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| Dikembe Mutombo, left, and Allan Houston watch
from the bench in the closing seconds of their game against the Los
Angeles Lakers Wednesday, Nov. 19 2003 at Madison Square Garden in New
York. (Agencies / File
Photo) |
Veteran center Dikembe Mutombo said he has
agreed to a trade that will send him from the Chicago Bulls to the Houston
Rockets for
three players.
"It is where I have wanted to be all along," Mutombo told the Houston
Chronicle on Monday in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he is
participating in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders-Africa outreach program. "I told them a long time
ago that it was my wish, and I'm so happy that it was granted."
Mutombo thinks playing for Houston will be a "perfect fit," playing
alongside starting center Yao Ming, the Chronicle reported in its online
edition Monday night. Mutombo told the newspaper he agreed to the deal
involving Eric Piatkowski, Adrian Griffin and Mike Wilks on Friday. He
said he had already talked to Rockets assistant coach Patrick Ewing and
others.
Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson told the Chronicle the deal
hasn't been finalized. But Dawson said Mutombo would be a good
mentor for Yao.
"One of the things that you want to do when you add a backup center is
add somebody with a real special talent who doesn't do what everybody else
does," Dawson said. "This is one of the all-time shot blockers in the
league. He's been a real professional in the locker room and on the court.
I think he'd be a great mentor type for Yao Ming. I think he will be great
for him to go against in practice every day."
Rockets spokesman Nelson Luis told The Associated Press on Monday night
the team had no comment on the report.
Mutombo, a 7-foot-2 center, has averaged 11.7 points and 11.7 rebounds
in his 13 seasons in the NBA. He was traded to the Bulls in August as part
of a deal that sent Jamal Crawford and Jerome Williams to the New York
Knicks.
"I've never had a problem, never had a question that I wanted to play
in Houston this season," Mutombo said. "It was first on my list. Any why
not?
"Look at the potential with Yao Ming and (Tracy) McGrady and Jim
Jackson. That is a very impressive start, and I think it is a team that is
ready to take off."
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-09-07 13:26