Houston Rockets Off-Season Recap
By Blake Atkins
HOUSTON -- The off season began after the devastating game 7 lost to Utah in the first round. Daryl Morey did very well with his first trade with the Rockets. The Rockets traded Juwan Howard to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Mike James and Justin Reed. Mike James is what Houston could have really used in the play offs. Rafer Alston struggled all throughout the 2007 play offs, but without a real back up point guard, Alston was still forced to play 44.1 minutes a game. This trade is really going to help the Rockets because when Alston is not hitting his open shots, Houston can put James in the game for more of a scoring option.
On draft night, many Houston fans were raising there eye brows on the Rockets' first round selection of Aaron Brooks. Many started thinking Daryl Morey didn't know what he was doing in the front office, but Rockets fan soon realized it was a great pick. In the 2007 Las Vegas Summer League, Aaron Brooks averaged 21.4 PPG and 5.2 APG, while leading Houston to a 4-1 record. Brooks could end up being Houston's point guard for the future, because he is super quick and with his shooting touch from beyond the arc, teams can't back off to protect the drive, which makes Brooks very difficult to guard.
Daryl Morey started to get some respect with the Brooks pick, but this acquisition made him even more popular among Rockets fans. Daryl Morey traded rarely used Vassilis Spanoulis to the San Antonio Spurs for Jackie Butler and the draft rights to Luis Scola. This trade helps fill the Rockets need with a potential starting power forward and some depth at the center position. Scola is reported to be one of the best players outside of the NBA and Butler is a young player that has some shooting touch around the basket. Scola signed a contract for 3 years worth 9.3 million dollars. He has been highly talked about among Daryl Morey and Rick Adelman. "What I saw on tape was someone who's always moving and always active," Adelman said. "He plays hard. That's what really impressed me." Luis Scola could possibly be starting next to Yao Ming next season in the front court.
As Houston was having a great off season, Daryl Morey had one more surprise for Rockets fans. Daryl Morey persuaded Steve Francis to return to Houston for 2.4 million the first season, and a player option for a second season. Daryl Morey and Rick Adelman had been making trips to Francis' house days before the signing was announced. They were trying to let Francis know his potential role with the team. Francis undoubtedly like that role and will be playing along side a very good friend in Yao Ming and the player he was traded for in Tracy McGrady.
2007 batkins182. All rights reserved.
