Category: Houston Rockets Blog

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2008-09 Salary Cap set to $58.680 million

The  National  Basketball  Association today announced  that  the  Salary  Cap  for  the  2008-09 season will be $58.680 million.   The  new  Cap  goes  into  effect  immediately  as  the league’s “moratorium  period”  has ended and teams can begin signing free agents and making trades.

The  tax level for the 2008-09 season has been set at $71.150 million.  Any team whose team salary exceeds that figure will pay a $1 tax for each $1 by which it exceeds $71.150 million.

The  mid-level  exception  is $5.585 million for the 2008-09 season and the minimum  team  salary,  which  is  set at 75% of the Salary Cap, is $44.010 million.

For  the 2007-08 season, the Salary Cap was set at $55.630 million, the tax level was $67.865 million and the mid-level exception was $5.356 million.

Rockets want Brent Barry

The Houston Chronicle reports: The Rockets began free agent recruiting period with an 11 p.m. call to Spurs guard Brent Barry, but the team could have already hit a snag in its hopes to bring back forward Carl Landry. The Rockets called Barry as quickly as NBA rules allow in an effort to land the free agent that got away during the season when Barry was released by the Seattle SuperSonics but chose to return to the San Antonio Spurs.

InsideHoops.com says: Barry is 94 years old.

New Rockets radio play-by-play guy

The Houston Rockets announced today the naming of Craig Ackerman as the new radio play-by-play announcer for the team. Ackerman takes the reigns from legendary play-by-play man Gene Peterson, who was the “Voice of the Rockets” for 33 seasons, after the long-time duo of Peterson and Jim Foley stepped aside from the microphones at the end of the 2007-08 season following an amazing 21 years together on the Rockets Radio Network.

“Craig has been a key member of the Rockets organization for the past 14 years,” said Rockets CEO Tad Brown. “He has some big shoes to fill, but his energetic style and passion for the Rockets will carry on the great radio tradition that Gene and Jim established over their tremendous careers.”

A 14-year member of the Rockets organization, Ackerman moves into his new role after serving five seasons as the studio host and substitute play-by-play announcer for Rockets radio broadcasts. Ackerman also filled in as radio analyst for games during both the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.

Yao Ming not ready to play yet

The Houston Chronicle (Jonathan Feigen) reports: Rockets center Yao Ming moved a step closer to returning to the court with a good report from Monday’s checkup, but is a long way from being cleared to play, Yao’s agent John Huizinga said. Though there were reports out of China that Yao has been cleared and will play in the Stankovic Cup, Huizinga said that doctors have not cleared Yao for full practices and game action, and that it is premature to say whether he will play in that pre-Olympic event in Hangzhou, China, July 17-20.

Mutombo wants to play next season

The Houston Chronicle (Jonathan Feigen) reports: Dikembe Mutombo said Thursday he would instruct agent David Falk to negotiate with the Rockets on a contract for another year. Having Mutombo back for an 18th NBA season would not seem to be progress on change. It would be. Mutombo, at this stage of his career, is insurance. His return would allow the Rockets to spend their summer allowance on the perimeter, rather than on a Mutombo successor. Big men are expensive. The Rockets did not want to empty the mid-level bank account on a guy that – again, assuming the Yao-McGrady foundation to be sound – would only play 12 to 14 minutes a game at most behind Yao.

Yao Ming comments on China earthquake disaster

Houston Rockets Center Yao Ming:

“It is very hard putting into words how difficult it is to see this kind of destruction in Sichuan.  I am very saddened to hear of the large loss of life that has occurred.  My thoughts are with everyone back in my home country of China during this very dark and emotional time.  Right now, the most important thing we can do is to respond quickly to help those who cannot help themselves.  I plan to do whatever I can and would like to thank Leslie Alexander and the Houston Rockets for the support they have already pledged.  I hope that many others around the world will join us.”

Houston Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander:

“On behalf of the Houston Rockets, I want to offer my deepest sympathies to all who have been affected by the earthquake in Sichuan, China on Monday.  Over the past several years, we have formed a strong bond with our friends in China and it is very difficult to see them struggling through this tragic event.  We have already begun the process of reaching out to relief aid agencies and have pledged our financial support to assisting those who have been devastated by this catastrophic event.  I know Yao Ming is fully committed to helping the people of China recover from this horrific experience and I will help him in any way I can.”

Steve Francis picks up contract option

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that guard Steve Francis has elected to pick up the player option on the final year of his current contract. Francis, who signed his original deal with the Rockets on July 20, 2007, averaged 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 10 games (three starts) in his sixth season with Houston. He underwent successful season-ending surgery to repair a torn quadricep tendon in his right knee on Feb. 26, 2008.

May 2: Jazz 113, Rockets 91

The AP reports: The Jazz beat the Rockets 113-91 on Friday night to win the series 4-2 and avoid having to play a Game 7 on the road. The Jazz did that a year ago against the Rockets and didn’t want to push their luck again in Texas. The third quarter all but guaranteed they wouldn’t have to. Deron Williams scored 13 of his 25 points in the period, making three of four 3-pointers as the Jazz outscored the Rockets 27-11… Williams had just seven points at halftime, then took over the game in the third quarter. He was 4-for-7 from the field and pumped up his teammates as Utah pulled away on a 20-5 run. Houston had already cut a 17-point lead to four and Williams wanted the Jazz to pull away—and stay there… Houston relied almost entirely on Tracy McGrady, who couldn’t beat the Jazz by himself—even with his 40 points… Luis Scola was the only other Rockets player in double figures with 15 points. The Rockets lost point guard Rafer Alston with a sprained ankle late in the second quarter and the offense never recovered… Mehmet Okur had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Carlos Boozer added 15 points and 10 boards. Andrei Kirilenko scored 11 points and Williams added nine assists. The Jazz found their long-range shooting and made 10 of 22 3-pointers. Utah was 2-for-23 from beyond the arc in the previous two games.