Lucas III, Butler among four players cut by Rockets

[duncan228]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

Lucas III, Butler among four players cut by Rockets

HOUSTON (AP) -- Guards Bob Sura and John Lucas III were among four players cut by the Houston Rockets on Monday, the eve of their season opener.

Forwards Jackie Butler and Justin Reed were also released as the team reduced its roster to 15 players. The Rockets begin the season against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

The 6-foot-5 Sura has been plagued by back and knee injuries almost since the day he signed with Houston in 2004. He missed the 2005-06 season after arthrscopic knee surgery. Two months later, he had surgery to fix a herniated disk in his back.

The 34-year-old Sura also sat out last season as the back injury lingered. The former Florida State star averaged 8.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 10 NBA seasons.

The 5-11 Lucas, son of former Rocket John Lucas, appeared in 60 regular-season games over the past two seasons and averaged 3.1 points. When the Rockets acquired point guards Mike James and Steve Francis in the offseason, the release of Lucas seemed inevitable.

The 6-10 Butler was acquired from San Antonio when the Rockets traded Vassilis Spanoulis and a second-round draft choice for Argentinean star Luis Scola. Butler appeared in three preseason games and averaged 2.3 points.

Houston acquired the 6-8 Reed with James from Minnesota in the trade for Juwan Howard. Reed, who's played three seasons, averaged 6 points and 1.7 rebounds in three preseason games.

[PM5K]

So it was basically Scola for a second round draft pick...

[Roxsfan]

So it was basically Scola for a second round draft pick...

cash considerations too

[PM5K]

cash considerations too

Well the cash considerations were to buy out his contract since he didn't want to play in the NBA, or so I recall, which makes him and his contract moot...