Houston Rockets Should Aim for Bargain McDyess, Not Costly Bosh or Stoudemire

Depending on your vantage point, Yao Ming's career is either finished or on an excruciating hiatus.

Maybe you're in the small faction that believes he will start on opening night in October.

Good for you, Mr. or Ms. optimist.

The Houston Rockets' brass like you a lot. They would also like to know if you'd be interested in season tickets.

It will only set you back about $3,000.

In this lush and vibrant economy, you can afford that small, necessary expense, right?

Nevermind that Yao's absence means no championship or that close to $40 million of the team's payroll is tied up in two players who get injured more often than Pamela Anderson gets married.

For those not keeping score, that's a lot.

With the devastation still fresh, some frenzied and depressed fans want to talk about Amar'e Stoudemire and Chris Bosh in Rockets red.

Yes, let's trade for Stoudemire.

Yes, let's trade for Bosh.

Heck, let's trade for both of them and then sign them again next summer.

Forget that "logic" hogwash or the salary cap. Let's just name people and hope they magically become Rockets after a few shoe clicks.

Doesn't at least one of these fans have a cute dog, a bread basket, and red shoes?

"Toto, I don't think we're in reality anymore."

Why stop there?

"There's nothing like a trade rumor that I wish was real. There's nothing like a trade rumor that I wish was real. There's nothing like a trade rumor that I wish was real."

See, oh skeptical one, it worked.

Both Bosh and Stoudemire are now members of the Houston Rockets, and the only thing left is planning that championship parade route.

Should they head down Texas Street or shimmy up Main Street?

I'll stop this nonsense now if you promise to do the same.

Bosh or Stoudemire would be a $15-$17 million a year proposition.

What would the other costs be?

Aaron Brooks, a speedster with All-Star potential?

Dunk-a-licious Carl Landry?

World-class competitor Luis Scola?

Any of those players in a big package for a soft, oversized jumpshooter or a defenseless, crunch-time moron, each undeserving of the "franchise player" tag, is a bad idea.

Here's a good one for the Rockets: Antonio McDyess.

The two-year contract he signed with the Detroit Pistons in 2007 would have paid him $7.5 million this season.

The Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson swap threw a wrench in those plans.

Now, he's an unrestricted free agent and a solid center sure to field offers from a double-digit number of teams.

Most squads would be stupid not to ask. The Rockets must demand his services.

The San Antonio Spurs, another top tier 'Dice suitor, can afford to take the chance on Rasheed Wallace that others cannot.

They would not pout uncontrollably if 'Dice crossed them off of his list.

If Simon Cowell knew anything about professional basketball, he would call a potential acquisition of McDyess "safe."

For the injury-plagued Rockets, safe is good.

Soon to be 35 and a complimentary player on this year's milquetoast Pistons edition, McDyess would not elevate the Rockets back to contender status.

Bosh and Stoudemire won't make them title favorites, either.

Keep dreaming.

What McDyess would give Houstonians is the promise of a professional effort in each of the 82 regular season games. He would help the Rockets put a competitive, easy-to- root-for product on the floor.

McDyess clearly ached inside when the Cleveland Cavaliers stomped his Pistons in a first-round sweep. He flashed that dejected look like an ugly shirt he doesn't want to wear again.

Yao Ming is irreplaceable.

If his career ends, so does this core's championship hopes.

So, with that in mind, the Rockets' front office should eye the less expensive Plan B who can take away some of the pain while giving fans new reasons to smile.

McDyess remains an effective low-post scorer and rebounder. He could average a double-double in Coach Rick Adelman's system.

No fan would ever have to question his loyalty or desire to win, two things I'm not sure about with Bosh and Stoudemire.

He took less money last year to re-sign with a Pistons roster that traded him. He didn't complain when that Iverson-led bunch spiraled into mediocrity.

He urns for a championship, and this situation would not guarantee him one.

Consider that strike one.

He also likes Houston enough to keep his offseason home here.

Wouldn't he enjoy staying put for once?

This should happen, of course, after GM Daryl Morey brings back Ron Artest.

With McDyess in the fold, and perhaps another complimentary big with his same size, alongside Artest and Shane Battier, the Rockets could still finish near the top in every defensive category.

They might win a round again in the playoffs.

With the franchise center's future in doubt, you should not expect more than that.

Few big guys command the kind of defensive attention Yao does in every game. Bosh and Stoudemire don't.

Sometimes, you don't have to aim to lower to get cheaper.

This roll of the 'Dice would be no gamble at all.