2009 HOUSTON ROCKETS ROSTER FREE

As of 2021, the 1980–81 Rockets are the last team since the 1954–55 Minneapolis Lakers to make it all the way to the NBA Finals with a losing record. They would lose in six games to the 62–20 Boston Celtics, led by Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and future Rockets head coach Kevin McHale. Led by Malone, the Rockets reached their first NBA Finals in 1981, becoming only the second team in NBA history to do so with a losing record. During the 1980–81 season, the Rockets finished the regular season with a 40–42 record but still made the playoffs. Malone went on to win the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award twice while playing with the Rockets and led Houston to the Eastern Conference Finals in his first year with the team. The Rockets did not finish a season with a winning record for almost a decade until the 1976–77 season, when they traded for All-Star center Moses Malone. In the 1968 NBA draft, the Rockets were awarded the first overall pick and selected power forward Elvin Hayes, who would lead the team to its first playoff appearance in his rookie season.

2009 HOUSTON ROCKETS ROSTER FREE

He said that the team feels like home to him and that he is hopeful to re-join the team in restricted free agency.The Rockets won only 15 games in their debut season as a franchise in 1967. Reaves says Lakers feel like homeīased on how Reaves spoke in his exit interview, he would certainly like to remain a member of the Lakers. But the Lakers can still match any offer made by another team, even if it exceeds that $50-plus million figure. Rumors state that Reaves is likely to receive more than the four-year, $50-plus million that the Lakers can offer him outright. However, they can offer him as high as a max contract in Year 3 and Year 4 of that offer. Due to Gilbert Arenas Rule restrictions, teams are unable to offer Reaves more than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception in Year 1 and Year 2. But with James Harden remaining Houston’s reported top target, Reaves is unlikely to get an immediate offer sheet.Įither way, the Rockets are limited in the amount they can offer Reaves. Reaves would be an excellent fit with the young core of the Rockets as another steady scorer and ball-handler alongside former No. They also said acquiring a veteran point guard is Houston’s primary objective, meaning even if a move for Harden didn’t materialize, names like Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Donte DiVincenzo and even former Rockets player Chris Paul could be considered should they become available. Outside of Harden, other high-ranking targets for Houston include Brook Lopez, Dillon Brooks and restricted free agents Cam Johnson and Austin Reaves, league sources said. One team - the Houston Rockets - are already being linked to Reaves, reportedly having him as a “high-ranking target,” according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic:įormer franchise player and current 76ers guard James Harden is the top target for Houston in free agency, according to league sources, representing the veteran leadership and elite point guard needed to establish structure and offensive cohesion.

2009 houston rockets roster