Sergio Llull, G, 6-3, Real Madrid (second round) -- Signed for two more seasons in Europe, Llull could benefit from the time to develop.

Chase Budinger, F, 6-7, Arizona (second round) -- The Rockets love his athleticism and well-rounded offensive game. Though not a strong one-on-one player, his shooting touch and knack for playmaking could fit well playing with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.

FREE AGENT FOCUS: The Rockets have just two free agents, want both back, and both have been outspoken in saying they want to return.

Keeping Ron Artest and Von Wafer would dramatically change the team's free agent plans. Though the Rockets would still have their mid-level exception, they are expected to hold that until signing Artest and Wafer so they can use it to find replacements if necessary.

If they do not need to add a free agent at the shooting guard and small forward spots, they likely could spend a portion of their mid-level allowance on a backup center to replace the retired Dikembe Mutombo.

PLAYER NEWS:

--C Yao Ming had planned only to be in the United States for a few days, less than a week. He had originally planned to stay in Houston long enough for the fracture in his foot to heal, but then decided to go home to Shanghai and then return to Houston to be checked out before heading to his offseason home in China. When he was examined, however, the fracture had not healed, and Yao's plans changed to the search for second opinions.

--F Brian Cook, as expected, exercised his option on the last season of his contract. Cook is due $3.5 million, making that decision easy. But after failing to crack the rotation since he was acquired in the trade deadline move that sent Rafer Alston to Orlando, Cook is also hoping that going to training camp with the Rockets will allow him to fit in more easily.

--C Joey Dorsey has been working with the Rockets' assistant coaches since the end of the season, hoping to come back from a lost rookie season. Having gotten over the plantar fasciitis he battled in both feet, Dorsey had hoped to progress before summer league and then to better compete for playing time in training camp.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G Tracy McGrady, weeks away from moving his rehab from microfracture surgery to the court, also had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder to ease the discomfort he had in the shoulder the past two seasons. That procedure is not expected to keep him from offseason workouts as long as the rehab from the knee surgery.

--C Yao Ming's hairline fracture in his left foot has not healed, beginning a series of visits to doctors to consider treatment options.