Getting the Band Back Together

Now that the Houston Rockets have secured their core for the foreseeable future, something strange is happening. Something foreign to Houston these last four years. The Rockets are signing established players to veteran minimum contracts. Not only that, but they’re bringing back players from previous years. The old band’s getting back together.

The past four years have seen Houston mercilessly turn players over, acquiring newer, younger talent while selling off older players to gain expiring deals. Flexibility, potential and trade value were top priority. As the Rockets shift gears into win-now mode, general manager Daryl Morey and his front office have begun to attract and accept players on veteran minimum contracts. More than that, we’re seeing players from the past coming back to Houston.

Francisco Garcia distinguished himself in his short time in Houston, leading to a very shrewd signing with the Rockets this season. Aaron Brooks was renounced for salary cap reasons, then re-signed to the minimum when logistics permitted. Now, Morey is courting Marcus Camby, who briefly played for the Rockets in the 2011-2012 season, but left a strong impression. These are all players who will play spot minutes at best (though Garcia played so well at a position of need that he may well be the 7th man), but who have distinguished themselves for various reasons.

The chance that any of these players will be mission critical is low. In the playoffs especially, starters log huge minutes and the bench is peppered in to give what relief they can. Camby and Brooks have a real chance of playing no minutes in a potential playoff campaign in 2014. Make no mistake, though, those positions matter to Houston. The regular season is a different beast, and minutes will be monitored carefully. Adept second and third string players can make the difference between a tired, injured starting lineup and a fresh, dominant one.

It’s no surprise, then, that the Rockets have been veering toward known variables. Omri Casspi is the one outsider to be signed to Houston since Dwight Howard made his choice. Casspi has the advantage of being comparatively young, which offsets his question marks. Garcia, Brooks and Camby all have previous experience with the organization, with Brooks in particular playing as the starting point guard for multiple seasons in Houston. Morey knows what he’s getting with all these players.

Don’t be surprised if more ex-Rockets come back to the fold. Houston has always been good at identifying fringe talent, and they’ve done so many times in the past. If a player was intriguing enough for the Rockets to invite to the bench in past, it’s very likely they’d be just as worthwhile now. Age, experience, and a contender discount can only add more allure to a homecoming situation. Why wouldn’t you get the old band back together?

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Total comments: 34
  • Buckko says 3 months ago

    16 here, I got Oakley though.

  • Steven says 3 months ago That's the one I missed.
  • rockets best fan says 3 months ago

    shame to say I only got 18..............funny I don't remember oakley

  • Steven says 3 months ago 19 outta 20.
  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 months ago

    Found THIS

    Seemed appropriate and was pretty quick. It's a quiz to see if you can name former rocket's players. I got 17 out of 20. GO!


    I only got 15 :(
  • thejohnnygold says 3 months ago

    Found THIS

    Seemed appropriate and was pretty quick. It's a quiz to see if you can name former rocket's players. I got 17 out of 20. GO!

  • rockets best fan says 3 months ago

    War of 1812?

    not quite that far back :lol:

  • Steven says 3 months ago


    I don't listen to today's junk............I still only listen to the classics


    War of 1812?
  • rockets best fan says 3 months ago

    I don't listen to today's junk............I still only listen to the classics

  • Buckko says 3 months ago

    I'm not old enough to have developed a man crush on the Beatles. Some of their songs are interesting to listen to, but I'd rather listen to heavier rock like Slipknot, Linkin Park, Disturbed, etc....

    Our age of alternative and post-grunge has past sadly. Now I have gotten into indie rock and country. But I hate pop, pop country, pop rock, pop rap. Music now days is all one ugly super pop genre , and all the songs sound the SAME! Creativity has died in the music world, RIP the classics.

  • Steven says 3 months ago

    I'm not old enough to have developed a man crush on the Beatles. Some of their songs are interesting to listen to, but I'd rather listen to heavier rock like Slipknot, Linkin Park, Disturbed, etc....


    Prefer his side project better, I had Hybrid Theory in the CD player of my truck for over a year straight, another band I enjoy.

    As far as the Beatles, you can stay away from their early stuff. But once Bob Dylan got them high for the first time, their music changed for the better. Sgt Pepper and the White Album are classic. Come Together, Yesterday, Strawberry Fields Forever.

    But I'm just a nerdy music lover.
  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 months ago

    The reason they aren't Rockets, is they weren't good enough.

    By using everyone else's logic, Moochie Norris and Luther Head (Rahat's favorite player) Stevie Franchise and Cat Mobley should all be brought back. I'm sure Kelvin Cato is still 7'0 as is Zan Tabek and Tree Rollins. Carl Herrea and Robert Horry and Matt Bullard might still be able to play a little 4.

    Getting the band back together only works when the band is great. And even the greatest band of all time (it is at least arguable),The Beatles never played again together after they broke up.

    Thank you and goodnight.

    I'm not old enough to have developed a man crush on the Beatles. Some of their songs are interesting to listen to, but I'd rather listen to heavier rock like Slipknot, Linkin Park, Disturbed, etc....

  • rockets best fan says 3 months ago

    The reason they aren't Rockets, is they weren't good enough.

    By using everyone else's logic, Moochie Norris and Luther Head (Rahat's favorite player) Stevie Franchise and Cat Mobley should all be brought back. I'm sure Kelvin Cato is still 7'0 as is Zan Tabek and Tree Rollins. Carl Herrea and Robert Horry and Matt Bullard might still be able to play a little 4.

    Getting the band back together only works when the band is great. And even the greatest band of all time (it is at least arguable),The Beatles never played again together after they broke up.

    Thank you and goodnight.

    agreed............well stated :P

  • Buckko says 3 months ago

    Patrick Patterson would be a good fit... Artest probably would have fit as well... Ariza at the right price... I'd probably take Landry too

    We have enough PFs so he wouldn't fit.

  • Steven says 3 months ago The reason they aren't Rockets, is they weren't good enough.

    By using everyone else's logic, Moochie Norris and Luther Head (Rahat's favorite player) Stevie Franchise and Cat Mobley should all be brought back. I'm sure Kelvin Cato is still 7'0 as is Zan Tabek and Tree Rollins. Carl Herrea and Robert Horry and Matt Bullard might still be able to play a little 4.

    Getting the band back together only works when the band is great. And even the greatest band of all time (it is at least arguable),The Beatles never played again together after they broke up.

    Thank you and goodnight.
  • 2016Champions says 3 months ago

    I don't consider Patrick Patterson a great player, he will never be an All-Star, but he's one of the best corner 3 shooters at the PF position.

  • Ostrow says 3 months ago

    Patrick Patterson would be a good fit... Artest probably would have fit as well... Ariza at the right price... I'd probably take Landry too

  • Buckko says 3 months ago

    I don't really know any past rockets that would fit into our team/roster or system right now though.

  • rockets best fan says 3 months ago

    Rockets could go after Battier after his Miami stint for 2014-15 season, a veteran with 2 rings now.

    He shot 43% from 3 last season, the highest ever in his career. It'd be nice to see him retire with a red jersey sporting #31

    my first time talking to you..........welcome to the forum :rolleyes:

    I disagree. let battier retire in Miami. we don't need him.....even for insurance against injury. I like what we have on the wings right now. as for Camby......he can be useful to us. as for scola.....I liked him here, but we are a different team now....he no longer fits

  • Steven says 3 months ago


    We should sign Slash.


    Kordell Stewart is retired.
  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 months ago

    We should sign Slash.

  • Steven says 3 months ago Scola can't be brought back to the Rockets until that contract ends. That is two more years.
  • CC. says 3 months ago

    Please do not talk about bringing back Scola. Loved him until his final year when he started flopping and whining like a Euro soccer player. I was greatly disappointed in him. I think the organization saw that too and is why we let him go.

    Well Scola was waived last season but for cap space relief, I think actually to go after Howard, but it worked out anyway as we got Harden from Oklahoma.

  • bohicks3 says 3 months ago

    Please do not talk about bringing back Scola. Loved him until his final year when he started flopping and whining like a Euro soccer player. I was greatly disappointed in him. I think the organization saw that too and is why we let him go.

  • miketheodio says 3 months ago

    they are the juwan howard positions.

  • Jeby says 3 months ago

    Morey has talked enough about how the defense and rebounding fell through without Asik that I think a Camby signing is clearly injury insurance. If you need someone to anchor a defense for ten minutes a night while Asik/Dwight is recovering from a sprained ankle, you can't do better than Camby.

  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 months ago True. He used to play good defense. He's just too slow now.
  • Ostrow says 3 months ago

    That's why Camby is the right guy, IMO

  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 months ago The trick is rebounding without being a liability on defense(Lee/Love/etc...)
  • Ostrow says 3 months ago

    I think the best thing Camby can do this year is sit next to D-Mo and be in his ear every day, teaching him how to rebound, and the finer point of that.

  • CC. says 3 months ago

    Rockets could go after Battier after his Miami stint for 2014-15 season, a veteran with 2 rings now.

    He shot 43% from 3 last season, the highest ever in his career. It'd be nice to see him retire with a red jersey sporting #31

  • redfaithful says 3 months ago

    I really like Scola for surpassing expectations and playing high level BB, but he seems like a very poor fit to the game plan of the new Rockets.

  • HairyTexan says 3 months ago

    That certainly would help a weak point although his ability to spread the floor is not great and Scola is still under contract with the Suns for two more years.

  • panterica says 3 months ago

    Scola?