| Flurry Of Moves Help Position Rockets For Run Authored by Jason Linnard - August 27, 2005 - 5:26 am
| Current Featured Columns | | Merry Christmas, Raptors Fans The Raptors might not be playing good basketball right now, but there are plenty of things for Toronto fans to be thankful for this holiday season.
A Melo Behind The SuperstarsCarmelo Anthony has never been one of the league's most efficient offensive players.
 |
Maynor Using Utah’s Resources
Eric Maynor is an increasingly rare four-year, small college rookie. He sat down with RealGM to discuss how his first few weeks of NBA life has gone and what he has learned from Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan.
|
 |
Why LeBron To The Clippers Makes Sense
LeBron James already plays for a perennial underdog in Cleveland, but moving to the Clippers would allow him to do so in a huge market and with a core that will immediately compete for championships while also having an encouraging long term outlook.
|
 |
‘Home-Heavy Schedule’ Brings Question Marks
The Heat have been plagued by inconsistencies, making it difficult to determine how good they really are this season.
|
|
More from RealGM's Columnists
|
| |
In the 2 weeks following the lift of the Player Movement Moratorium, we saw the signing of forward Stromile Swift and the return of forward Ryan Bowen and guard Jon Barry. We also witnessed the departure of seasoned veteran Clarence Weatherspoon. That’s plenty of moves for one offseason, right?
Dawson didn’t seem to think so. He has a plan in mind and is determined to follow through with it long before training camp commences.
On August 23, Houston signed guard Derek Anderson, the first victim of the Luxury Tax Amnesty clause created in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Anderson had to decide between Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers.
"When you get an opportunity to get money and still go somewhere, you got to think about what you really want as a person and as a player," he said. "I think this was a better fit for me to come here and challenge myself to play and be able to win a championship."
Houston originally tried to acquire Anderson before last season’s trade deadline, supposedly for forward Maurice Taylor, who was ultimately shipped to New York.
It is not known what role Anderson will fill, as he has the ability to play the 1, 2, and 3. But Coach Jeff Van Gundy is already hinting at what he has in store.
"I do love the way he passes the ball. I think one of the things we did last year….was become a much better passing team. And I think Derek is a tremendous passer as well. That's the one skill I don't think you can ever have enough of.”
On August 26, Houston resigned veteran center Dikembe Mutombo to a two-year contract. Though used as a back-up for big man Yao Ming, Mutombo was also brought in to tutor Yao on defense, post-play, and rebounding.
"I felt that this team gave me a lot of opportunity last year by trying to do their best over the summer to bring me here. To be reunited with Patrick and to get the opportunity to play (again) with Yao, Tracy, and Juwan, I think it gave me a great chance to know those guys very well and to develop a great (team) chemistry that will make us the team of the future in the West, and we're about to become now the dominant team in the West. I'm glad to be back."
Another move believed to be on Dawson’s agenda is extending Yao Ming’s current contract. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which would make him a restricted free agent at year’s end.
Whether we have seen everything Dawson had planned or if he has some more tricks up his sleeve, the future already looks bright for this organization. |
