Rockets look for prospects, saves cap space for bigger moves
Injuries and player movement – two of the major problems the Houston Rockets experienced for the past few years. They are remembered to build a dynamic duo in the past composed of swingman Tracy McGrady and center Yao Ming. Rockets can be considered as one of the championship-calibre teams in the league but injuries seem to infest the team so it didn’t grow progressive.
The team is on its rebuilding phase these days in preparation for next season’s opening. They gave away high-flying Trevor Ariza to the New Orleans Hornets but acquired David Lee in return. Now, the team is still shopping for additional members to complete their roster.
Names already came out of the box and the Rockets already have three names in their list. UNI big man Jordan Eglseder, (7 feet, 280 lbs. centre) is a nice choice. The Rockets can use this guy as a reserve player for starting centre Yao. Brad Miller is in the team but he is already aging; Luis Scola plays forward most of the time. Egleseder is the only legitimate man for the position. He is a tough player who can bang bodies inside and finish straight to the rim. He is still a developing player on the post but the he can use the offseason to develop this aspect. This is also a smart move for Houston because if Yao experiences the same injury again next season, he can step up to the challenge of being the centre for the team.
Next in line is Antonio Anderson. He spent his college career in Memphis along with rookie sensation Derrick Rose. He entered the 2009 NBA Draft and was invited by the Charlotte Bobcats to their training camp. He was waived by the Cats and played in the D-League for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He made a comeback to the NBA but only for a 10-day contract with the Oklahoma Thunders.
He stands 6’6 and can play both forward and guard positions. He is a versatile player who can finish aggressively inside but can also make shots from the outside especially in the perimeter. He may be overshadowed by former teammate Rose but for the Rockets, he can be a useful force in the team. He would possibly compete with Kevin Martin and Jermaine Taylor for minutes in the team.
Another player that the rockets are eyeing is guard Ishmael Smith. He played for Wake Forest in his college career and did well in the Summer League games with the Rockets. Smith is a pass first point guard. He passes the ball to teammates with accuracy. Besides his passing, he can also hit shots from the outside; both from the field and beyond the arc. He also has a high percentage tear drop shot or runner; he does these every time he attacks the basket. He has notable defence skills because he can aggressively steal from his opponents. Smith would possibly compete for time with starting point guard Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry.
The Rockets already have players that can complement their bench productivity next season. The trio would be essential in backing up the starters and step up in necessary occassions.
Next season would be an unpredictable one. Teams that had just acquired superstars gain all the attention now. The eastern conference teams focused on that aspect but the west settled for minor acquisitions like what the Rockets did. This may also be considered as a financial move because acquiring players with minimum salaries allows the team to save money for future use. Minor acquisitions they may be but they can make a difference for the rebuilding Houston Rockets team.
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