Rockets guard Tracy McGrady had arthroscopic surgery to ease the discomfort in his left shoulder on Friday.

The procedure was timed so that McGrady would be able to resume workouts when his rehabilitation from microfracture knee surgery will allow.

"It is not an issue that would keep him longer than the other rehab," general manager Daryl Morey said. "They cleaned up the shoulder. It is something we talked about for awhile and they had some time now. I wouldn't say it was necessary, but in getting some opinions, it was decided it was better to do it and to hopefully be pain-free when he gets back."

Ron Artest and the Rockets want to continue their relationship, but the impending free agent will explore the market.

?You take everything into consideration,? Artest said Tuesday. ?It?s hard to get into that right now, on what I?m thinking, as far as somebody making an offer I can?t refuse.

?It?s going on 48 hours (since the loss), so I really haven?t had time to think about it. I?m just trying to stay in the gym and just improving my game for next year.?

The Rockets have about $40 million locked up in McGrady and Yao Ming alone for next season, but general manager Daryl Morey said negotiating with Artest was a high priority this offseason.

?It?s an important issue for him and us,? Morey said. ?He brought a lot to this team this year. My job isn?t Ron Artest, my job isn?t who to trade, it?s how do I make the roster, as a whole, better? He can be a big part of that. We?ll see if we can work it out.?

Daryl Morey said doctors are hopeful Tracy McGrady could be practicing by November, though he doesn't expect it. He does expect to have a better guess by early July.

?Based on what the doctors are telling us, he has a good shot to help us next year,? Morey said. ?He?s in the equation.?

Von Wafer will hit the free agent market again this summer, but he hopes to remain with the Rockets.

"I hope I'll be back," Wafer said. "I love Houston, I love this organization. They gave me a chance, so I'd love to be back."

Wafer has played on five teams in four NBA seasons.

After Sunday's season-ending loss to the Lakers, Ron Artest made it known that he wants to return to the Rockets next year.

Artest, who will become a free agent this summer, is believed to be seeking a contract greater than the $37 million over four years that Houston could have offered him in an extension.

"Yes, God willing," Artest said of a return to the Rockets. "It's not up to me."

Houston general manager Daryl Morey confirmed that the team would like to have him back as well.

"He has a desire to come back," Morey said. "We have a desire to make it work. That's step one with a lot of steps from here."

The Lakers defeated the Rockets 89-70 on Sunday afternoon in Game 7 of their semifinal series.

Pau Gasol starred with 21 points and 18 rebounds, Trevor Ariza posted 15 points and 5 boards, and Kobe Bryant added 14 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

Los Angeles shot 46% from the field, while holding Houston to just 36% at the Staples Center.

The Lakers won the rebounding battle by 22, and attempted four more foul shots in the deciding game.

Aaron Brooks scored a team-high 13 points on 4-for-13 shooting, Luis Scola tallied 11 points and 6 rebounds, and Ron Artest contributed 7 points, 8 boards and 5 assists in the loss.

The Rockets forced 19 turnovers, but were outplayed thoroughly in all other aspects against the Lakers.

They will host the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals beginning Tuesday night.

The Blazers, Celtics, Grizzles, Heat, Spurs and Timberwolves are among teams attending a draft workout held by the Rockets this weekend.

The NBA instituted a new rule recently that allows teams to attend workouts hosted by other clubs as long as the costs are shared.

The workout in Houston will include about 40 players, predominantly college seniors.

"It's marginal guys, second-round guys that may be drafted," said an NBA source about the workout. "It's a way to save money and utilize the rule that allows other teams to come."

Rockets center Yao Ming plans to take this summer off, something he has rarely done in his professional career.

The hairline fracture in his left foot that ended his postseason will be healed in seven to 11 weeks, but he still wants to take the entire summer off.

"You have some free time for yourself," Yao said. "You can do whatever you want. It is not like every morning, breakfast, at 9 o'clock, on the court, dressed out, practice. Now, it is my schedule."

The Rockets claim that all the pressure heading into Sunday's Game 7 is on the favored Lakers.

"The pressure really is getting here," Rockets coach Rick Adelman told the Los Angeles Times. "We got here. No one thought we were going to get here. But I know these guys. It's not enough. We have a chance, and now let's see what we can do about it."

The Rockets weren't expected to challenge the Lakers, especially after All-Star center Yao Ming was lost for the postseason with a foot injury.

Adelman also said that his team has forgotten the 40-point beating Los Angeles handed them in Game 5 of the series.

"I really believe Game 5 was not us," Adelman said. "It's just everything happened negative for us and we have to fight through. As you saw as we approached [Game 6], we have the ability to do that and I think that's what we have to do."

Not long ago Aaron Brooks was a spark plug off the bench for the Rockets, but now he's their starting point guard.

In mid-February, Houston traded guard Rafer Alston to Orlando, shifting Brooks into the starting lineup.

"I was content with my role," Brooks said Friday. "I was happy being a spark plug off the bench. You have a good game or a bad one and (Rafer) would come in and clean it up. There's less pressure on you.

"I was just going out and having fun."

Brooks is averaging 14.8 points in the postseason, and 26.3 points on 57.4 percent shooting in the second round against Los Angeles.

"He has certainly stepped up," coach Rick Adelman said. "He's everything we hoped he'd be."

Since trading Alston, the Rockets are 27-13.

"Aaron is talented," teammate Shane Battier said. "He knows it, but sometimes forgets it. There are times we have to tell him, 'Hey, you're our guy. We don't want anybody else. We just want you. We think you're the guy to lead us.' "