Yao Ming
Houston Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming is confident that he will be ready for the start of the regular season after a team doctor declared his surgically repaired foot fully healed.
Yao missed last season after undergoing complex surgery on his left foot in July 2009. Team doctor Tom Clanton has cleared Yao to resume basketball activities.
The Rockets had said all along that they expected Yao to play in 2010-11. Yao was still relieved when he got the official diagnosis.
“I am very excited,” Yao said Tuesday. “I am just looking forward to playing a great season. I think I can count on my foot now.”
HoopsWorld
none
Carmelo Anthony
If the Rockets or Nets can present an offer that is agreeable to the Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony is open to being traded to, and signing a long-term extension with, one of these two clubs.
The story was reported by Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, citing multiple league sources familiar with the situation.
The Knicks are believed to be Anthony’s top choice.
Real GM
none
Trevor Ariza
Trevor Ariza was sent to the New Orleans Hornets and Darren Collison to the Indiana Pacers in a four-team, five-player trade Wednesday.
In the trade, the Hornets also sent James Posey to the Pacers.
The Pacers sent Troy Murphy to the New Jersey Nets. And the Nets sent Courtney Lee to the Rockets.
The four-team deal could fill some long-term needs for the Hornets, Pacers and Nets, as well as provide needed salary relief for the Rockets.
ESPN.com
none
Adelman, Miller
Veteran center Brad Miller has agreed to a three-year contract worth $15 million with the Houston Rockets.
Miller attracted interest from numerous other teams but was strongly lobbied to move to Houston by Rockets coach Rick Adelman, who coached him in Sacramento, and guard Kevin Martin, who was Miller’s teammate on the Kings.
Miller said the opportunity was “too good of a deal to pass up,” according to the Chicago Tribune.
ESPN.com
none
Luis Scola
Luis Scola reached agreement with the Rockets on a new five-year deal Thursday, and was happy to share how thrilled he was with the news.
“I feel great. I feel great,” Scola, 30, said. “I’m going to be in the place I wanted to be. I’m so happy.”
A day after announcing they would match the offer sheet received by guard Kyle Lowry, the Rockets reached an agreement with Scola on a contract that will be worth $47 million over five seasons, a person with knowledge of the agreement said Thursday.
HoopsWorld
none
Kyle Lowry
The Cavaliers are attempting to make their first player acquisition of the summer. But like everything else during the past month, it is complicated.
According to multiple league sources, the Cavs signed restricted free-agent point guard Kyle Lowry to an offer sheet Tuesday night.
His current team, the Houston Rockets, will have seven days to match the deal from when they receive the paperwork, which likely will be today.
HoopsWorld
none
Von Wafer
Von Wafer is healthy and planning a comeback.
Wafer has been training with his high school coach in Lisbon, Louisiana, and feels like he can still make an impact on an NBA team.
“I bring a lot of energy, a whole lot of energy. I feel like I can contribute,” he said in an interview with HoopsWorld.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets have each expressed some interest in Wafer.
HoopsWorld
none
Brad Miller
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey met with free agent center Brad Miller on Thursday. Miller could be a potential backup to Yao Ming in Houston.
The center had dinner with Rockets coach Rick Adelman, who he played under in Sacramento.
“We’ve talked conceptually,” said Mark Bartlestein, Miller’s agent.
Real GM
one
Shane Battier
The Houston Rockets would like to snag one of the top free-agent power forwards, such as Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire, but it would have to do a sign-and-trade deal in order to get under the salary cap.
According to league sources, the Rockets are offering Trevor Ariza, Shane Battier, and free agent Luis Scola to other teams in hopes of getting such a deal done.
Yahoo Sports
none
