Just a day after PG Kyle Lowry signed an offer sheet from the Cleveland Cavaliers valued at 4 years and $24 mil, Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey announced via Twitter that the Rockets would match the offer sheet and retain Lowry.
Lowry is a physical, defensive PG with the ability to get to the hole. He will serve as the backup to starting PG Aaron Brooks and will provide a nice change of pace for the Rockets at the PG position. Having averaged 9 pts and 4 ast per game last season, Lowry gives Houston insurance in case Brooks gets injured and provides them with the occasional big game off the bench (he had 9 games with over 15 points and 8 games with over 8 assists last season).
With Yao Ming returning from injury and SG Kevin Martin getting a full training camp with the team, Coach Rick Adelman should have the Rockets prepared to make a run deep into the post-season. GM Daryl Morey has done a good job of surrounding Yao with shooters -- Brooks, Martin, Trevor Ariza, Chase Budinger, and Shane Battier. Morey has also obtained gritty, dirty work players to complement Yao Ming because let's face it, Yao is soft.
In the trade department, the Rockets have a number of interesting pieces. Jordan Hill and Patrick Patterson are young, athletic big men who could interest some teams. They also have the expiring contracts of Shane Battier ($7,429,500) and Jared Jeffries ($6,883,800) to dangle in front of potential trade partners. If Yao and Kevin Martin can manage to stay healthy, the Rockets may be able to challenge the Lakers for the WC throne.
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