Rockets deal Billy, get Scola
Update 7:10am, July 13: From San Antonio: "Spurs find home for Scola, Butler -- in Houston"
The Houston Rockets may have solved their gaping hole at the power forward spot with a trade with the San Antonio Spurs.
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has obtained the draft rights to Argentinean F Luis Scola and added F/C Jackie Butler in a trade with the San Antonio Spurs. As part of the trade, Houston sends G Vassilis Spanoulis, a second round draft pick in the 2009 draft and other considerations to San Antonio.
"Luis is one of the top five international players not currently in the NBA," said Morey. "He adds experience and toughness at a position of need on our roster and is an NBA-ready player with a very high basketball I.Q. We expect him to have an immediate impact on our team."
More info on the deal is in the Houston Chronicle; but, Scola (6-9, 245) was originally selected by the Spurs with the 56th overall selection of the 2002 NBA Draft. The Spurs retained his draft rights while he continued to play with Tau Ceramica in the Euroleague. The 27 year-old averaged 15.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists this past season for Tau Ceramica on his way to earning All-Euroleague First Team honors. His seven-year totals with Tau Ceramica include averages of 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 144 career games.
As a member of the Argentinean National Team in 2004, he averaged 17.6 points and 5.0 rebounds en route to helping the team secure the nation's first Olympic gold medal in basketball. Scola was twice (2005, 2006) named Spanish League regular season MVP.
Scola isn't a spectacular athlete; but, he's got good size. He's a skilled, physical big man. If the Rockets can sign Scola to play in the NBA for 2007 - 2008, the Rockets could be a very, very good team.
Butler (6-10, 260) was signed by the Spurs as a free agent on July 21, 2006 and saw action in 11 games last season, averaging 3.7 points and 2.0 rebounds. The 22 year-old began his NBA career with the New York Knicks where he spent two seasons and averaged 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 58 games for the Knicks. His career averages are 5.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 69 games.
Butler is a talented big man; but, he has battled weight problems. If Butler keeps his weight under control and his game continues to develop, the Rockets' days of having an undersized, but aggressive front court may be replaced with tall, skilled and aggressive big men.
On paper, this deal looks too good to be true because Spanoulis and his agent both stated V-Span's days as a Rockets player were over; so, for Morey and the Rockets to acquire a skilled big man like Scola and another big man (Butler) -- with potential -- for practically nothing is impressive.
The Houston Rockets may have solved their gaping hole at the power forward spot with a trade with the San Antonio Spurs.
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has obtained the draft rights to Argentinean F Luis Scola and added F/C Jackie Butler in a trade with the San Antonio Spurs. As part of the trade, Houston sends G Vassilis Spanoulis, a second round draft pick in the 2009 draft and other considerations to San Antonio.
"Luis is one of the top five international players not currently in the NBA," said Morey. "He adds experience and toughness at a position of need on our roster and is an NBA-ready player with a very high basketball I.Q. We expect him to have an immediate impact on our team."
More info on the deal is in the Houston Chronicle; but, Scola (6-9, 245) was originally selected by the Spurs with the 56th overall selection of the 2002 NBA Draft. The Spurs retained his draft rights while he continued to play with Tau Ceramica in the Euroleague. The 27 year-old averaged 15.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists this past season for Tau Ceramica on his way to earning All-Euroleague First Team honors. His seven-year totals with Tau Ceramica include averages of 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 144 career games.
As a member of the Argentinean National Team in 2004, he averaged 17.6 points and 5.0 rebounds en route to helping the team secure the nation's first Olympic gold medal in basketball. Scola was twice (2005, 2006) named Spanish League regular season MVP.
Scola isn't a spectacular athlete; but, he's got good size. He's a skilled, physical big man. If the Rockets can sign Scola to play in the NBA for 2007 - 2008, the Rockets could be a very, very good team.
Butler (6-10, 260) was signed by the Spurs as a free agent on July 21, 2006 and saw action in 11 games last season, averaging 3.7 points and 2.0 rebounds. The 22 year-old began his NBA career with the New York Knicks where he spent two seasons and averaged 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 58 games for the Knicks. His career averages are 5.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 69 games.
Butler is a talented big man; but, he has battled weight problems. If Butler keeps his weight under control and his game continues to develop, the Rockets' days of having an undersized, but aggressive front court may be replaced with tall, skilled and aggressive big men.
On paper, this deal looks too good to be true because Spanoulis and his agent both stated V-Span's days as a Rockets player were over; so, for Morey and the Rockets to acquire a skilled big man like Scola and another big man (Butler) -- with potential -- for practically nothing is impressive.
posted by Kris Gardner @ 10:35 PM
1 Comments:
At July 13, 2007 1:02 PM,
Anonymous said…
couple of big IFs.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home