<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA ? It has taken nearly four months to get the agony of the Game 7 playoff loss to Utah out of his head. But Dikembe Mutombo is ready to look forward to one final NBA season with the Rockets. "I will probably sign," Mutombo said Wednesday night at a reception for Basketball Without Borders, the NBA outreach program that is in its fifth year of assembling the top 100 African prospects. "I just need one more phone call. (Rockets owner) Les (Alexander) and I need to squeeze out one or two more things." The Rockets made the 41-year-old Mutombo a veteran's minimum offer of $1.2 million in July and likely have upped that to $1.9 million, the most they would have available under the NBA salary cap. "I will probably play one more year," Mutombo said. "Not half or part of a year. If I sign, I will be there on Oct. 1. "They can only offer me a little contract, pay me only so much at this point. I know the Rockets are in that position. My mistake is that I didn't get into a position to sign a contract earlier in the summer. I let myself get pushed to the back, and that's what makes me a little mad. "But I understand. They must look at the overall franchise and the future and where they are going and do what is best for them in the future. I'm just an old guy looking to play one more year." The 7-2 center was productive last season, his 16th NBA campaign. Mutombo started 33 games during the stretch when Yao Ming was sidelined with a broken leg and finished the season averaging 3.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.01 blocked shots. New Rockets coach Rick Adelman wants the security of a veteran defensive force behind Yao for a potential playoff run. "Physically, I am fine," Mutombo said. "I can come back and play again. No doubt about that. Mentally, that's where I needed to heal. I was upset. I was frustrated at the end of the season. I was angry about the final game and the way it came out.</div> Source: Houston Chronicle
Good news! We really needed a good backup behind Yao at the C position who could play tough defense. Even though he doesnt have the offense, his defense makes up for it. Mutombo will be real useful when Yao's on the bench. Good signing!
<div class="quote_poster">Umair Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Good news! We really needed a good backup behind Yao at the C position who could play tough defense. Even though he doesnt have the offense, his defense makes up for it. Mutombo will be real useful when Yao's on the bench. Good signing!</div> Good point, with Bonzi, James most likely joining him off the bench as the second unit his job is to clog up the lane, block shots and rebound. We have more then a few guys who can put the ball in the hole.
Good, now we're done adding to the essential roster. I still see some guys being moved but I doubt it would be for any major players. Way to cap off the excellent summer.
The Rockets have really pulled it together here in the off-season and managing to keep Dikembe, a defensive paint presence off the bench has to be a big deal for the team. They'll have a liable veteran returning to support Yao when he gets into foul trouble and he does a better job than Yao on the defensive end.
If he wanted to win a championship he should have gone to Boston. But anyways great signing by the Houston they need back up for Yao you never know if he could suffer an injury.
<div class="quote_poster">Dark Hero Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If he wanted to win a championship he should have gone to Boston. But anyways great signing by the Houston they need back up for Yao you never know if he could suffer an injury.</div> I don't think Boston can beat any of the western conference teams.
WOHOO! Great off-season for us. We are still not ready for a championship though. I sense something big coming before the trade deadline. Like Rasheed when he went to Detroit. What can we pull off?
