Rockets' GM Shows Up on Marcin Gortat's Doorstep

Morey chases Gortat as free agency begins

By CHRIS DUNCAN, AP
Wed Jul 1, 10:57 AM EDT

Daryl Morey is using the personal touch to lure free-agent Orlando center Marcin Gortat.

The Houston Rockets general manager showed up at Gortat's home in Orlando just after midnight (Eastern time) Wednesday, virtually the minute teams were officially allowed to begin negotiating with free agents. Morey even announced the meeting on his Facebook page and urged fans to leave notes for Gortat at an e-mail address - rocketsfanslovegortat(at)gmail.com.

All the love for Gortat is driven by the uncertainty surrounding Rockets center Yao Ming. A team doctor said Monday that the hairline fracture in Yao's left foot could potentially threaten his career.

The team said last week that Yao was out indefinitely and was seeking other medical opinions to plot a new course of treatment. Morey said Monday he would not comment further on Yao's status "until we get all the facts.''

The 6-foot-11 Gortat averaged 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds backing up Dwight Howard last season as the Magic reached the NBA finals. He's a restricted free agent, meaning the Magic can match any offer from another team to keep the player.

Morey said before the severity of Yao's injury was known that the Rockets were looking for a reserve center. Dikembe Mutombo, who backed up Yao over the last five seasons, is retiring.

Another offseason priority for the Rockets is re-signing Ron Artest, who is an unrestricted free agent after earning more than $7 million in a productive first season with Houston.

Artest's agent, David Bauman, would not say Wednesday whether the Rockets had contacted him.

"Right now, we're 11 hours into the process,'' Bauman said. "We're just going to take our time and feel each other out.''

Artest said after last season that he wanted to return to the Rockets. But that was when he believed they were a contender in the Western Conference and before the team announced that Yao's broken foot had not healed and he was out indefinitely.

Bauman would not say how much Yao's injury might impact Artest's decision.

"I just think that's something everyone will have to look at,'' Bauman said. "But at this point, I'm not ready to comment on any of that stuff.''

The Rockets said Morey was expected to return to Houston later Wednesday.

The Associated Press