| Summer Update in the Lone Star State Authored by Jason Linnard - July 6, 2005 - 11:35 pm
Though the free agent signing period doesnt begin for more than two weeks, the market has heated up early as usual. A couple of players have already agreed to deals that will be signed once the Player Movement Moratorium is lifted.
Even though Houston is only armed with the Mid-Level Exception, which is expected to be around $5 million, they are still big players in free agency. Houston is quietly becoming a hot spot for free agents.
According to sources, the Rockets contacted Mark Bartelstein, agent for Antoine Walker. Houston expressed interest in the power forward, who played for both Atlanta and Boston last season. Walker, in turn, showed interest in the Rockets, and is expected to visit with Houston this week.
Walker, whos averaged 19.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 4.1 APG in 9 seasons, is known for being an all-around power forward. He has a good shooting touch with 3-point range, good passing and ball-handling skills, and is very quick for his size. He had been tagged with the tendency to play outside too much, putting up too many shots from outside, but in Atlanta and his second stint in Boston, hes shown a calmer, better decision-making style of play.
The Rockets have also contacted Andy Miller, agent for Stromile Swift and Donyell Marshall. Swift, whos spent his 5 year career with the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies, is a good shot-blocker and rebounder, two of the most important factors in their search for a power forward.
Many believe that Swift has all but been fitted for a Hornets jersey, but the Rockets hope that hell be drawn by the full MLE, chance at a championship, and the intrigue that Swifts favorite team growing up was Houston. He reportedly met with Rockets officials today.
Marshall was targeted by Houston at the trade deadline this past season, but Houston balked at the deal for unknown reasons. Hes got many of the same qualities as Walker: 3-point range, good rebounding skills, and good vision and passing skills. Hes been one of the more underrated players in the league the past few years.
Other players Houston has shown interest in: Shareef Abdur-Rahim from Portland, Reggie Evans from Seattle, Bobby Simmons and Marko Jaric from the LA Clippers, and Earl Watson from Memphis.
Summer League Play
In the midst of free agency, the Rockets have also put together a summer league roster to compete in the Minnesota Summer League, July 15-19.
One player conspicuously absent from the list was 2004 draftee Vasilis Spanoulis. Spanoulis is rehabilitating a sore back and ankle after his season in Greece. Houston GM Carroll Dawson said the injuries are not long-term concerns.
Below is the official summer league roster:
PLAYER POS. HT. WT SCHOOL
Hollis Price G 6 1 172 Oklahoma (03)
William Avery G 6 2 180 Duke (99)
*Luther Head G 6 3 185 Illinois (05)
Pat Carroll G 6 5 190 St. Joseph (05)
Norm Richardson G 6 5 200 Hofstra (01)
Desmond Penigar F 6 7 245 Utah (03)
Chuck Hayes F 6 6 242 Kentucky (05)
Cory Violette F 6 8 255 Gonzaga (04)
David Bluthenthal F 6 7 220 USC (02)
Lonnie Baxter F/C 6 8 260 Maryland (02)
**Malick Badiane C 6 11 240 Senegal (03)
* --Drafted by the Rockets in the first round (24th overall) in 2005
**--Drafted by the Rockets in the second round (44th overall) in 2003 |
