came in and played PG as a rookie for a veteran-laden team before moving back over to make room for your sidekick Francis. You drove me crazy for a few years, but you did improve and turn into a pretty good SG. To my surprise, you became our most dependable shooter and on-the-ball defender this year, and that's a testament to your hard work. I'm glad you & Steve get to go over & get a fresh start together. Kelvin - You had perhaps the most rewarding preseason game in NBA history, and your big contract came with a lot of expectations. Even though you never became the starting center we hoped for, at least you didn't give up. Your value really showed thie past 2 years after the arrival of Yao, and your rebounding & hard-nosed defense were key to a team that lacked an enforcer. Plus, you threw down a ton of great alley-oops. Good luck in Orlando, where just a slight improvement might get you an All-Star nomination at C in the East. Good luck to all in Orlando. Thanks for helping us get T-Mac. The true Rocket fans will be sure to welcome you with cheers (not boos) when you come back in town, so "ya'll come back 'n' visit, ya hear!"
