Now What?

Once again, the Rockets find themselves in the position of waiting on question marks. Team doctor Tom Clanton now says that Yao Ming's stress-fractured left foot has not yet healed properly and no timeline has been established for his return to playing basketball. Also, according to Daryl Morey, Tracy McGrady may be out for a good portion of next season. After such risky surgery, it's even possible that he will never make it back to his former self. Those two players represent roughly 68% of last year's salary cap. As the cap increases next year, so will their salary, so it will probably be a similar percentage then too. So what should the Rockets do now?

First, let me commend Les Alexander for springing for $6 million dollars to acquire 3 second-round draft choices in last week's draft. He could have stood pat, but knowing that it is a buyer's market among NBA teams right now, he instructed Morey to lay out the bucks to try and shore up the team's depth and as insurance in case McGrady doesn't make it back anytime soon or in case either Ron Artest or Von Wafer bolt in free agency. First class, Les.

But that was last week. What does the future hold? OK, here it is. Stay the course. Is that the perfect solution? Of course not. Nobody wants to go into a season missing two superstars. The big question is, what are the alternatives?

If you trade Tracy, it will be to a team that wants to unload a huge long-term contract with a player that is not pulling his weight. Locking in long-term money to get mediocrity in return is not the way the team wants to go. Tracy's contract is over at the end of next season, so they would be better off keeping Tracy now and getting rid of the obligation then. Plus, the team has an insurance policy in place that will cover his salary for most of next season. And let's not forget that McGrady is a legitimate star that could very well come back to pay huge dividends by the end of the season and playoffs. If so, the Rockets would still be in the best position to resign him. If not, they will be clearing a maximum contract from the salary cap at a time when Lebron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwayne Wade and Amare Stoudamire will be free agents. McGrady is only 30.

There is little chance that Houston will trade Yao Ming - now or in the future. Not only is he an elite center, but Yao brings in huge dollars in the asian market. Imagine the world-wide interest in a player like Yao. Oddly enough, Yao's jersey sales rank 10th in China behind Kobe and eight other players, but if Yao was not playing in the league, overall sales would be a fraction of what they are. Regardless, Daryl Morey has specifically stated that Yao Ming is not available. He is the "cornerstone of the team" around which the Rockets will build.

Ron Artest and Von Wafer are both unrestricted free agents. Resign them. We'll all have our chance to check out draftees Jermaine Taylor and Chase Budinger as the Summer League unfolds, but for now, they are unknown commodities. More on them in my next post.

Every other Rocket is under contract for next season. Dikembe is a free agent, but is obviously history due to both his age and his injury. I suggest parting company with Brent Barry and Brian Cook to make room for the rookies.

One other suggestion: Explore acquiring Zydrunas Ilgauskas from Cleveland. His contract allows for an early termination option right now. The Cavs aquired Shaq last week, so Ilgauskas will probably have to come off the bench next season anyway. At 34 years old, perhaps he would rather come off the bench in Houston. The Rockets need to limit Yao's playing time because of recurring injuries and Ilgauskas would be an outstanding choice to step in.

That's the big picture. Details as they arise.

Building Through the Draft

The Rockets are so tight on salary cap space that signing a star free agent is highly unlikely for next year. The only player they have worth trading will have little value on the open market because of his salary and injuries (Tracy McGrady). Therefore, the only solution to improve the team in the immediate future is to build through the draft. So here is my recommendation as to who the Rockets should take in the upcoming draft:

Nobody. The Rockets have no picks in the 2009 draft and are not likely to trade for one.

Fortunately, one of last year's second round choices, Joey Dorsey, is on the mend after sitting out virtually all of his rookie season with foot problems and is working out furiously with the coaches. If he can get through a season without plantar fasciitis problems, he could be a real plus for the Rockets. They desperately need another big man to back up Yao Ming and Luis Scola in the post now that Dikembe Mutombo is no longer an option. That would also allow Carl Landry to play more small forward.

The Rockets are a team loaded with swingmen. Luis Scola, Joey Dorsey, Carl Landry, Chuck Hayes, Tracy McGrady, Shane Battier, Ron Artest and James White are all capable of playing more than one position. In fact, of the Rockets regular rotation, only Yao, Brooks, Lowry and Wafer are one-position players. That gives coach Rick Adelman a tremendous variety of options to match up with other teams' personnel. That flexibilty is a necessity in today's NBA as so many teams are eschewing the traditional big center in favor of a quicker lineup.

T-Mac Surgured

In order to alleviate some pain he had been experiencing since before last season, Tracy "had a left shoulder arthroscopic distal clavicle excision for long standing symptoms emanating from (his) acromioclavicular joint."

He had his shoulder scoped. The timing was so that he could rehab both the shoulder and his knee at the same time. The surgery was performed by Dr. Brian Cole at Rush University Medical Center.

He is not yet running, but McGrady claims that his knee is coming along fine and he's been working on it in the pool for several weeks. He is aiming for a training camp return to basketball.