2012 December | Hoops Rumors

Poll: Should The Rockets Waive Royce White?

December 30th, 2012 at 10:01pm CST by Michael Pina

Earlier today it was reported that Rockets rookie forward Royce White would decline his D-league assignment. In other news that's possibly related, the Rockets signed free agent forward James Anderson to a non-guaranteed three-year contract.

According to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen, White's contract is worth $1.6MM this season and $1.8MM next season, with both seasons guaranteed. If the Rockets cut him without showing cause, White would have to be paid the balance of the guaranteed two seasons of his contract. But they could try to show he had not fulfilled his contract.

Should they keep him around? Or is this situation too far gone?

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Hoops Rumors Polls

Royce White Not Accepting D-League Assignment

December 30th, 2012 at 9:29pm CST by Luke Adams

9:29pm: According to a tweet from Yahoo! NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets have no intention of releasing White.

2:19pm: Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld tweets that if the Rockets wanted to part ways with White, their best option would be simply to cut him and eat his salary. He notes that White has a considerable amount of leverage in any prospective buyout negotiation.

12:58pm: Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle has posted White's full statement on the Chronicle's blog.

12:41pm: Rockets rookie Royce White has issued a statement saying that he will not accept his assignment to the D-League, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (via Twitter). White had been assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers yesterday by the Rockets.

White's anxiety and fear of flying have been well-documented this season, as his mental health issues have postponed his NBA debut and perhaps even put his NBA career in jeopardy. When news broke yesterday that White would be sent to the D-League, Berman and TNT's David Aldridge both reported that the assignment was part of a "multi-week plan" for the first-round pick, with a D-League stint merely the first part of that plan.

However, according to Berman, White's publicist China Myers has indicated that the 6'8" forward will not report to Rio Grande "until a mental health protocol is in place" (Twitter link). According to Aldridge, White's statement indicates he wants to play, but is uncomfortable with team officials making mental health decisions, calling instead for "the collaboration and recommendation of trained professionals." (Twitter links).

Western Notes: Jamison, Lakers, Thunder, Gordon

December 30th, 2012 at 7:03pm CST by Michael Pina

Antawn Jamison has apologized for commenting negatively on his decreased playing time, writes ESPNLA.com's Dave McMenamin. Jamison has not played in five straight games, but says he's in it for the "long haul."

Now that Steve Nash and Pau Gasol have returned to the Lakers, the team is beginning to play with more cohesion and confidence, writes Los Angeles Times reporter Eric Pincus.
Darnell Mayberry on NewsOk.com writes that Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook needs to improve his jump shot if the team is to contend late in the season.
FoxSportsOhio.com's Sam Amico writes that Hornets guard Eric Gordon is healthy, but is he happy. If Gordon still wants a trade, the Suns, Thunder, and Pacers could all be interested.

Southwest Notes: Nowitzki, Jackson

December 30th, 2012 at 5:58pm CST by Michael Pina

Dirk Nowitzki says that despite his team's poor place in the standings, their goal is still the playoffs, according to ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon. If Nowitzki's thoughts are shared by Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, this could indicate that the team is a buyer, instead of a seller, before the trade deadline.

According to a tweet from NBA.com's Earl K. Sneed, Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle says that any evaluation of Nowitzki's play should be held off until the middle of January. Nowitzki made his season debut last week after undergoing knee surgery earlier this year.
The Spurs love the "edge" guard Stephen Jackson gives them, according to Star-Telegram.com's Dwain Price.

Week In Review: 12/24/12 – 12/30/12

December 30th, 2012 at 5:06pm CST by Sean Highkin

A look back at the news and major developments of the past week.

The biggest story of the week was the Nets' firing of head coach Avery Johnson. P.J. Carlesimo was named interim coach, although names such as Phil Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, and Kelvin Sampson have been thrown around as replacements.
DeMarcus Cousins was reinstated by the Kings after a suspension, but trade speculation still lingers. The Celtics and Pistons are known to be interested.
The Rockets signed James Anderson to a three-year deal and are expected to waive Daequan Cook to make room on the roster.
Rockets forward Royce White turned down a D-League assignment from the Rockets, leaving his future even more uncertain.
The 76ers are looking for a backup point guard for Jrue Holiday.
The Nets waived forward Josh Childress.
Following another setback in his recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery, Brandon Roy may be considering retirement.
Jermaine O'Neal said he would like to retire a member of the Pacers if given the opportunity.
Joey Graham worked out for the Timberwolves, who are seeking free-agent help.
The Lakers, meanwhile, are no longer searching for help on the free-agent market.
The Cavaliers claimed guard Shaun Livingston off waivers and waived Donald Sloan.
The Wizards signed Shelvin Mack and Garrett Temple.
The Jazz are in no hurry to trade big men Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson.

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Week in Review

Hoops Rumors Originals: 12/24/12 – 12/30/12

December 30th, 2012 at 4:00pm CST by Sean Highkin

A look back at the original content produced by the HoopsRumors staff over the past week.

Our Luke Adams wrote a piece on SEEDS Academy and how they're developing basketball talent in Africa.
With the trade deadline two months away, Hoops Rumors' Trade Candidate series looked at Anderson Varejao (link), Pau Gasol (link), Richard Hamilton (link), and Kris Humphries (link).
The latest installment of Hoops Links, a roundup of worthwhile reads from around the NBA blogosphere.
A list of team and player options for the 2013/14 season.
Catching up with the lottery picks from the 2012 NBA Draft.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

D-League Notes: Hayward, Alabi, Call-Ups

December 30th, 2012 at 3:16pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest on various moves and happenings from around the D-League on Sunday afternoon:

The Los Angeles D-Fenders have acquired former NBA player Lazar Hayward, reports ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin.
Gino Polato of Ridiculous Upside looks at former Raptors center Solomon Alabi, currently with the Idaho Stampede, as a player who could help an NBA team in need of big-man depth.
David Scrivenes of Ridiculous Upside lists D.J. Kennedy, Henry Sims, and Keith Benson as D-League players with the potential to be called up to the NBA.

Latest On Nets Coaching Search

December 30th, 2012 at 2:50pm CST by Sean Highkin

Since the firing of head coach Avery Johnson on Thursday, rumors have swirled around the Brooklyn Nets as to who will replace him. For now, though, Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com reports that the team isn't in a hurry to replace interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo. Nets GM Billy King made it clear that, although the team will continue looking, Carlesimo has the organization's support for the time being.

"We've put our support behind (P.J.) and then we'll look at things and evaluate it later," King said. "I know people have been throwing lists together and things like that, but we have not contacted anybody. … We've made the move and now we're going to let P.J. coach."

Phil Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy are believed to be the Nets' two top priorities in terms of head coaching targets. Former Blazers coach Nate McMillan, former Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, and current Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson are also believed to be under consideration.

Odds & Ends: Jazz, Hamilton, Gelabale, Ahearn

December 30th, 2012 at 11:23am CST by Luke Adams

A few Sunday morning odds and ends from around the Association:

Given the number of Western Conference contenders with strong frontcourts, Lang Greene of HoopsWorld wonders if the Jazz would be better off hanging to all their big men. Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson are both in the final seasons of their deals, while Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter are considered Utah's bigs of the future.
Back in the Bulls' lineup, Richard Hamilton tells Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com that he isn't let trade rumors bother him. "It happens every year," Hamilton said. "Every year, if you ain't in a trade rumor, then you ain't doing something right. That's how I always looked at it. That's the way this game goes, you hear about stuff every day because GMs are talking to different players every day. It's nothing that I even get caught up or think about or anything like that."
French forward Mickael Gelabale would be open to signing with the Timberwolves if he received a 20-day guarantee, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities (via Twitter). Because all contracts become guaranteed on January 10th, the team can't exactly offer a 20-day guarantee at this point, but the Wolves could be willing to sign Gelabale to a pair of 10-day deals, or perhaps write buyout terms into a contract ahead of time.
Blake Ahearn, who was released by the Pacers before the season began, has agreed to sign with China's Dongguan Leopards, according to a Weibo report (passed along by HoopsHype).
With the Mavericks struggling, and at least nine of the team's 15 players set for free agency at season's end, coach Rick Carlisle will have a challenging stretch ahead of him over the next few weeks, writes Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News.

Atlantic Notes: Celtics, 76ers, Martin, Nets

December 30th, 2012 at 9:50am CST by Luke Adams

While the Nets' poor showing in December may have cost head coach Avery Johnson his job, another Atlantic Division team has been struggling this month as well. The Celtics have lost six of their last eight games, including their last two contests by a combined 47 points. Boston's only two wins in that span have come against the league's second-worst team (the Cavaliers) and those reeling Nets, in Johnson's second-last game. As we wait to see if the C's can get on the right track tonight against the 10-19 Kings, let's take a look at a few Atlantic-related links….

It's not clear whether the Celtics will still explore the free agent market, since even signing a player to a minimum-salary contract could adversely affect the team's cap situation, as Danny Ainge tells Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. "We have restraints because of the [luxury tax] apron," Ainge said, presumably referring to Boston's hard cap. "And it puts limitations on us and I don’t want to get our backs against the wall where it limits us even more for significant progress in any sort of transaction that may come available later. So we’re trying to patient."
John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Enquirer believes that free agent big man Kenyon Martin would be a good addition to the Sixers' roster, and at least one unnamed Philadelphia player agrees: "His attitude has been an issue for him in certain places. But one thing you know is that he's going to play hard all the time, and he's going to bring emotion. I think he'd help us more than he would hurt."
The Nets' roster as constructed isn't championship-caliber, says Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News, adding that owner Mikhail Prokhorov "has a Chevy on his hands in Brooklyn that he believes to be a Rolls-Royce."

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