Where Do The Rockets Go From Here?

That playoff run was swell and everything, but if you think that that Rockets are going to stand pat and take another bronze medal next year (and the year after...), then you don't know the manic machinations of GM Daryl Morey. Since Morey can't say anything about his shopping list, let's put on our amateur executive hat and see what pieces the Rockets can add this season and beyond.

This offseason, the Rockets' needs are pretty straight-forward: re-sign Ron Artest and Von Wafer, and find a center to replace Deke Mutumbo's role as Cookie Monster/Yao's backup. Artest has expressed enthusiasm about returning, and he'd be foolish not to come back to the most successful team he's ever been a part of, and where his image rehabilitation campaign took him from feared nutcase to jovial jester in the course of a single season. Wafer could find a bigger payday elsewhere as a starter, but he's also interested in returning.

A backup center isn't exactly the most glamorous position in the world, but absolutely crucial for the Rockets, given the here today/gone tomorrow nature of Yao's health. Now is where things get interesting. Several NBA teams (as a result of the economy in general or their owners' particular financial struggles) are hemorrhaging money and eager to do anything to dump payroll. The Rockets could stand to benefit from these teams' crises. Among the teams in need of a bailout are the Phoenix Suns, home of...Shaquile O'Neal.

Shaq as Yao's backup? It's a bit far fetched, but the Suns would love to rid themselves of his huge contract, even if it means picking up another large commitment like, say, Tracy McGrady. The oft-injured McGrady will be a free agent in 2010, meaning the Suns would only be on the hook for his $21 million contract for one year.

Other teams have expiring contracts that they'd be willing to move, too: among the names being thrown around are Baron Davis, Joe Johnson, Steve Nash, and Tyson Chandler. Certainly some firepower, but all would come at the cost of T-Mac (and probably some other players like Carl Landry or Aaron Brooks) and would only be under contract for a year. The question Morey must ask is whether to grab one of these players now, or wait for the free agent free-for-all in 2010, when T-Mac will probably be gone and Yao will have to be resigned.

Prediction: Rockets sign Rasheed Wallace to a one year deal to back up Yao, resign Artest, let Wafer walk, and wait for another team to make a panic move.
2009-2010 result: Southwestern Conference championship, 2 seed in the West, and a trip to the Conference Finals. We're not picking anything beyond that at the risk of jinxing the team. What do you think the Rockets should do, and what effect will it have?
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photo: flickr user eschipul