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Rockets GM Daryl Morey tried, showing up at the home of free agent Rashard Lewis at 11:01pm Saturday night, but it wasn't enough to lure the 6-foot-10 forward away.
Lewis agreed to a 5-year, $75 million pact with the Orlando Magic this week, ending quickly the hot pursuit some 20 teams were making on him.
Lewis arrived back to Houston from Orlando on Tuesday, and local Channel 2 caught him in a video interview at the airport for some questions.
"You always consider coming home and playing at home, but at the same time it is a business. I learned that on draft night," said Lewis, referring to the Rockets passing on the hometown product three times in the 1998 NBA Draft.
"I felt like my future was a lot brighter in Orlando," said Lewis. "Though it would have been nice to come home and compete for a championship here also with the nucleus and weapons that they have, but you know -- Dwight Howard is a great player just like Yao Ming so I'm going to go out there and try to get it done."
Lewis still remembers being a big Rockets fan growing up.
"Vernon Maxwell, Sam Cassell, Hakeem Olajuwon, Carl Herrera, Robert Horry ... I could go down the list," said Lewis. "I was a big fan of the Houston Rockets. I'm still a fan of basketball and the Rockets are still one the of the teams I'm a fan of regardless of the situation that happened. There's no bad blood held. I was upset at first, but I've been in the league for 9 years."
Lewis was appreciative that the Rockets made an effort to bring him back to his hometown.
"They did try and I appreciate that. I have nothing but respect for the Houston Rockets. I'm only playing for Orlando for 5 years, you never know what can happen."
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