Editing Houston Rockets (section)

====1995–2002: Post-championship and rebuilding====
During the off-season, the Rockets went for a change of visual identity, making navy blue and silver the new primary colors while adopting a new cartoon-inspired logo and pinstriped jerseys.<ref name="Barron, David">{{cite news|title=Out with the old, In with the new|author=Barron, David|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=June 29, 1995}}</ref> The Rockets won 48 games in the [[1995–96 NBA season|1995–96 season]],<ref name="96year">{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1996.html |title=1995–96 Houston Rockets Roster and Statistics |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=February 22, 2009}}</ref> in which Olajuwon became the NBA's all-time leader in [[Block (basketball)|blocked shots]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/history.html#21 |title=Rockets History&nbsp;– 1995–96: Bid For Three Swept Away |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229020548/http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/history.html |archive-date=December 29, 2007 |work=NBA.com |access-date=February 22, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[1996 NBA playoffs|playoffs]] had the Rockets beating the Lakers before a sweep by the SuperSonics.<ref name="96year" />

Before the start of the succeeding season, the Rockets sent four players to Phoenix in exchange for [[Charles Barkley]].<ref>{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012171057/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1996_1360369|archive-date=October 12, 2012|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1996_1360369 |title=Rockets finally get Barkley |last=Sefko |first=Eddie |date=August 19, 1996 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 22, 2009}}</ref> The resulting "Big Three" of Olajuwon, Drexler, and Barkley had a strong debut season with a 57–25 record,<ref name="97year">{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1997.html |title=1996–97 Houston Rockets Roster and Statistics |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=February 22, 2009}}</ref> going all the way to the Western Conference finals before losing to the Utah Jazz 4–2 on a dramatic last-second shot by [[John Stockton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/history.html#23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229020548/http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/history.html |archive-date=December 29, 2007 |title=Rockets History&nbsp;– 1996–97: Barkley Rockets Fly High |work=NBA.com |access-date=February 22, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[1997–98 NBA season|following season]] was marked by injuries, and Houston finished 41–41 and the 8th seed, leading to another elimination by the top-seeded Jazz.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/history.html#23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229020548/http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/history.html |archive-date=December 29, 2007 |title=Rockets History&nbsp;– 1997–98: High on Heart |work=NBA.com |access-date=February 22, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Drexler retired after the season,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1998_3041724 |title=Drexler plans to glide to UH as head coach |last=Wizig |first=Jerry |author2=Murphy, Michael |author3=Solomon, Jerome |date=March 18, 1998 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012171149/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1998_3041724 |archive-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> and the Rockets traded to bring in [[Scottie Pippen]] to take his place.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3111941 |title=Rockets work deal for Pippen |last=Feigen |first=Jonathan |author2=Murphy, Michael |date=January 19, 1999 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012171154/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3111941 |archive-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> In the lockout-shortened [[1998–99 NBA season|1998–99 season]], the Rockets lost to the Lakers in the first round of the [[1999 NBA playoffs|playoffs]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1999.html |title=1998–99 Houston Rockets Roster and Statistics |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=February 22, 2009}}</ref> After the [[1999 NBA draft|1999 draft]], the Rockets traded for the second overall pick [[Steve Francis]] from the [[Vancouver Grizzlies]], in exchange for four players and a first-round draft pick.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3160938 |title=Rockets complete Francis deal |last=Feigen |first=Jonathan |date=August 28, 1999 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012171208/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3160938 |archive-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> However, after Houston traded a discontented Pippen to Portland,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3168650|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012171213/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3168650|archive-date=October 12, 2012 |title=Rockets unload Pippen to Blazers |last=Feigen |first=Jonathan |author2=Murphy, Michael |date=October 2, 1999 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 22, 2009}}</ref> and Barkley suffered a career-ending injury,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3182568 |title=Torn tendon ends Sir Charles' career|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629170658/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1999_3182568|archive-date=June 29, 2011 |last=Feigen |first=Jonathan |date=December 9, 1999 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 22, 2009}}</ref> the rebuilt Rockets went 34–48 and missed the playoffs,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2000.html |title=1999–00 Houston Rockets Roster and Statistics |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=February 22, 2009}}</ref> for only the second time in 15 years.<ref name="houstonindex" /> Francis was named  Co-Rookie of the Year.

In the [[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01 season]], the Rockets worked their way to a 45–37 record. However, in a competitive Western Conference where seven teams won 50 games, this left the Rockets two games out of the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2001.html |title=2000–01 Houston Rockets Roster and Statistics |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=February 23, 2009}}</ref> In the following off-season, a 38-year-old Olajuwon requested a trade, and, despite stating their desire to keep him, the Rockets reached a [[sign-and-trade]] agreement, sending him to the [[Toronto Raptors]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2001_3324010 |title=Rockets collect themselves after hard blow |last=Feigen |first=Jonathan |date=August 3, 2001 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012171224/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2001_3324010 |archive-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> The ensuing [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02 season]]—the first without Hakeem in two decades—was unremarkable, and the Rockets finished with only 28 wins led by first time All-Star Francis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2002.html |title=2001–02 Houston Rockets Roster and Statistics |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=February 23, 2009}}</ref>