Houston Rockets: Thin Free Agent Class Tests Texas Triangle

Miller will provide all of those valuable talents to a Timberwolves team that will challenge for the West's eighth seed next year.

Some Rockets fans might say Yao Ming's injury diluted the outcome of a second first round series against the Utah Jazz, but does anyone without the last name Gullible believe that just plugging him back in fixes everything?

Even when the Rockets shocked and awed NBA spectators with the second longest win streak in NBA history, a sizeable chunk of that 22-game spurt without Yao, the Rockets were flawed.

What the team has:

·   The fierce, formidable ScoLandry (Luis Scola and Carl Landry) power forward tandem, a combo that sets them at that position for years.

·    The best center in the NBA

·    A near 11-year veteran who can take over any game he wants when he   is healthy.

·    A 41-year-old center, oldest player in the league, who continues sucking the fountain of youth dry.

·    A great coach—whom Sacramento's Maloof brothers stupidly let walk—with the patience, system, and adaptability to boost the team's scoring production without sacrificing the gnarly, suffocating defense Jeff Van Gundy instilled.

·    A tough-minded defender in Shane Battier who fills the role that has been so valuable on the last three championship teams.

Team needs:

·     Perimeter shooting.

·     Three point shooting.

·     A third scorer to aid Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.

·     Backup center.

·     Healthy Yao and McGrady.

·     Healthy McGrady playing like the superstar his paycheck says he is,   complete with unalterable desire to win.

·     Resign Landry

Likely returns:

·     Yao Ming

·     Tracy McGrady

·     Rafer Alston

·     Shane Battier

·     Luis Scola

·     Carl Landry (provided both sides can end this medical test dispute)

·     Aaron Brooks

·     Chuck Hayes

·     Steve Novak

·     Steve Francis

Questionable returns:

·     Luther Head

·     Dikembe Mutombo

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