Anderson Blazes Trail To Houston

Apparently the Houston Rockets felt that one former member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) was not enough. On Tuesday, August 23, Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson announced that the team has signed former University of Kentucky grad Derek Anderson to a multi-year contract, not even a month after signing former Louisiana State University standout Stromile Swift in the Rockets' initial offseason coup. In an offseason that has seen significant additions to an already-contending team, Houston bolstered their backcourt by adding the experienced and versatile Anderson. After being released by Portland on August 3rd, Anderson was one of the more sought-after free agents as teams were standing in line to acquire the services of a young man who is athletic, can shoot, as well as defend.

"We think we've added another top-line piece to the puzzle, and a great talent," Rockets General Manager Carroll Dawson said. "We feel very fortunate to have, not only his shooting ability, but we think he's a very underrated passer and it's good to have some length. We're very fortunate to get a guy like this. I feel very blessed. I think he's going to like Houston. I think he's going to like this team. I think that everybody who likes basketball is going to appreciate him because he's got a lot of things that he brings to the table."

An eight-year NBA veteran, Anderson has spent time with Cleveland, the LA Clippers, San Antonio, and Portland. Despite being in the middle of a rebuilding year for Portland last season, the 6'5", 195-pound guard posted 9.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. Anderson also shot 38.4% from 3-point range (58-151), his best percentage from downtown in the past four years. Courted heavily this offseason after being Portland's designated choice for the NBA's amnesty clause, Anderson narrowed his choices to Los Angeles (Lakers) and Houston last week, citing that minutes and opportunity were priorities over money.

"I just know that this is the type of place you can do that at (win championships)," Anderson said. "They've (Houston) won championships, they know what it takes, and that starts from the organization. When they went out and got Stromile, I was like, 'Whoa, they're serious'. When you've got the type of talent that they already have, why wouldn't I fit in this situation? Some of the other guards are veterans as well, but they're a little older than me so maybe I'll have the opportunity to step right in and play. With me in my eighth year, I still got at least five or six good years to play, and to play well. This is a great opportunity for me to just refresh my career. I'm just ready to play."

The 13th selection of the first round of the 1997 NBA draft, Anderson possesses an effective all-around game, and thrives best when he is slashing and penetrating to the basket. He's been known for his high-flying dunks and ability to score and create easy baskets. To complement that, he also has an adequate jump shot that forces teams to guard him for both the drive and the shot. A valuable contributor to the Wildcats' 1996 collegiate National Championship team, Anderson has posted career averages of 13.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game as a professional. More significantly, he adds athleticism and height to the Rockets' backcourt, and figures to be another key element for the Rockets' transition offense. Anderson is adept at playing both backcourt spots. The Rockets figure that his ball handling skills will be a welcome piece to a puzzle that is looking more and more complete with each passing day.

" He (Anderson) can play the 1, 2, or 3. He's a versatile player," Dawson said. "You can find a place for a guy like that. He can rebound, he's 6'5", he's long. He's a perfect fit for us, and when he's as versatile as he is, you can find a place on the court for him. He's just a good all-around player."

With the acquisition of Anderson, the Rockets have built a solid nucleus of veteran and young talent. Their recent dealings have not been lost upon the mind set of the rest of the league. Players around the league are starting to take notice of the Rockets' commitment to winning and putting forth the best possible product that will lead them towards their goal of winning the NBA championship.

"They were all just like, 'wow, you guys are really loading up now'," Anderson said when explaining the reactions of other players around the league once they found out the news. "And it's not loading to the point where everybody has to dominate the ball or take control over anything. You look at it, and you say, well if we get a talented enough team and if everybody stays together, and you have veterans with a mixture of young guys, you got the opportunity to play (and compete). Guys around the league are like, 'yall got a good team, you just gotta put it together'."

Besides becoming an integral part of the Rockets on the court, Anderson also intends on becoming just as involved with the community. There is no greater pleasure for "DA", as he popularly referred to in the basketball world, than to help people and have the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life.

" Forget basketball, I do things that affects people's lives," Anderson said. "That means mentally, physically, financially, and most of all, spiritually. I think that's what we have to do now as a people, and not just athletes, is to bring our community back spiritually, and just have fun with our lives. This (basketball) is only a short part of it, and to be real about what you got to do is to be loyal to it, and I am."

In the end, what ultimately won over Anderson was the Rockets' loyalty and professionalism. Anderson is a player who prides himself on loyalty, and when the Rockets displayed that same aggressiveness to pursue him twice within seven months (once before the All-Star break in a deal that failed to go through, and now in August), he paid that same respect and loyalty back by signing for less money to play as a Rocket.

"Well that (loyalty) is what I believe in. That's my whole life and I predicate everything on, is the loyalty," Anderson said. "These guys came and tried to get me at the All-Star break (of the 2004-05 season). You obviously know they want you for your talent and not for anything else. It would be different if you were trying to get me because you knew there wasn't a lot of money (involved). These guys tried to get me when I did have a big contract in hand, and were willing to take that chance and get me. I took that, and took everything into consideration from top to bottom and how loyal they were, and that's why I came."