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Tuesday, August 7, 2001
Taylor to get six-year, $48 million contract
SportsTicker
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HOUSTON -- After losing the greatest player in
franchise history, the Houston Rockets have apparently retained
power forward Maurice Taylor.
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The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Rockets and Taylor
have reached agreement on a six-year contract worth $48 million.
The Rockets are expected to officially announce the signing of
Taylor on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Taylor, 24, decided not to exercise a player option for next
season, making him a free agent. But after failing to lure free
agent power forward Chris Webber, who re-signed with Sacramento,
the Rockets decided to bring back Taylor.
The 6-foot-9, 260-pound Taylor signed with the Rockets last season
after playing three years with the Los Angeles Clippers and
averaged 13.0 points and 5.5 rebounds. He has career averages of
14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 248 games.
Center Hakeem Olajuwon -- one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players
-- officially ended an era last Thursday by leaving the Rockets
to join the Toronto Raptors in a sign-and-trade deal. He signed
a three-year contract worth $17 million after turning down a
three-year, $13 million offer from the Rockets.
The 14-time All-Star led the Rockets to a pair of NBA titles,
but his production has seriously diminished the past four
seasons.
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