Kleeman's Last Word

Rockets draft preview: why 25 can't stop the Yao-uch

Nothing General Manager Daryl Morey orchestrates during tonight's NBA Draft will fix what ails the Rockets.

That is, unless Morey can trade the team's 25th pick for a magician who can cure Yao Ming's foot injury for good and turn Tracy McGrady into the back-pain free, competitive fire ball the Rockets once traded to get.

As long as the Rockets insist on building around Yao and McGrady, the same old song will sing its way into a locker room that hasn't seen a playoff series win in more than 10 years.

McGrady and Yao have missed more games than I care to count and the Rockets have a sub .500 record when one or both players miss a game. Yao has missed 86 games the last three seasons with various foot ailments.

The Rockets bucked that trend this season, winning seven games in McGrady's absence, and completing the second longest win streak in NBA history, 22 consecutive victories, after Yao announced his season-ending surgery.

The trend returned in the playoffs when the Utah Jazz ousted the resilient Rockets in six games. McGrady is 0-for-what in the first round? Eight? You cannot be serious.

There is little point in the Rockets moving up in tonight's draft. Morey's best bet is selecting the best available talent at 25, whether it is Nicolas Batum, Ryan Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Courtney Lee or anyone else. With so much draft volatility, moving up to the 16-20 range guarantees nothing.

Let's see if a Morey-led orchestra can pull another draft steal. He nabbed Purdue forward Carl Landry with the 32nd pick and acquired Luis Scola in a trade the San Antonio Spurs may regret for the next five years.


Team needs

+Perimeter shooting
+Depth at the center position
+A third scorer
+James Posey
+Mike Miller


At one point this season, the Rockets were shooting a dismal 28 percent from behind the arc. With Yao commanding double teams, the Rockets need more shooters to spread the floor. Shane Battier, Rafer Alston, Luther Head, Bobby Jackson and Aaron Brooks are not the answers. The best shooter, Steve Novak, struggles to earn minutes because he is a defensive liability.

Dikembe Mutombo is the ageless wonder, drinking from the fountain of youth when most people think he should be drinking from a water fountain at the NBA's old folks' home.

In the Rockets' first game without Yao against the Washington Wizards, Mutombo entered the game and promptly swatted a Caron Butler drive to the basket into the first row. It was an inspiring moment but how many of these does he have left?

The youth fountain does dry up, doesn't it?

If managing Yao's already manageable 37 minutes per game becomes a bigger issue, they need more size at center to compliment the fiery ScoLandry power forward tandem when he sits.

The Rockets still lack a third scorer. McGrady has yet to prove he can consistently perform like the superstar his paycheck says he is. Mike Miller is a terrific shooter and slasher who could provide that needed 20 points per game lift.



Untouchable players if the Rockets propose a trade to get Miller

+Yao Ming
+Tracy McGrady
+Shane Battier
+Luis Scola
+Carl Landry
+Rafer Alston


What did you say, Chris Wallace? That list of untouchables includes every player that interests you? You donated Pau Gasol to the freaking Los Angeles Lakers, so give Mike Miller to us. This is not a request. This is a demand.

Sadly, trades do not work that way. However, that does not mean Morey should not pester Wallace and do whatever he wants, reason pending, to get Miller alongside Yao and McGrady.

Posey would also prove a valuable free agent. Since I am short on time, I will commit a journalistic sin and assume that you watched him during the NBA Finals.

The rest of the roster, even speedy point guard Aaron Brooks, is open for trades in my book.


The conclusion

This article is short because the prognosis for the Rockets is short. If Yao and McGrady cannot stay healthy and productive, the Rockets will continue falling in the first round.

Singing can be fun until your most familiar song becomes irritatingly repetitive.

posted by Robert Kleeman @ 1:40 AM