Rockets pick Gay, reportedly trade him to Grizzlies for Battier

Updated: June 29, 2006, 12:46 AM ET
Associated Press

HOUSTON -- Rudy Gay shook NBA commissioner David Stern's hand and donned a red Houston Rockets cap at the NBA draft on Wednesday night.

Then, he heard reports that he might not ever play for the team that picked him.

The Rockets took the former Connecticut star with the No. 8 pick, then reportedly agreed to trade him to Memphis for Shane Battier.

Neither team would confirm the deal, which ESPN reported on Wednesday night. Even if the teams had reached an agreement, it likely can't be finalized until next season's salary cap figure is determined. That is expected to happen some time in early July.

More than an hour after the report of the trade, Gay said he still hadn't been contacted by the Rockets or Grizzlies.

"I haven't heard anything," he said. "Basically, I've been kept out of the loop."

Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said a league rule prevented him from discussing any trade.

"I can only talk about our pick. Any rumors, I'm not going to talk about," Dawson said. "The only thing I can talk about is Rudy Gay."

Grizzlies GM Jerry West hinted that team had made a deal, but avoided specifics.

"We're not free to discuss that at this point in time," West said. "We had a really good night. We've had a pretty exciting night, to be honest with you."

Gay is jumping to the NBA after just two seasons at UConn. He was the Huskies' leading scorer last year and is a capable rebounder and shot blocker.

But Gay is only 19, and Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said his youth was a liability in the Rockets' eyes.

"There's a learning curve in this business," Dawson said. "He's going to be a very good player, but it's going to take a little bit of time."

Gay said he was excited just to get drafted.

"I'm kind of on my heels, not knowing," he said. "But then again, it's a good feeling just to be here. I wouldn't trade this feeling for the world."

Battier, a former Duke star, has played five NBA seasons, all with the Grizzlies. He's averaged 10.5 points and five rebounds in his career.

Dawson would not comment directly on acquiring Battier, but acknowledged that the Rockets made moves that improved last year's team, which finished 34-48.

"We're on our way," Dawson said. "We're not there yet, but we're doing some things. This is just a start but, yeah, we're really happy."

The Rockets took sharp-shooting Steve Novak with the No. 2 pick of the second round, hoping to boost one of the league's worst offenses.

Houston was the league's second-lowest scoring team in 2005-06 and ranked last in field goals made. They shot 43 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3-point range, which both ranked near the bottom of the league rankings.

Novak, a 6-foot-10 star from Marquette, sank a school record 354 3-pointers and shot 93 percent from the free-throw line in his four-year college career.

"One of my greatest strengths is shooting the ball," Novak said. "There's no question that's what they had in mind. I will definitely be able to help them out in that way."

Novak impressed the Rockets in a recent workout.

"He blew us away with how well he shot the ball," Dawson said. "He has a really special talent."

Dawson said this week the Rockets' biggest need was a shooting guard. He admitted the Rockets, like many teams, coveted Washington star Brandon Roy, who was among nearly 50 players who came to Houston for a workout. Minnesota snatched him with the No. 6 pick, then reportedly traded him to Portland for No. 7 pick Randy Foye.

Dawson said the Rockets tried unsuccessfully to improve their draft position.

"We put a lot of effort into that," Dawson said. "We did everything we could."


Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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