Trevor Ariza Now on Board, Rockets Need To Figure Out What's Next

The Houston Rockets organizational leaders hope Yao Ming plays again.

Yao is optimistic that date could come before the end of the 2009-2010 season.

That GM Daryl Morey asked the league for an injury exception to sign former Lakers forward Trevor Ariza says he's not counting on it.

Surely, a season removed from their best campaign in 12 years, the Rockets do not plan on fielding a starting lineup of Aaron Brooks, Ariza, Shane Battier, Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes.

Such a team would be scrappy and in the top half of the league defensively, maybe top 10.

It also wouldn't score enough points to be relevant in the vicious Western Conference.

Scrappy and lean—two characteristics that define Ariza—equal the lottery. That is, unless Morey can scare up a few superstars before October to not make Ariza the potential second-leading scorer on the squad.

Last fall, Coach Rick Adelman entered training camp with three All-Stars. Now, he has none.

Rob Artest split for glitzier Los Angeles and a better chance to win a ring. Mitch Kupchak thought more of Artest's marvelous, two-way talents than did Morey. If you've read my last few pieces, you know I am not a fan of this decision.

I can put up with the guy occasionally—OK, more than occasionally—running his own offense if it guarantees a playoff spot.

Ariza does not come with that assurance. A role player who averaged 11 points in the playoffs is now the second-highest paid among the team's healthy players.

Watch out, Phil "Zen master" Jackson, Doc Rivers, and Gregg Popovich: Shane Battier could erupt for 50 points on a night you coach against the Rockets. Of course, Paris Hilton could someday do something useful.

The latter seems more likely.

This state of basketball purgatory is what happens when ownership invests nearly $40 million in two stars who cannot stay healthy enough to earn even half of that money.

Tracy McGrady will be easier to replace than Yao Ming, and most fans in Houston wish him good riddance. Hell, if he put his house on the market today, hundreds would show up at his door step within a few hours and help him pack up the place.

Wing scorers are a dime a dozen, and there are viable ones who come a lot cheaper than $23.5 million a year. The Golden State Warriors manage to scrounge up some no-name in the D-League each season who throws up 20 on somebody.

Surely Morey can locate a shooting guard who can create his own shot at a more reasonable price.

Here's a capital idea for next summer, since that seems to be the team's new focus: Joe Johnson would look great in Rockets red.

No player the Rockets acquire will be as talented or carry as much potential as "T-Mac."

The said, no player also figures to waste what he does have the same way McGrady trashed his chances at greatness.

Morey told the Houston Chronicle that his phone is ringing hourly with teams interested in McGrady's contract. Nobody buys it.

If the Rockets had found a suitable deal, they would have done it weeks ago.

Team management does not want to take on another team's horrid contract just to get a mediocre player and dump its own.

Morey is looking for the kind of salary dump that allowed the San Antonio Spurs to steal Richard Jefferson.

If you're not stupid, desperate or cheap, call elsewhere.

Replacing Yao will prove much more difficult. Players with his size and skillset are as rare as stacks of $2 bills and IHOP restaurants that don't serve pancakes.

The only other center in his prime that can dominate with his back to the basket is Dwight Howard, and Orlando's big fella still needs a lot of improvement in that department.

That leaves an aging, soon-to-retire Shaquille O'Neal, and everyone else.

Many of todays big guys want to be shoot jumpers, camp out behind the arc , or feast on garbage buckets.

The Philadelphia 76ers' GM Ed Stefanski asked Morey last week if he would be interested in Samuel Dalembert. Morey hung up the phone.

Thank God.

The last thing the Rockets need is a center owed $23.5 million over the next two seasons, whom no one with intelligence confuses for an adequate center.

The best remaining big guy on the market, 25-year-old Zaza Pachulia, signed a three-year deal with his current team, the Atlanta Hawks, Wednesday afternoon.

There goes that idea.

Most or all of the remaining fours and fives available fit the "roster filler" description Morey wants to avoid.

Drew Gooden and Glen Davis are decent options worth a look, but both function better as forwards.

The Rockets already have a pair of undersized ones in Carl Landry and Scola.

Draft picks Chase Budinger and Jermaine Taylor figure to be spot players in garbage time, even if they survive training camp cuts or aren't immediately relegated to the D-League.

What that leaves the Rockets is not much hope to be competitive next season.

In L.A., Ariza played with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. In Houston, the supposed superstars will be the sitting on the bench until at least January.

Is there a fantasy league for best sports jacket or sideline outfit? McGrady and Yao would be slam-dunk selections.

From a seven-game series with the Lakers that seemed to show the ultimate promise to a season shaping up to be the worst since 1997, the Rockets "need a lot of help."

Morey is accepting applications now.

And prayers.