Mutombo signs 2 year deal with Rockets, his last.

[Kobe101]

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... _his_last/

ESPN - Dikembe Mutombo signed a two-year deal with the Houston Rockets on Friday and plans to retire after the 2006-07 season.

"I don't see myself playing after this contract," the 39-year-old center said.

Mutombo's return gives the team a solid backup to All-Star center Yao Ming. The 7-foot-2 Mutombo is an eight-time All-Star and four-time defensive player of the year.

"In our opinion he was the best backup in the league last year," Rockets vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey said. "He provided an immense number of wins when Yao was in foul trouble or we were struggling on the defensive end. Our locker room is a really special group of guys and Dikembe, being the elder statesman, is a leader in many of those aspects."

[Emiliano]

Im glad Mount Mutombo signed a 2-year contract. He definetly still has it even if its on defense. Great back-up for Yao since Yao gets in foul trouble like in two seconds

[Doobie]

I was expecting him to sign a shorter deal , a 1-year deal . but 2 years , good stuff . Mutumbo can still block shots at 39 years old .

[Fresh8]

Yep, Deke is aiming to retire in 07 and I assume he's hoping the rockets make the finals for 06-07... Great work by Houston. Having Deke stick around will help Yao develop and of course, the Rockets' team chemistry!

As Deke already said though, one reason he chose the Rockets was for the team chemistry which is supposedly very very team orientated.

[Kemp]

Mutombo is still a great defensive player. Never under estimate him. He can surely still block shots as long as he remains healthy.

[John WB]

Great in his role for the Rockets. Doesn't have too much pressure on him and looks good while he's in.

[Andrew]

Assuming his health holds up, seems like a sound plan. He had his moments last year, the Rockets don't need him to be the Mutombo of the 90s...two more years in the same role doesn't sound unreasonable.

[kinokong]

how old is old mount mutumbo anyways... hes supposedly 39 but hell he sure looks a hell of a lot older than that and wasn't there a rumor floating around once that he was a lot older than the reported age in his bio?

[Nel]

how old is old mount mutumbo anyways... hes supposedly 39 but hell he sure looks a hell of a lot older than that and wasn't there a rumor floating around once that he was a lot older than the reported age in his bio?

According to his congo birth certificate hes 48 i think. Good job again by Carroll Dawson.

[Amphatoast]

lol well to be 48 and still in this good shape is pretty damn good if that's his real age.

Hopefully in those 2 years Yao Ming can develop to become the best big man in the NBA. He has 2 of the great centers of the 90s helping him out in Patrick Ewing and Mutombo.

[Jona]

He was born in 1966, so that makes him 39.

[Jackal]

Yeah but there is speculation the date he has given isn't the actual one. They think he was born before that.

[Andrew]

I'm not sure about him being close to 50, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's actually just a couple of years older than he's listed as being.

[cyanide]

How old was Robert Parish when he retired? If in fact Mutombo could retire at an older age than the listed, he could hold a retirement press conference and talk about how he broke Parish's record (unless he has no chance).

[Andrew]

Parish was almost 44 when he called it quits.