Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has begun scouting potential venues for a new Rockets training facility, but though just starting the process, is as determined to build the Rockets' a new practice home as he was to purchase the team in the first place.

"We're in the preliminary stage, but we're starting to look at different areas where this can work," Fertitta said on Wednesday. "We're looking for sites. We're looking at maybe going out, maybe south around the Clear Lake area, or Sugar Land or Katy or downtown."

Fertitta said he was in the preliminary stages of looking into options and does not have a timetable for construction of a facility or a move to the Rockets training facilities. But he said he considers it a priority to have a facility with multiple courts, rather than the one practice court the Rockets have used since moving into Toyota Center in 2003.

"We do not have a proper training facility with what you need today to be competitive," Fertitta said. "We only have a one-court practice facility. When there's a concert or another event going on, they can't use the other (arena) court. So, you're down to this one tight court that you can't even stand next to the wall. It's bad.

"I've already been to other facilities and have seen they have better facilities. Just as over the years we'll start putting Toyota Center through a metamorphosis, we also need the facilities for our players and coaches that are as good as anybody else's in the league. It's no different from any other operation that I have. It's always going to be top tier."

In recent years, teams in Washington, Indianapolis, Brooklyn, Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Dallas and Boston have either opened new facilities or have begun planning or construction of new practice venues. Chicago, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Cleveland opened new facilities in prior seasons.

The Hawks, Pacers, Wizards and Mavericks all had used in-arena practice courts similar to the facility on the ground level on Toyota Center, limiting each, as with the Rockets, to just one practice court, rather than the two or three courts typical in the stand-alone facilities.

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The Rockets upgraded their training, weight, video, locker and family rooms in 2013. Space limitations, however, prevented any renovations to the practice court.

"We're always trying to be at the forefront of the NBA as far as practice facilities," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. "We're in the very early days of this, but rest assured if Tilman does something, it will be at the top of the league and A-1. We have the best in arena facilities in the NBA, but in the arena, there's only room for one practice court."

Though Fertitta said the priority is on the facilities, the project would also be valuable over the years in recruiting of players.

"I think it's important," he said. "It's all still a reflection on the team and players and ownership. You always want people to see this isn't a hobby. This is a business. We're going to give you the best facilities for any free agent to see."

Though few decisions have been made, Fertitta said he was certain anything he builds would be a part of a larger project, as with many of the new facilities around the country.

"I have no desire just to build a practice facility," Fertitta said. "We would turn it into 100 percent some type of entertainment facility built around the practice and training facility. It will be an entertainment venue. The practice facility will be part of it. We will look at what's the best place for us to put it so it's convenient for our coaches and players and financially."