Welcome Back Carl!

OK, he's not completely back, but Carl Landry made an appearance at practice yesterday for the first time since March 18, and this time not just to say hello. He actually stretched with the team and participated in a shoot-around. Neither Carl nor the Rockets had a timetable for his return to the active lineup, though. It seems gunshot wounds are not listed in the "how soon will they return" guidebook for trainers. Regardless, it's good to see him back on the court for any reason.

My question of the day is, where are the Landry detractors these days? After ending last season early with an ankle injury, public sentiment seemed almost split down the middle before this season as to whether or not the Rockets should match Memphis' offer sheet and keep him. I saw comments on web sites that said, "He's damaged goods. Don't take the chance!" and "Landry is nothing more than a high-flying kid that will never make it big in the NBA." Personally, I agreed with the Rockets' decision to re-sign him.

This is my opinion for the record. Carl Landry is a bargain that will pay off for many years to come. The only reason Landry is a backup is that he plays behind forwards (Shane Battier and Luis Scola) that should be on the all-star team. Carl Landry would start for 80% of the teams in the league and as Shane ages, Carl's role on the Rockets will become even more important.

Carl Landry is just one more in a long line of good decisions by GM Daryl Morey. I promise that when Morey makes a bad decision that he could have foreseen (he cannot predict injuries - especially gunshot wounds), I'll call him on it. But based on past performance, that may be a while.