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HOUSTON - Last off-season, the Houston Rockets were an afterthought, a young team with little star power. Now, after trading for James Harden just before this past season and adding Dwight Howard on Friday, Houston is suddenly primed to contend sooner than almost anybody expected. Still, Houston general manager Daryl Morey knows nabbing Howard is only the first step in a long process for his team. "We havent accomplished anything yet, but were putting something pretty cool together, I think," Morey said in an interview with Comcast SportsNet Houston. Howard is the Rockets latest superstar centre, following Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon and eight-time All-Star Yao Ming. They reached the playoffs for the first time since 2009 this season and battled back from a 3-0 deficit before being eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6. Their return to the post-season showed they have plenty of speed and long-range scoring power with Harden, Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons. Omer Asik was a solid rebounder in the playoff run and averaged 12.3 points in the series, but it was clear that the team needed a more potent scoring threat inside. The addition of Howard gives them just that, as the 6-foot-11 star has averaged more than 18 points and almost 13 rebounds in his nine-year career. His one season in Los Angeles was filled with unrest, including what many believed to be a less than positive relationship with Kobe Bryant. Bryant unfollowed Howard on Twitter on Friday night after he announced his decision to join the Rockets with a tweet. It was the end of a short tenure with the Lakers in which Howard averaged 17 points and almost 11 rebounds in the playoffs, where the injury-riddled team was swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Morey believes his team offers many benefits to the 27-year-old centre, but one thing sealed the deal. "I think Dwights in a great place in his career," Morey said in the television interview. "Hes focused on winning and we gave him the best chance to win. Its that simple." Howard cant officially sign until July 10 when next seasons salary cap has been set. The Rockets can pay him $88 million over a four-year contract — $30 million less than what Los Angeles could have given him. But in Houston, Howard saw the chance to join Harden and boost this up-and-coming team. Harden blossomed in his first year with the Rockets, going from stellar sixth man with the Thunder to Houstons top player. He averaged 25.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.8 steals, setting career highs in each category. After Howard made his decision Friday night, Harden tweeted: "Houston we have lift off!!," and posted a photo to Instagram of him and his newest teammate together. "No matter how you look at it we thought it was a pretty straightforward choice," Morey said on Comcast. "To Dwights credit he did turn down a pretty significant amount of money to come to the Rockets. It shows his mindset that hes really ready to take that next step. If you look at best players, James Harden is the best player out there that he could join." But Harden certainly isnt Houstons only weapon. The Rockets signed Lin last season to run their offence and they were also buoyed by the development of Parsons, a second-round pick in 2011. Parsons averaged 15.5 points last season and was even better in the playoffs when Lin was ailing, averaging 18.2 points against the Thunder. Morey believes the move puts the Rockets among the top teams in the Western Conference and definitely positions them to contend for a title. He pointed to the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder as the teams he sees as Houstons biggest competition next season. "We obviously have our work cut out for us," he said on Comcast. "Were going to set ourselves up to be able to compete with them. This move is obviously the most important one. 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During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula.ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- James Richardson scored 25 points and Tashombe Riley and Ed Stephens each scored 13 and South Carolina avoided an upset beating NAIA-member Vorhees 90-85 on Wednesday night.Vorhees led 45-35 at the break and led 68-50 on Denzel Fambles layup with 12:18 to play. Famble scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds in an exhibition game for Vorhees.The Bulldogs erupted to outscore Vorhees 36-16 over the next 11 minutes and took the lead for good at 86-83 on Richardsons layup. Greg Moortimer added 10 points for the Bulldogs.ddddddddddddamble was 11-for-15 shooting and Greg Henry added 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting.Vorhees outrebounded the Bulldogs 36-35 and shot 32 for 60 from the floor (53.3 percent) to 34 for 70 (48.6) for the Bulldogs.The Tigers also outperformed South Carolina State (2-5) from the free throw line shooting 13 for 19 (68.4) to 12 for 22 (54.5). ' ' '