The Rockets picked up the mobile, oversized scoring wingman they had targeted in the draft in Donte Greene. The would be sophomore seems eager to show what he has learned since the tragic death of his mother. Oozing with profound basketball gifts, Greene might become a draft night steal.
Joey Dorsey is undersized as a center and maybe as a power forward, but he is worth a look to back up Yao. In a statistically underwhelming but strong college career, Dorsey scored most of his points by cleaning the glass. At 6'9" with an average wingspan, he may struggle to grab offensive rebounds from stronger, bulkier big men.
The biggest offseason hitch now seems to be re-signing Carl Landry. With an aggravated knee injury limiting his gritty play in the regular season's final frame, the Rockets want to subject the forward to more medical tests, to ensure there are no chronic issues, before tendering a contract offer.
Landry's agent Buddy Baker has called the request ridiculous and insists that his client has no lingering medical issues. Morey says he asked for additional test results after the Rockets season ended in another first round ouster.
Morey cannot let this apparent spat end with Landry walking. The Rockets may need a trade to shore up an incomplete roster come February and Landry is the best bait on the team.
If he plays up to expectations, he will not be going anywhere. The Rockets should want to keep the ScoLandry combo intact for the next five years. But, should they need to trade for an impact player, Landry seems to be the only guy not named Yao or McGrady with either the contract or talent to attract a fair deal.
Since Morey has promised the Rockets will continue to build on the Yao-McGrady foundation, the team needs to fill the above holes surrounding the All-Star duo.
McGrady acts as the imperfect star, a volcanic talent that erupts increasingly less. If the team wants to stick with "T-Mac," so be it.
Nothing the Rockets do this offseason will save the team if one of the two stars falls again. Can this roster compete for a playoff seed without Yao or McGrady?
They answered 'yes' last season.
Can this roster win a playoff series without Yao or McGrady?
Utah Jazz win another first round bout in six games, dominating the clincher 113-91. I'll take that as a ‘no.’
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