http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4062134.html<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Having reached out thousands of miles to put some size in their backcourt with Vassilis Spanoulis from Greece earlier this week, the Rockets will be staying close to home to add a small guard to their roster.John Lucas III, who played 13 games for the team last season, likely will be signed to a three-year contract by early next week."We like him. We've had preliminary talks, and we'll just try to get together on the terms," said Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson.The 5-11 Lucas, who starred at Bellaire High School, is coming off a stellar performance in the Las Vegas Summer League, where he led the Rockets' team to a 5-0 record. He averaged 23.4 points and 7.6 assists, playing with poise and confidence."There were definitely five or six teams that offered him contracts after that," said his father, John Lucas Jr. "But John definitely has developed a closeness with the Rockets. They gave him a chance last season, and he wasn't really close then."I think he can be a solid third guard in the league, and the situation with the Rockets is a perfect fit. He can bring a dimension that they really don't have ? a young, fast guard who can come in and change the tempo and make things happen."The Rockets originally signed Lucas to a contract last December, then waived him and resigned him to a 10-day contract in January.Though Lucas played briefly in 13 games ? averaging 8.2 minutes, 2.3 points and 0.9 assists ? he was never on the court at the same time with the injury-plagued Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.Lucas struggled to make shots from the perimeter with the Rockets and worked to improve dramatically in that area."My dad told me I had the ability to play and to just go out there and perform and enjoy myself," Lucas said last week in Las Vegas. "I tried to have fun out there, but I wanted to win, too."Lucas was quite effective at running the pick-and-roll, getting all the way to the basket or kicking the ball out to rookie shooters Steve Novak and Pat Carroll or making his own jumpers."The experience of being with the Rockets for that bit of time last year helped him a lot," said the elder Lucas. "I've always told every kid that I ever coached that the game will slow down for you when you get it."Well, when John was with the Rockets in the regular season, he looked like he was trying to do everything at warp speed. In the summer league, it all slowed down. He was under control."The Rockets' staff was equally impressed."I know it's the summer league, and you factor that in," Dawson said. "But there were NBA coaches on the sidelines and a lot of those guys were trying every way in the world to guard him on the pick-and-roll. Nobody could do it."I told (head coach) Jeff (Van Gundy) that I think Luke has improved tremendously. Confidence-wise, he was supreme."Since they see Lucas as a project, the Rockets would like to use some of the money they have from their mid-level exception to get a third year onto a contract."I think that's all they're waiting on, to get that straightened out," Lucas Jr. said. "He's been offered two-year deals. And I know there are probably other teams that would fit his style more."A team like Denver runs more than the Rockets. But this is where John feels comfortable. And hey, let's face it, the kid grew up always wanting to be a Rocket."</div>
Good. I thought he deserved a spot after what he did in the summer league. He should get pretty small minutes, but he will get some time because Luther Head plays both guard spots, and Rafer Alston probably won't play full-time starter minutes.
