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Rockets face difficult roster decisions

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The Rockets are considerably closer than they were when last season ended with a six-game first-round loss to the Jazz. It would seem a stretch to say they are at the doorstep. That leaves the Rockets with some difficult decisions, starting with how to approach Ron Artest's free agency. Artest's agent, David Bauman, indicated the four-year, $37 million contract extension the Rockets could have offered would have been below market value. But with only three teams -- Detroit, Memphis and Oklahoma City -- holding salary-cap room, it might be difficult to find a team willing and able to go beyond a mid-level exception contract, particularly with Artest coming off a series he called "a failure." The Rockets will also have to weigh whether to consider Tracy McGrady the offensive star they lacked when teams surrounded Yao Ming and whether to make any roster changes based on what McGrady brings into the final season of his contract, worth roughly $24.5 million. Morey said doctors are hopeful McGrady could be practicing by November, though the GM won't expect it. He does expect to have a better guess by early July.

Houston Chronicle

Tracy McGrady, Getty Images Tracy McGrady, Getty Images
May 19, 2009  07:12 AM ET

Let the artest/tmac/yao chapter in rockets history commence..this I wanna see if they can play nice together

May 19, 2009  07:36 AM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Let the artest/tmac/yao chapter in rockets history commence..this I wanna see if they can play nice together

sure they haven't had that line-up for too many games.....but i think Tmac's playing days in Houston may be numbered and in the league.....it all hinders on how he recovers from his surgery because this current season he was such a liability.

May 19, 2009  07:56 AM ET

Buy that bum T-Mac outta his contract. They played better without him. Shane isn't a natural fit for the 2, and he isn't the scorer T-Mac can be.... but you can't argue results. An actual victory in the playoffs and within 48 minutes of 2 victories..... T-Mac never brought ANY team that...

May 19, 2009  08:12 AM ET

McGrady is done. Stick a fork in him. The results speak for themselves. There's an awful lot the Rockets could do with the money it costs to keep him. Including signing Artest.

May 19, 2009  08:18 AM ET

There's no guarantee that McGrady can return next season, and if he does, he might be shell of his former self. He was never effective this season because he was injured. The only course might be to just let his contract expire and enjoy the extra cap room.

May 19, 2009  08:31 AM ET

There's no guarantee that Artest and TMac will be back next season. Artest will want to get paid and the Rockets will have to go way over their salary cap to sign him. And there is also the 2010 free agency lottery. At least TMac will be out of the book by then.

May 19, 2009  08:40 AM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Let the artest/tmac/yao chapter in rockets history commence..this I wanna see if they can play nice together

that will be hard to do with half-man half-season T-Mac as one of the starters.

May 19, 2009  08:54 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

Buy that bum T-Mac outta his contract

that doesn't matter- his && still goes against the cap

May 19, 2009  08:56 AM ET
QUOTE(#2):

.....it all hinders on how he recovers from his surgery because this current season he was such a liability.

I would ABSOLUTELY not count on him-
his track record speaks for itself......
- maybe his knee gets better- but then his back will be bad-

Also he has basically been a jumpshooter for YEARS now-
the rockets need to think like he's not even there

May 19, 2009  09:05 AM ET

Ron Artest WILL be a Rocket next season. There is no need to question that. However, if G.M. Darrel Morey can convince some sucker of a G.M. to take Tracy McGrady off his hands by all means he should do it.

The T-Mac era has to come to an end in Houston. One way or another.

May 19, 2009  09:46 AM ET

Ron Artest will be back with the Rockets. Before the Rockets traded for Artest they knew he has 1 year contract left. So, obviously they know what Artest want.

May 19, 2009  09:57 AM ET

Get rid of TMac ...easy decision.

May 19, 2009  10:11 AM ET
QUOTE(#10):

However, if G.M. Darrel Morey can convince some sucker of a G.M. to take Tracy McGrady off his hands by all means he should do it.

how about Eddy curry and Larry Hughes ?
lol.... he could back Yao up & teach him how to eat

May 19, 2009  10:11 AM ET

People is always talking about trading T-Mac. I never here people talk about trade Yao and Yao has missed more time than T-Mac. We talk about he has never led a team out of the first round, but he never had the supporting cast that they had this season, so lets see how he comes back from injury. We are a championship contender if everyone is healthy. We sign a decent back up center and be ready for next season.

May 19, 2009  10:20 AM ET

Artest-No brainer resign him-$9-10 million a year seems more than fair.
Yao- do what u can with him, he hasnt lasted a full season in the past 4 years, sadly wont change in 2010.
TMAC-if u can find a moronic GM to take this absurd contract, by all means ship his A55 out for anyone or nothing even, just taking him off your books is compensation enough if not release him next year.

May 19, 2009  10:23 AM ET
QUOTE(#12):

Get rid of TMac ...easy decision.

easy decision, almost impossible execution.
remember, isiah isn't a GM anymore?

May 19, 2009  10:30 AM ET
QUOTE(#4):

McGrady is done. Stick a fork in him. The results speak for themselves. There's an awful lot the Rockets could do with the money it costs to keep him. Including signing Artest.

well said!

May 19, 2009  10:32 AM ET

T-Macs contract will be done in 2010! Trade the expired contract, sign Artest, resign Wafer. There done!

May 19, 2009  11:07 AM ET

Trade, Trade and Trade McGrady contracts, not really sure whats out there but you cannot depend on Mcgrady to lead the way any more with all of his injuries, I wonder what these team would of looked liked if everybody stayed healthy enough to play one full season.

 
May 19, 2009  11:08 AM ET

If they can't trade T-mac, it's probably best to waive him. We all know Houston is much better off without him.

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