Rockets give tryout to ex-Bull Williams

[Kori Ellis]

Rockets give tryout to ex-Bull Williams
Player of year at Duke continues comeback attempt
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3354720


Free-agent guard Jay Williams, the second pick of the 2002 NBA Draft whose career was derailed by a motorcycle accident, worked out for the Rockets on Wednesday, though no contract offer was made or is immediately expected.

Williams, 24, has been working his way back toward the NBA since the 2003 accident that tore three of the primary ligaments in his left knee and fractured his pelvis.

He has been working out for several teams, including the Heat and Raptors, to demonstrate his progress after six surgeries.

Williams, the 2002 college player of the year for Duke, averaged 9.5 points and 4.7 assists as a Bulls rookie.

The Rockets, already over the luxury-tax threshold, have 16 players under contract, including eight guards, potentially limiting their immediate interest in making another roster addition.

Meanwhile, it was announced Wednesday that the Rockets once again will broadcast all 82 regular-season games in 2005-06. That includes 57 games on FSN Houston, which also has three exhibitions.

This will be the second year of the Rockets' long-term broadcast deal with FSN that moved the bulk of the team's games to cable.

Fourteen regular-season games and five exhibition games will air on KNWS (Channel 51). Seven games will air on TNT and five on ABC, locally on KTRK (Channel 13).

The Chronicle's David Barron contributed to this report.

[Solid D]

Lonny Baxter was the latest signee to bring the total to 16 for the Rockets. They will be formidible.

Their biggest problem will be JVG's ability to focus his team in the playoffs with a McGrady-led team. That is two seasons (and two teams) in a row where McGrady's team has had a 2 game lead in a series and lost. It's not so much an indictment of McGrady, but the enigma of an over-reliance on a superstar and loss of balance and rhythm that comes with that. After going up 2-0 on the road, McGrady averaged 25 shots/game in the last 5 games of that series loss to Dallas.

[Jimcs50]

This could be a steal.

[coopdogg3]

Yeah, I wish him well. Never want to see a promising career end like that. Hope he has a good, productive career.

coopdogg3

[Brutalis]

I really don't think he will be a factor. He didn't look that great to me before the injury and especially doesnt now.

I think he was just another one of those college stars that couldnt do the same for the next level.