http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4080068.html<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Rockets finalize 3-year deal with LucasBy FRAN BLINEBURYCopyright 2006 Houston ChronicleLast season they got a brief look. This summer they've had their eyes opened.Liking what they've seen, the Rockets signed point guard John Lucas III to a three-year contract on Friday."We had him with us for a 10-day contract and then a little longer and liked what we saw in John," said Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson. "Then he played for us in the summer league and showed tremendous progress. We think he has a future in the NBA."The former Oklahoma State star, who attended Bellaire High School, averaged just over eight minutes in only 13 games with the Rockets in the 2005-06 season and struggled at times to fit in, especially with his shooting.But when Lucas joined the Rockets' entry in the Las Vegas Summer League earlier this month, he was a heady, confident player who could get ? and make ? his own shots. He also distributed the ball well, averaging 23.4 points and 7.6 assists in leading the Rockets to a 5-0 record.Following his Las Vegas stint, Lucas drew interest from at least a half-dozen NBA clubs. But his emotional ties and the focus of his interest were always in his hometown.The Rockets also went a step further than other interested clubs, who wanted to sign him to a two-year contract. They used money they had left over in their mid-year exception to give him a slightly higher salary in his first season and then made the deal for three years total."We like John and we see him as a project," said Dawson. "For that reason, we wanted to be able to keep him for a third year."</div>Awesome. I hope he can get some minutes behind Rafer. And have VSpan playing SG for a bit.
Only thing I am worried about is Sura is also returning, so him, Rasfer and John will be fighting for that PG spot.
Well, I don't think he'll get a whole lot of minutes in any case, because there's also Spanoulis as well. I think he won't be getting minutes in the excess of 10. However, I've heard that Van Gundy isn't crazy about Spanoulis. I don't know about Alston, though, although I know Sura is definitely a JVG type-of guy, so he'll probably start, as it should be, if he's at full strength. So, at best, Lucas is third string. He might get in over Alston, but I doubt it.
Yeah I don't see him getting 2nd string. I am sort of hoping for Wesley to leave, and Rafer step in at the 2 spot, with Head backing him up.Rockets really do have a great, young backcourt.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'> I am sort of hoping for Wesley to leave, and Rafer step in at the 2 spot, with Head backing him up.</div>He's already gone. Signed with the Cavs, I believe.
I dont think David Wesley and the Cavs worked a deal out yet... Damon Jones, Eric Snow, Shannon Brown, Daniel Gibson, Larry Hughes, It's not like they need him anyway.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>He's still a free agent though....Right?</div>Yeah, and I don't think we'll be looking to resign him.
