2010 NBA Free Agency: Houston Rockets Won't Let Luis Scola Get Away

The 2010 NBA free agency is huge for the Houston Rockets.

Not because they will be trying to steal Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire away from the market (via a sign and trade), but because they will be trying to retain their fan-favorite—Luis Scola.

The Rockets remember the deadline-day trade this past season that sent their most beloved player to Sacramento in exchange for a brighter future.

The Rockets sent fan-favorite Carl Landry to Sacramento and Tracy McGrady to New York. In exchange for what the Houston Rockets gave up, they got a lot back in return.

They received their scoring threat in Kevin Martin, and a bunch of assets to prepare them for the future. They received the No. 9 pick in the 2009 NBA draft, Jordan Hill, a defensive guru in Jared Jefferies, and two future first-round picks.

A lot of Rockets fans saw the move as a move in the right direction and a move to prepare us for the future. However, some fans hated that fact that we gave up Carl Landry. They thought it was too steep of a price to pay.

The Rockets were able to part ways with Carl Landry because they believed in Scola. They knew Scola would get more playing time and trusted that he would be able to step up his game.

They were definitely right.

Scola played very well down the stretch. Besides for Aaron Brooks, Luis Scola was the most consistent player on the Rockets roster. I would argue that he was actually a lot more consistent than Brooks, but that is another story.

The point is that the Rockets moved Carl Landry because they knew they had Scola. That is why general manager Daryl Morey is so adamant about bringing Scola back.

Scola was part of his master plan.

Maybe he wasn't going to keep him around for long, but if Scola was not going to be a Rocket, it was going to be because the Rockets would use him to lure in a big time All-Star (via a trade), not because he was going to leave on his own. 

If the Rockets would have thought Scola was bound to leave in free agency they would never have let Carl Landry go.

Now that Scola is keeping his options open in free agency, the Rockets are probably a little fearful that they might have to pay a steep price to retain him.

Whatever the price may be, Daryl Morey is not going to let Scola get away (something Spurs fans still feel bitterness about).

"He will be back," Morey said. And in case that were not clear enough, Morey added, "Leslie gave us the resources and said whatever it takes."

Landry was a fan-favorite, but it is clear that Scola is management’s favorite. They chose him over Landry and they plan on keeping him around.

I can’t blame them for choosing Scola.

I love Scola. He embodies everything that this Rockets team stands for. He doesn't have all the tangibles you look for in a power forward, but he has all the intangibles and some.

He isn't going to impress you with his vertical or his great athleticism, but frankly his game doesn't rely on those things.

He has great work ethic, a passion for the game, and you know he will give you a 110% everytime he's on the floor. Despite posting some pretty impressive numbers, Scola is always looked over when it comes to discussing good power forwards.

I don't see how anyone can hate the guy. Well, maybe because he is a flop-artist, but even the purists have respect for this guy.

Every time someone writes him off or his team off, he always outperforms expectations. He is everything you want in a basketball player and he is someone you want on a championship-caliber team.

The Rockets want to be a championship-caliber team and they see Scola as a major part of that team.

The biggest Rockets' move in free agency this summer will not be going after Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire, but rather trying to retain Luis Scola .