The Houston Chronicle’s Richard Justice reported earlier that the Houston Rockets will pursue Denver Nuggets center Nene as their primary target once free agency season begins. I must ask whether this would be the wisest course of action. Does adding the 29-year-old make the Rockets title contenders? Most likely not. If the team is to make the postseason, they would surrender their first round draft pick to New Jersey (by way of the Terrence Williams trade.)
A quartet of Nene, Luis Scola, Kyle Lowry, and Kevin Martin–alongside a bench brigade featuring Goran Dragic, Courtney Lee, Chuck Hayes, and Patrick Patterson–would be formidable and would almost surely push the Rockets into the playoffs. If taking into consideration the team’s prowess late last season (1st in the league in offensive efficiency) after sorting out the Yao mess, one could even see them vying for home-court. When digging deeper into the numbers, Nene is far more effective than his 14 and 7 averages would indicate and would give Houston the physical inside force it has forever lacked.
But still, would that be enough? Would the effort be worthwhile? There’s no doubting that Daryl Morey could stock this roster top to bottom with quality talent over the years. Yet watching Dirk Nowitzki last June turn in one of the great performances for the ages, we should be even more convinced that great players are necessary to win championships.
Adding Nene might provide for some interesting basketball over the next few years, but it would delay the inevitable. The Rockets need to rebuild through the draft to once more become relevant. If the rumored “two and through” rule isn’t instituted, there would be no better year than 2012 in which to do it with next summer’s crop regarded as one of the deepest in recent history.
Mr. Alexander may loath the thought of constructive rebuilding, fearing the affects of such bottom-feeding at the box office. But if the Rockets continue on their path of mediocrity, the fans will stay away regardless. A band-aid move like signing Nene could bring wins and a playoff berth, but it would likely also postpone the ultimate end.
