The New Guy

Patrick Patterson was selected by the Rockets with the last lottery pick in this year's draft. He is a big, tough power forward from Kentucky that should be able to earn some playing time sooner or later. The Rockets' brass keeps saying how well he fits into the Rockets' "locker room", meaning that his attitude is good and he works and plays well with others. Team chemistry is important of course, but why did they choose another player at what is probably their deepest position? Luis Scola, Jordan Hill and Chuck Hayes are already stacked up there.

The answer would seem to be that they are covering themselves in case Scola bolts in free agency, but Daryl Morey has stated categorically that Luis will be back. Perhaps the team has decided that the Knicks were right about Hill when they traded him halfway through his rookie season. Maybe Rick Adelman wants to use just Yao at center and back him up with Scola and Hayes. That would leave more time for Patterson, but put David Andersen on the bench. Then again, some coaches and GM's say that you just can't have too much talent at the big positions.

All of that assumes that Morey is jockeying to put together a team with the players at hand. The true story may come next Thursday when the free agent marketplace opens its doors. That's the real story of the coming season and may well determine the next champion.