McGrady To Miss Media Day Activities

The Houston Rockets are saying All-star guard Tracy McGrady has been excused from media activities next week in Houston.

The Rockets are saying McGrady is attending the funeral of his grandfather Eddie McGrady in Auburndale, Florida.

In a release to the media Friday, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander commented, "This is obviously a difficult time for Tracy. We offer our condolences and our support to his entire family."

McGrady will join the team in Austin where the team will hold training camp this season.

Via khou.com

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Rockets, Landry Agree On Deal

The Rockets and second-round pick Carl Landry came to terms on a contract on Saturday, less than 48 hours before the Rockets are to report Monday for the start of training camp, an individual with knowledge of the talks said.

The Rockets and Landry had reached a negotiation impasse over the amount of money to be guaranteed in his minimum contract. Landry, a 6-9 forward from Purdue who was the first player selected in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft, agreed to a one-year deal, worth $427,000, with the Rockets offering an increase in the amount they would guarantee.

Via Houston Chronicle

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Yao Will Miss Start Of Training Camp

Though the Rockets have declared of this season that 'it's time,' when they gather Oct. 1 and head to Austin for training camp, center Yao Ming will need a bit more time.

Yao will miss the team's mandatory media day and first two days of practice to appear at the opening ceremonies of the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said Thursday.

Yao will be fined for missing media day and the practices, but Morey would not say the amount of the media day fine. Media day attendance is a high priority for the NBA and fines can exceed $20,000. The fines for missing practices are $2,500 for the first practice and $5,000 for subsequent practices.

"As a Global Ambassador of Special Olympics, I was requested to participate and play a role in the opening ceremony of 2007 Special Olympics World Games in my hometown of Shanghai," Yao said in a statement.

"I feel it is an obligation that I must meet. I realize that missing the first few days of camp will put me behind my teammates in learning our new coach's system, but I will work very hard to make sure that I do not hurt our team's progress as we prepare for the start of the new season."

Via Houston Chronicle

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