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Rockets Ready For Takeoff?
HOUSTON — It’s a new era in Houston as we wind down the days of free agency and get ready for training camp and preseason. It’s been a crazy offseason for the Rockets in all facets of the organization. From a front office facelift to a flurry of rumors and transactions, the Rockets are a new look franchise that is ready to raise the standard as they embark on the 2011-12 season.
After a tough 2010-11 season that saw the Rockets fall just short of the playoffs, their GM Panda was forced to step away for personal reasons. The organization was in a position where they felt that nothing was going their way and they were struggling to keep their head above water. The Rockets leadership group knew they needed to do something bold to get things back on track and they think they did just that.
Few have seen GM Swope recently as he went off into retirement years ago. He always knew if he were to ever come back that it would have to be a very good situation. It’s believed that a Rockets official reached out to him during the season last year, chalking up the idea of it happening as an extreme long shot. And it was until Swope started paying closer attention to Houston.
That attention was payed mostly to the Rockets two superstars, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant. It’s not often a franchise has two surefire hall of fame players in their starting lineup and Swope recognized that this was a special opportunity to make his return. “I see these two guys and can’t believe that somehow they missed the playoffs last season. It’s a real shame for these guys. We, as an organization, owe it to Kobe and Dwight to build a team that can win a championship here,” exclaimed the new general manager at his introductory press conference.
Immediately after the announcement of the new hiring, the front office got right to work. They flirted with several options, with some sources reporting that Dwight was being shopped. The team has refuted these reports and deemed any Dwight chatter as the team gauging values around the league at most. At the end of the day, even if there was any truth to Dwight and/or Kobe being shopped around, nothing that came in was close enough to pull the Rockets out of win-now mode. Instead, they moved forward with their intent to build around the superstar duo and knew they needed to find themselves a point guard.
Names on the block that were linked to the Rockets were Devin Harris (recently traded to Celtics), Darren Collison, and Deron Williams. It is widely believed that there were a number of offers on the table that nearly were sent to the league offices for completion. However, Swope kept balking at the idea of trading a majority of the team’s assets for another player on a large contract. This would lead to the new regime’s first big move, which was acquiring young combo guard, Eric Gordon, from the Bullets.
The Rockets agreed to send the 13th overall pick (Enes Kanter) as well as the rights to swap a future first round pick, cash and the contract of Luke Ridnour to Washington for the rights to Eric Gordon. Gordon, the 10th overall pick in 2008, is entering the last year of his rookie contract and expected to handle the starting point guard duties this season. He seemed well on his way to a very strong career, including making the all star team in 2009, when the Bullets acquired superstar, Steph Curry, who would go on to steal just about all of his court time. The Rockets expect an extremely hungry player in Gordon, hoping he feeds off the chip on his shoulder in his contract year.
This trade left the team with just a second round pick in the 2011 draft. They would go on to acquire another late second rounder from Miami on draft night to help bring some youth onto the roster. Those picks would be used on guard, Terrico White, and forward, Markeith Cummings, both of which the team views as projects that can develop into productive professionals. Swope would follow these acquisitions up with some minor moves, including one to gain financial flexibility by sending big man, Torin Francis, to the Spurs for cash. Francis had a fine run in Houston, but new management saw him as a player that has peaked with a pesky contract attached.
Things appeared to be settling down as free agency approached. The Rockets felt that they were good enough to be in the mix but still not quite good enough to win. With limited assets left, the team was approached again by the Timberwolves on the idea of moving James Harden. Harden is just two years removed from being the #2 overall pick and has had two very productive seasons to start his professional career. However, there seems to be a negative connotation around the shooting guard as many believe his development has been mismanaged and that he can’t become a player that can lead a franchise to a championship.
Houston thought otherwise as they opted to make a deal for the young up and comer, as they dealt two future first round picks and the rights to swap firsts down the road, along with Eddie House and Nate Robinson to Minnesota. Accompanying Harden is veteran combo guard, Andre Collins, who the Rockets have been eyeing all offseason as a potential acquisition. Eddie House was quickly bought out by the Timberwolves and returned to Houston on a minimum contract for this season.
Harden is viewed as a cornerstone of this team moving forward and hope he and Gordon can create a dynamite backcourt. With annual whispers of retirement surrounding Kobe Bryant, Harden will begin to feel the pressure of filling his shoes in the future but the franchise believes they can develop Harden into becoming a player capable of doing just that. It is definitely the kind of move that can make or break the organization down the road but it was a risk the team was willing to make in order to make the most of Dwight Howard’s prime and the remaining years of Kobe’s career.
In free agency news, the Rockets were able to come to terms with center, Mikki Moore, on a three year deal. Moore is a savvy vet that can play both front court positions and will challenge for a starting spot. With free agency wrapping up tonight, the team will look to add one more player to the fold before heading to camp. A lot of eyes will be on this organization and the most important thing to watch will be the development of Eric Gordon and James Harden. While Dwight is one of the best players in the league, how the guy around him develop will truly make or break this franchise.
HOUSTON — It’s a new era in Houston as we wind down the days of free agency and get ready for training camp and preseason. It’s been a crazy offseason for the Rockets in all facets of the organization. From a front office facelift to a flurry of rumors and transactions, the Rockets are a new look franchise that is ready to raise the standard as they embark on the 2011-12 season.
After a tough 2010-11 season that saw the Rockets fall just short of the playoffs, their GM Panda was forced to step away for personal reasons. The organization was in a position where they felt that nothing was going their way and they were struggling to keep their head above water. The Rockets leadership group knew they needed to do something bold to get things back on track and they think they did just that.
Few have seen GM Swope recently as he went off into retirement years ago. He always knew if he were to ever come back that it would have to be a very good situation. It’s believed that a Rockets official reached out to him during the season last year, chalking up the idea of it happening as an extreme long shot. And it was until Swope started paying closer attention to Houston.
That attention was payed mostly to the Rockets two superstars, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant. It’s not often a franchise has two surefire hall of fame players in their starting lineup and Swope recognized that this was a special opportunity to make his return. “I see these two guys and can’t believe that somehow they missed the playoffs last season. It’s a real shame for these guys. We, as an organization, owe it to Kobe and Dwight to build a team that can win a championship here,” exclaimed the new general manager at his introductory press conference.
Immediately after the announcement of the new hiring, the front office got right to work. They flirted with several options, with some sources reporting that Dwight was being shopped. The team has refuted these reports and deemed any Dwight chatter as the team gauging values around the league at most. At the end of the day, even if there was any truth to Dwight and/or Kobe being shopped around, nothing that came in was close enough to pull the Rockets out of win-now mode. Instead, they moved forward with their intent to build around the superstar duo and knew they needed to find themselves a point guard.
Names on the block that were linked to the Rockets were Devin Harris (recently traded to Celtics), Darren Collison, and Deron Williams. It is widely believed that there were a number of offers on the table that nearly were sent to the league offices for completion. However, Swope kept balking at the idea of trading a majority of the team’s assets for another player on a large contract. This would lead to the new regime’s first big move, which was acquiring young combo guard, Eric Gordon, from the Bullets.
The Rockets agreed to send the 13th overall pick (Enes Kanter) as well as the rights to swap a future first round pick, cash and the contract of Luke Ridnour to Washington for the rights to Eric Gordon. Gordon, the 10th overall pick in 2008, is entering the last year of his rookie contract and expected to handle the starting point guard duties this season. He seemed well on his way to a very strong career, including making the all star team in 2009, when the Bullets acquired superstar, Steph Curry, who would go on to steal just about all of his court time. The Rockets expect an extremely hungry player in Gordon, hoping he feeds off the chip on his shoulder in his contract year.
This trade left the team with just a second round pick in the 2011 draft. They would go on to acquire another late second rounder from Miami on draft night to help bring some youth onto the roster. Those picks would be used on guard, Terrico White, and forward, Markeith Cummings, both of which the team views as projects that can develop into productive professionals. Swope would follow these acquisitions up with some minor moves, including one to gain financial flexibility by sending big man, Torin Francis, to the Spurs for cash. Francis had a fine run in Houston, but new management saw him as a player that has peaked with a pesky contract attached.
Things appeared to be settling down as free agency approached. The Rockets felt that they were good enough to be in the mix but still not quite good enough to win. With limited assets left, the team was approached again by the Timberwolves on the idea of moving James Harden. Harden is just two years removed from being the #2 overall pick and has had two very productive seasons to start his professional career. However, there seems to be a negative connotation around the shooting guard as many believe his development has been mismanaged and that he can’t become a player that can lead a franchise to a championship.
Houston thought otherwise as they opted to make a deal for the young up and comer, as they dealt two future first round picks and the rights to swap firsts down the road, along with Eddie House and Nate Robinson to Minnesota. Accompanying Harden is veteran combo guard, Andre Collins, who the Rockets have been eyeing all offseason as a potential acquisition. Eddie House was quickly bought out by the Timberwolves and returned to Houston on a minimum contract for this season.
Harden is viewed as a cornerstone of this team moving forward and hope he and Gordon can create a dynamite backcourt. With annual whispers of retirement surrounding Kobe Bryant, Harden will begin to feel the pressure of filling his shoes in the future but the franchise believes they can develop Harden into becoming a player capable of doing just that. It is definitely the kind of move that can make or break the organization down the road but it was a risk the team was willing to make in order to make the most of Dwight Howard’s prime and the remaining years of Kobe’s career.
In free agency news, the Rockets were able to come to terms with center, Mikki Moore, on a three year deal. Moore is a savvy vet that can play both front court positions and will challenge for a starting spot. With free agency wrapping up tonight, the team will look to add one more player to the fold before heading to camp. A lot of eyes will be on this organization and the most important thing to watch will be the development of Eric Gordon and James Harden. While Dwight is one of the best players in the league, how the guy around him develop will truly make or break this franchise.
