Van Gundy Welcomes Amaechi, Jackson
http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Van_Gundy_Welcomes_Amaechi_Ja-85412-34.html
Rockets players with under four years of NBA experience reported for the second
official day of training camp Wednesday under the tutelage of Jeff Van Gundy
and staff. While the team did hold a light workout, the big news buzzing around
camp today was the acquisition of NBA journeyman Jim Jackson, who played with
the Sacramento Kings last season, and Utah Jazz forward-center John Amaechi.
Amaechi was acquired Tuesday in a deal that sent sharpshooter Glen Rice to Utah.
Trading Rice gave the Rockets cap room to sign Jackson, who many viewed as
the best free agent that was still available.
"He’s (Jackson) a pretty solid all around player," said Van Gundy. "I like
that he got with a winning situation last year. This will be the first year
in a while that he’s been on a team with a multi-year contract, so hopefully
now he won’t consider himself a mercenary or a one-year player."
The Rockets will miss the services of Rice, a classy veteran who has battled
numerous injuries over the past few years. Eric Piatkowski should now see
more game action on the perimeter with Rice out of the fold.
"He made a concerted effort to turn back the clock and get himself in
terrific shape, so wherever Glen is he’s going to have a good year," said
Van Gundy. "Glen has been probably during his time, the premier long range
shooter in the NBA, so there is no doubt losing him hurts us in that area.
But you’re not going to make a trade where you win on every front. That
trade was made more for many financial reasons, but then I thought we did
well to go out and sign Jim Jackson."
Amaechi
In Amaechi, the Rockets get a low-post presence who did not fit well into Utah
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan’s system. Amaechi was confined to the Jazz bench last
season, but the Rockets think they can rekindle his talent and get Amaechi to
be the kind of player he was with the Orlando Magic a couple of years ago.
"He hasn’t played much lately, but when he was with Orlando he gave us of
trouble because he was very mobile," said Van Gundy. "I was just saying how
he beat us (the Knicks). Shot fake – drive left by (Patrick) Ewing four
straight times. He’ll deny it. Bad help (he'll say)."
"I didn’t have any help that day," said Rockets assistant Patrick Ewing.
"Jeff brought that to my attention yesterday and of course I denied it. But
he’s (Amaechi) is a part of our team now and we want him to do very well."
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