Rockets keeps forward Maurice Taylor
( 2001-08-07 10:14 ) (7 )

The Houston Rockets, after losing center Hakeem Olajuwon to the Toronto Raptors, have reached agreement to keep power forward Maurice Taylor, the Houston Chronicle reported on Monday.

Citing two sources familiar with the negotiations, the newspaper said Taylor and the team had agreeed a six-year contract worth US$48 million.

The Rockets expect to sign the 6-foot-9 (2.06 metres), 260-pound (118 kg) forward officially on Tuesday or Wednesday but any delay is considered a matter of travel logistics rather than a need to iron out details, the newspaper said.

Taylor, 24, averaged 13 points and 5.5 rebounds to rank third in scoring and fourth in rebounding on the Rockets.

He was the Los Angeles Clippers' leading scorer in 1999/2000 at 17.1 points per game but left to sign a one-year contract with Houston last August.

The 14th player chosen in the 1997 draft, Taylor in four NBA seasons has averaged 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Olajuwon, the Rockets' star center for 17 years, was traded at his request last week to Toronto in exchange for future first-round and second-round draft picks.

Olajuwon, a Nigerian-born US citizen, led the Rockets to NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.