Taylor

HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets forward Maurice Taylor underwent successful surgery on his right Achilles tendon Wednesday and likely will be lost for the season.

Taylor, who recently signed a six-year, $48 million contract, injured the tendon during a pickup game in Detroit on Monday and returned to Houston for the surgery, performed by team physician Dr. Walter Lowe.

Although Taylor expects to return earlier, general manager Carroll Dawson thinks it will be the 2002-2003 season before Taylor makes his next appearance on the court.

"The operation went as well as it could," Dawson said. "Players always think they can come back sooner. That's what makes them great. They are so competitive. He'll work as hard as he can but I don't expect him back this year."

Taylor's injury came during a period of transition for the Rockets. They traded future Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon to the Toronto Raptors and signed free agent Glen Rice, who is recovering from a foot injury.

The 6-foot-9, 260-pound Taylor averaged 13 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Rockets last season. He had been expected to help the Rockets next season in rebounding and shooting.

Taylor was a first-round pick out of Michigan in 1997 and spent his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 14.8 points and 5.2 rebounds.

Kenny Thomas is a likely candidate to step into Taylor's starting spot.

"Kenny has been a very solid player for us," Dawson said. "He's in the best shape of his life and he's going to help us."

Vacationing coach Rudy Tomjanovich took the news as hard as Dawson.

"I got mostly silence from Rudy when I told him on the phone," Dawson said. "He felt for Mo too because he's worked so hard and was so tuned into this year."

Dawson said Rice's foot injury was healing and he's expected to begin rehabilitation work soon.