Rockets coach McHale: 'Signing Sergio Llull would be huge'
With the Houston Rockets' roster flaws being exposed during their conference finals matchup against the Golden State Warriors, the team will be forced to go back to the drawing board in the offseason.
One of Houston's primary flaws, exposed during its conference finals matchup against the Golden State Warriors, was a gaping hole at the point guard spot. Without a true floor general - starting lead guard Patrick Beverley was out with a wrist injury - the Rockets were forced to assign ball-handling duties to 37-year-old veteran Jason Terry and the already-overextended James Harden.
On Monday, in an interview on Sports Talk 790, Rockets head coach Kevin McHale lobbied for his team to bring over Sergio Llull, a player they have been excited about for the past six years.
"We'd love to bring over Sergio Llull from Spain. Signing a Sergio Llull would be huge," McHale said.
The Spanish guard, 27, was selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 34th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. The Rockets then purchased his draft rights for approximately $2.25 million - the most expensive transaction ever for a second-round draftee.
Contract buyout scenarios and Llull's desire to remain in Spain, where he has become a Euroleague champion, prevented him from joining the Rockets in recent years. Although he seems quite content to continue his reign overseas, a reported three-year deal worth about $17 million may be enough to finally lure Llull to the Lone Star State.
ESPN's Marc Stein, citing a well-placed source, recently reported that there is a "pretty decent" chance Llull could be a Rocket next season.