More from RealGM
 Houston Rockets WiretapRockets LinksNews Archive
NBA News
New Knick Norris looks forward to fresh startHOUSTON (AP) The newest New York Knick, Moochie Norris, is disappointed to be leaving Houston but thrilled to play for one of his idols, Isiah Thomas. ``Just to go up there and be around him, I'm sure he'll come down and show me some things,'' Norris said Wednesday before boarding a plane to New York. ``He's one of my favorite point guards of all time _ him and John Stockton.'' Norris, who played five seasons for the Rockets, was dealt Tuesday along with center John Amaechi, who is expected to be waived. In exchange, the Rockets received forward Clarence Weatherspoon. It's the first deal for Thomas, the former Detroit Pistons star, since he replaced the fired Scott Layden last week as Knicks president. ``I was a little disappointed about leaving Houston because it's home,'' Norris told TV station KRIV. Norris was averaging 2.7 points and 1.6 assists for Houston this season. He was a second-round pick by Milwaukee in the 1996 draft. New York Knicks, Houston Rockets Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets New York acquires Norris from HoustonNEW YORK (AP) Reserve forward Clarence Weatherspoon was traded Tuesday from the New York Knicks to the Houston Rockets for point guard Moochie Norris and center John Amaechi. It was the first trade engineered by Isiah Thomas, coming just eight days after he took over for fired Knicks team president Scott Layden. The Knicks had been in buyout talks with Weatherspoon, who is signed for two more seasons for $12.2 million. Instead, Thomas found a trading partner in need of frontcourt depth ever since suspending and then releasing forward Eddie Griffin. Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy criticized his team Monday night after a loss to Seattle, pointing out the lack of rebounding as one of the team's main flaws. ``I'm just thinking about how we can get better. Obviously, we're not good enough,'' Van Gundy said. Weatherspoon, an 11-year veteran, averaged at least five rebounds in every season before this one. He appeared in 15 games for the Knicks before being placed on the injured list shortly after Thomas was hired. He averaged 3.8 points and 3.3 rebounds. In Norris, the Knicks are adding another point guard to a roster that already includes three _ newly installed starter Frank Williams and veterans Howard Eisley and Charlie Ward. Norris was the backup to Steve Francis in Houston, where he averaged 2.7 points and 1.6 assists this season. Norris' career averages are 6.2 points and 3.5 assists for Houston, Seattle and Vancouver. ``It means added help. With the way Don (Chaney) wants to play, we want to give him the luxury of having different guys that can play a different tempo,'' Thomas said. ``As we continue to shuffle and retool our roster, at some point in time we may have an overload at one spot.'' Amaechi, acquired by the Rockets during the preseason for Glen Rice, has been on Houston's injured list all season. Although Amaechi has two more years remaining on his contract, the Knicks plan to waive him, Thomas said. The Knicks made two other roster moves, placing forward Michael Sweetney (knee tendinitis) and backup center Michael Doleac (back spasms) on the injured list. The Knicks also are considering signing forward Leon Smith of the CBA's Gary Steelheads. Smith, who was at Madison Square Garden before Tuesday night's game against Miami, was the last first-round pick of the 1999 draft straight out of high school and was waived by the Dallas Mavericks. He played briefly for Knicks assistant Lon Kruger with the Atlanta Hawks. ``We looked at him and had a chance to talk to him, and later on down the road we'll probably revisit that,'' Thomas said. New York Knicks, Houston Rockets Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Moochie becomes a KnickMSG Network in New York has announced that the Knicks have acquired guard Moochie Norris and center John Amaechi from the Houston Rockets in exchange for forward Clarence Weatherspoon. Knicks boss Isiah Thomas has been in discussions to buy out Weatherspoon since taking over from Scott Layden last week. More information as it comes to hand New York Knicks, Houston Rockets Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Rockets Dec 2003 Archive
|
