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Saturday July 19, 2008 3:17 PM

Maarty's Mission


Second round pick earning raves for strong play

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff WriterLas Vegas - When the Houston Rockets selected Maarty Leunen with the 54th pick in this year’s draft, the team’s plan for the Oregon forward seemed simple enough: Give him some playing time during summer league, then send him to Europe for additional seasoning overseas.

But you know what they say about the best laid-plans. Since arriving in Las Vegas, Leunen has made one play after another, while doing all the little things which have warmed the hearts of basketball coaches dating back to the days of Dr. Naismith. He’s hit big shots, battled for loose balls, and shown a knack for the game not typically associated with a kid who was raised on an Oregon dairy farm. As a result, the Rockets’ seemingly straightforward draft day plan isn’t looking quite so simple anymore. But while this development may come as a mild shock to those who had never heard of Leunen before he joined the team, the principals involved don’t appear to find it the least bit amazing.

“I don’t think he’s surprised us at all,” says Dean Cooper, the Rockets’ Vice President of Player Personnel. “I think we did a lot of work on him to be quite honest with you. We were shocked that he made it to pick 54. He’s just a good player. For four years at Oregon, he was a very solid player. He’s got a high basketball IQ, and is an intelligent kid who can play inside and out, and that’s the way the league is going – with the fours especially. So he certainly fits that mold.”

Speaking of fit, Leunen attributes much if his early success to the fact that his skill set meshes quite well with the Rockets’ style of play.

“I feel like I’ve got a good grasp of the system,” says Leunen. “And I love the system just because I’m more of a pick-and-pop type of player. My game’s not too special. I just hit open jump shots, make the hustle plays, get a few rebounds here and there, and that’s what I’ve been doing my whole life.”

Leunen’s transition has also been made easier due to his reunion with former Oregon teammate Aaron Brooks.

“A lot of things are just kind of like déjà vu all over again,” Leunen says. “Like when he [Brooks] drives and kicks, or when he goes backdoor and I find him. It’s kinda cool just to re-live that chemistry that we had at Oregon.”

Still, despite Leunen’s strong play, the 22 year old from Redmond faces long odds to make the Rockets’ regular season roster.

“With him, it’s just a situation of where is he at, and how can he fit,” says Cooper. “Can he fit now? Because we have Luis [Scola], Chuck [Hayes], and hopefully we’ll retain Carl [Landry] and Steve Novak, too. I know that’s a lot of guys at that position, so we might not be able to get him right now, but we’ve had other guys who have been in that position – Chuck Hayes and Mike Harris – who we weren’t able to keep right away, but we eventually brought them back.

“A lot of it’s going to depend on how free agency plays out. If you’re asking if he’s an NBA player, can he play in the NBA, I’d say, boy, no question. It’s just can he do it right now given our roster situation. Like I said, much the same as Chuck and Mike, as much we wanted to have those guys on our roster to start the year, it didn’t happen. There’s always a possibility. And it’s actually a little bit easier because he’s our property, whereas Chuck and Mike were free agents. Either way, he’s going to end up in a good place, whether it’s with the Rockets or in a European situation at a high level.”

For his part, Leunen just holds firm and stays true to the mantra of summer leaguers everywhere.

“My goal is to play in the NBA, so I know that every opportunity I get to showcase my talent and what I bring to the table, I’ve got to take full advantage of it. And whatever happens, it’s kind of in their hands. And it’s in my hands to do what I can do and play well, and make the decision difficult for them.”

Mission accomplished.