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Houston is going to be a tough team this year.
Anderson to visit the Rockets
Veteran shows interest despite limit on salary
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
A day after carving out a roster spot with a tax amnesty cut, the Rockets took a small step toward filling it with another player released in a luxury-tax deduction — versatile veteran Derek Anderson.
The Rockets showed interest in Anderson as soon as he was released Aug. 3 by the Trail Blazers but had been considered at a disadvantage when competing with the Lakers, Pistons and Timberwolves. Those teams could offer all or part of their $5 million, mid-level exceptions.
Anderson will visit the Rockets later this week, said his agent, Tony Dutt.
"We have talked a lot with the Rockets about Derek, and we are going to meet with them later this week," Dutt said. "Then we will have everybody done and can lay it all out and make a decision."
Anderson has visited the Lakers and Timberwolves and has spoken extensively with the Pistons and Heat.
The Rockets can offer only their smaller salary-cap exception worth $1.67 million.
But the Trail Blazers still must pay Anderson the $18.84 million left on his contract, possibly making Anderson more willing to accept an offer such as the Rockets', which would be worth much less than offers from other teams.
Players cut with guaranteed contracts cannot double dip. But because teams that release players can spread out the payments, salary from those players' new teams would mean more initial income.
Anderson, 31, has averaged 13.1 points on 41.1-percent shooting and 34.3-percent 3-point shooting in eight seasons with the Cavaliers, Spurs, Clippers and Blazers.
Robert Gist, the agent for free agent Latrell Sprewell, indicated in comments to the Associated Press that Sprewell could soon be choosing between the Rockets and Pistons.
Gist said two of Sprewell's former coaches, the Rockets' Jeff Van Gundy and Pistons' Flip Saunders, had contacted Sprewell, but he did not indicate whether Van Gundy spoke to Sprewell before or since the Rockets signings that have filled the roster.
"If you look at teams like Miami, Detroit and Houston, they're all one player away from reaching the NBA Finals," Gist said. "I think it speaks well of Latrell that two of his former coaches want him on their teams. Latrell is the one bargain that's out there right now."
Sprewell averaged a career-low 12.8 points last season for the Timberwolves.
Sprewell, who will be 35 when the season starts, has averaged 18.3 points on 42.5-percent shooting in 12 seasons with the Warriors, Knicks and Timberwolves.
Before last season, he turned down a three-year, $21 million contract extension offer to remain with the Timberwolves.
"The mid-level is not an insult to Latrell, but his value is higher than the mid-level," Gist said.
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Houston is going to be a tough team this year.
San Antonio is going to be a tough team this year.
yathink?
the toughest
I remember your infatuation with the Rox last season. Bumped in the First Round. Not the same as True Love.
They won the World Series last year.the toughest
I remember your infatuation with the Rox last season. Bumped in the First Round. Not the same as True Love.
the rockets won the world series? I thought the rockets got beaten in the first round by the dallas mavericks.
Opps, I thought he said Sox as in Red Sox...
because they could add a guy who plays 25 games a year??Houston is going to be a tough team this year
Makes sense.
how does houston continue to pursue big names yet we're having trouble keeping dbrown and grob
ing holt
DA has not been a force in this leauge for a while. Even when Portland was decent he was not a force. I remember everyone was saying that he was going to put portland over the top when he got traded from the spurs. I guess in hinesight that was a false statement. It will not be any different in Houston, just another roll player that does not impact the game all that much.
since when did over the hill lame asses like spree and DA become big names? they were barely big names in their primes
L-o-y-a-l-t-y.
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