USA - Houston trade Spanoulis to acquire Scola draft rights

HOUSTON (NBA) - The long wait for Argentina superstar Luis Scola’s arrival in the NBA may be over after the San Antonio Spurs traded the power forward’s draft rights to the Houston Rockets for Greek national team guard Vassilis Spanoulis.

Looking to shore up a weakness at power forward, the Rockets indicated they expect to sign the 6ft 8in Scola and bring him to the NBA for the forthcoming season.

"Luis is one of the top five international players not currently in the NBA," Houston general manager Daryl Morey said.

"He adds experience and toughness at a position of need on our roster and is an NBA-ready player with a very high basketball IQ. We expect him to have an immediate impact on our team."

Scola, 27, was selected by San Antonio with the 56th overall pick in the 2002 draft and wanted to join the Spurs before the 2006-07 campaign but was unable to negotiate a move which included meeting a buyout clause with Spanish giants Tau Ceramica.

The 2004 Olympic gold medal winner was arguably Argentina’s best player at the Athens Games, averaging 17.6 points and 5.0 rebounds as they beat Team USA’s NBA stars in the semi-final and then Italy in the gold medal game.

He will lead his country at the FIBA Americas Championship this year when the team attempts to qualify for the Olympics again.

Drafted 50th overall by Dallas in 2004, the 24-year-old Spanoulis had his rights shipped to Houston, where he made his NBA debut last season. The former Panathinaikos star saw limited action with the Rockets last season and has expressed his hope of returning home to Greece.

Though he has two years remaining on his contract, he is believed to have informed the Rockets he would not return to the team in 2007-08.

Spanoulis cannot sign with Euroleague champions Panathinaikos, however, unless he is let out of his current NBA contract.

Houston also acquired center Jackie Butler, who appeared in 11 games with the Spurs last season.

The 22-year-old has averaged 5.0 points and 3.0 boards in 69 career contests with the New York Knicks and Spurs.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA