Rockets sign Sura, Ward

[Mikki]

Sura Ward to compete with Lue

The Houston Rockets have yet to find a starting point guard, but they'll have enough bodies to hold quite a competition in training camp to finally find a replacement for Steve Francis.

The Rockets signed Bob Sura, a shooting guard capable of playing the point, and fellow veteran Charlie Ward on Monday. The two will compete for playing time with Tyronn Lue, who was acquired from Orlando in the Francis-Tracy McGrady deal.

Sura, 31, was obtained by Atlanta in the Rasheed Wallace trade with Detroit and put up some impressive numbers. The 6-foot-4 combo guard averaged 14.7 points, 5.3 assists and 8.3 rebounds while starting 18 of 27 games for a depleted Hawks squad.

Ward, 33, began the 2003-04 season in New York and averaged 8.7 points and 4.9 assists before being included in the Stephon Marbury trade as part of Isiah Thomas' Knicks makeover. The Suns quickly waived Ward, who then signed with the Spurs.

Ward may have the inside track at the Rockets' starting job. He played under head coach Jeff Van Gundy from 1995 to 2001, helping New York reach the NBA Finals in 1999. Last season, Van Gundy brought in another former Knick, Mark Jackson, to help run the Rockets' offense, which often became bogged down under Francis.

[Riot]

now the Hawks will persue Troy Hudson hard.

[Micchy_boy]

nice move by rockets, though still hoping rockets to go down coz i hate t-mac not as a player but his personality.

another good player we missed **sigh**

[FanOfAll]

now the Hawks will persue Troy Hudson hard.

Hudson is going back now.

Sura was a good pickup. Good drive and dish guy to pass out to Jackson, Yao, Howard, Taylor, etc. Ward is over the hill but JVG knows him and he knows JVG...

[Riot]

What yo mean going back? They are having problems with the contract unless I missed something.

[Riot]

Oh hell yes, they got the contract done. Good.

[Carlos Boozer]

Bad move by Golden State...
IDIOTS!!!

[HowAreYao?]

I love this move by the Rockets.

Ward is beyond his athletic prime, obviously, but he has played for J. Van Gundy before including the trip to the Finals with the Knicks and he knows what he needs to do and what he needs not to do.

Sura is a great pickup too. He's the type of player that can fit in nicely and do his job quietly but has also shown that he can shine if given the opportunity (ie. players are out with injuries). He averaged 14.7ppg 8.3rpg and 5.3apg in 27 games after being traded to the Hawks this past season, so obviously he's got some game left in him for when his number gets called.

So, as a Rocket's fan, I will no longer lose sleep over the backcourt situation as I feel that with the committee of Ward, Lue, Gaines, Sura, J. Jackson, and McGrady at the 1/2 positions, there is a more than solid mix of talent and leadership. Not to mention Ward, Lue, Jackson are well above average from deep, with McGrady having his nights as well.

Now bring on Dikembe!!! *wags finger*

[FanOfAll]

Bad move by Golden State...
IDIOTS!!!

Golden State had so much to do with this...but if you're talking about Sura when he with the W's, well he wasn't very good then.

[Andrew]

Pretty good acquisitions by the Rockets, two good choices to compete with Lue for the starting spot. If one or both make the team, the Rockets will be pretty solid at guard. If Sura somehow manages to continue the level of play that live to his short-lived moment in the sun as Mr Triple Double, I wouldn't be surprised to see him snatch the starting job at least for a little while.

[Null17]

nice move by the Rox...they needed the guards

[Matt]

lets not forget that Sura is a pretty good defender

[hmm]

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[J@3]

Er can someone delete Riots sig? Or his account?

[Rens]

We could just get him killed it'd be easier but it's probably going to cost us... should I set up a PayPal account where NLSC members can donate money for the cause?

By the way I'm going to laugh so hard when all Rocket fans are complaining JVG is giving Ward so many minutes...

[hmm]

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[Matt]

I have a feeling that one of those 3 won't be on the team after the trade deadline

[J@3]

We could just get him killed it'd be easier but it's probably going to cost us... should I set up a PayPal account where NLSC members can donate money for the cause?

I've got to pay rent, bills etc but I'd spare everything I could

[air gordon]

imo bob sura is crap. what exactly has this guy done in his career? a journeyman playing on nothing but mediocre teams until now. if he doesn't get those triple doubles in those garbage games, he'd still be an afterthought

[Riot]

Er can someone delete Riots sig? Or his account?

Sorry about that guys, won't happen again

[J@3]

No worries

Wow this page suddenly loads alot faster.

Good signings by the Rockets, it's all about depth n stuff... I don't think Sura's as washed up as everyone thinks, he's gotta be useful in some way.

[Fresh8]

Nice work by the Rockets... Sura is a solid defender and Ward will bring leadership. But I hope JVG will start Lue! Go Lue!

[Matt]

I think ward will start. Sura isn't exactly great, but he's a useful guy off the bench. He can play either the 1 or 2 and he plays defense. I think the Rockets got what they needed.