Clyde, Barkley, et el, shouldn’t be on the poll with those other players, IMO... Apples and oranges, ya dig? Like - where’s Ralph Sampson? Dwight Howard? An argument could be made that T-Mac was a short term Rocket. TLDR, I chose other: Mike James! (Carl Landry gets an honorable mention too.)
I went with Clyde (home town, championship), but Barkley was a close second. When he arrived, it seemed like he was going with the "if you can't beat them, join them" and wanted to team up with Hakeem. Unfortunately, Hakeem started to fade pretty quickly, and there were games during Barkley's tenure that it felt like he was carrying the team on his back. Barkley would say things about getting older and losing a step, but my recollection (I haven't gone back to check stats) was that he was playing hard and beasting for us. Unfortunate that he ended up with some sort of beef with Les and may have soured some of us given his on air comments, because he (imo and fading recollection), played his heart out for us. Loved having him here.
Clyde was around for like 4 seasons so I don't know how you can see he was short term. If Clyde is considered a short timer then Deke would also be considered and Horry and Cassell.
I did the same thing. Saw Sura & Artest at the top of the list, debated & voted for Sura. Then I saw Clyde & changed my vote. I don't know how I missed him originally!?!
Bobby Sura all day. Dude quickly earned the right to become one of my favorite all time Rockets. Infact, after the championship squads, that's my all time favorite Houston team.
Carl Landry was all heart, soul and teeth Walt Williams was underrated... Kyle Lowry was amazing, but I don't blame him for leaving when McHale "tried" to "coach" (aka as 2 claps, a walk up the sideline and some awkward finger motion that no one knew what it meant) Sam Mack was a gangster from the 3, and then a gangster with the law (major weed bust lol) Pig Miller was dependable and could play with a toothpick in his mouth. But, my favorite, favorite short-term Rocket (aside from Cuttino being pushed out too early) was the great Ron Artest. One season here and helped lead us out of the first round, helped get to a game 7 against a cheating Kobe-led Lakers team and made players around him better. He gave Yao the keys and supported him all the way. I wish we could have kept him....
