The Rockets filled out their roster in more ways than one Monday, signing five players to non-guaranteed contracts with a marked turn toward powerfully built frontcourt players.

For all the muscle added, however, the most noticeable exception to that trend, 5-foot-10 former Rice guard Mike Wilks, might have the best chance of sticking with the team.

The Rockets also signed former Texas forward Gabe Muoneke, former Knicks and Suns forward Ben Davis, former Xavier forward Torraye Braggs, and former Oregon and San Jacinto guard Alex Scales.

Wilks played 15 games with the Hawks and 31 with the Timberwolves last season after a successful stint in the National Basketball Development League.

The only point guard signed this offseason, Wilks could be expected to replace Tito Maddox as the Rockets' third point guard behind Steve Francis and Moochie Norris. The Rockets did not pick up their contract option on Maddox, a second-round pick in 2002.

"We chose to go there for several reasons, the best being the Rockets' history keeping three (point) guards and Jeff Van Gundy's history keeping another guard," said Wilks' agent, Bill Neff. "Van Gundy likes defensive-oriented guards, so I think he'll be Jeff's kind of player. Mike really wanted to go there."

Neff said the Trail Blazers, Spurs, Bucks and Hawks had also shown interest in signing Wilks.

"We've liked him for a long time," Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said. "We saw him play at Rice. He's a guy we thought would fit. He's a pretty good athlete. He's a solid player."

Via Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets

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