Houston continues to be the preferred destination for Carmelo Anthony, but former Rockets coach and ESPN commentator Jeff Van Gundy doesn’t see the high-scoring forward as a “natural fit” for the team, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. Van Gundy, who still lives in Houston, believes the Rockets need to focus on defense in any future transactions. “I think they have a lot on their plate integrating [Chris] Paul and [James] Harden,” Van Gundy said. “They’re not going to be better offensively than they were last year. They were the second-best team in the league offensively. I thought they had defined roles everyone knew.”
Efforts to work out a four-team trade that would send Anthony to Houston are currently on hold as new Knicks GM Scott Perry hopes for a face-to-face meeting with his star player before proceeding. New York officials would like Anthony, who can block any deal with a no-trade clause, to expand the list of teams he is willing to join, which reportedly now just includes the Rockets and Cavaliers.
There’s more this morning from the Southwest Division:
- The Spurs never made a serious attempt to keep Jonathon Simmons, tweets Casey Keirnan of News 4 San Antonio. Simmons agreed to a three-year, $20MM deal with the Magic on Friday after the Spurs pulled his qualifying offer and made him an unrestricted free agent. Despite reports that San Antonio was trying to retain Simmons, the team never made him an offer apart from the QO, sources tell Keirnan.
- The Mavericks are taking an international approach to rebuilding their roster, notes Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. This week’s signing of German star Maxi Kleber could give them as many as seven international players at training camp. Joining roster holdovers Dirk Nowitzki, J.J. Barea, Dwight Powell and Salah Mejri will be Kleber, Nico Brussino and Ding Yanyuhang. However, Brussino’s $1,312,611 salary for next season won’t be guaranteed until Thursday, so he may be somewhere else when camp opens. “You want good players, and it doesn’t matter where you find them,” said president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson. “There are players all over the world. It’s our job to know where they are.”
- After reaching an agreement Saturday with Rajon Rondo, the Pelicans plan to use him and fellow point guard Jrue Holiday as their backcourt starters, according to Marc J. Spears of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Rondo’s friendship with former Kings teammate DeMarcus Cousins was a factor in choosing New Orleans, Spears indicates.
I feel the Spurs regressed this offseason. They didn’t upgrade at pg, lost defensive players such as Dedmon and Simmons, and Manu and Pau are one year older
Yea but getting Gay is huge, he’ll play way better under Pop and take more efficient shots in Pop’s offense, plus they got Jauffrey who is a 3-4 who can handle,pass,knock down shots, and play in Pop’s system. Don’t think they need much, Murray will be ready to take over at PG.
Rudy Gay is coming off an Achilles injury and probably won’t be full strength until the spring at the earliest. Good luck with that
Wow I did not know you were a doctor dude, you savant Gay will be ready to play by the start of the season.
Just going off of the typical timeline for that injury. He tore it January 18th. Look at what happened with Wes Matthews, Kobe, Brandon Jennings and Chauncey Billups
Rondo and Boogie…Mardi Gras moves inside!
Morey is shallow….”oh jimmy, we would give you more but…..” Give us a break! The owner is a Texan and river boat gambler but this is a bunch of poppycock! If Melo comes, bet the over in every game!!! The coach doesn’t think about defense and these players don’t play any.
he couldn’t give him any more…..
I’ve gotta agree with JVG. If the Rockets get Melo they won’t have much of a team left after what assets they had to give up. I don’t think a CP3, Harden, Melo core gets the Rockets any further than last season
Really now Orleans got 2 dudes with bad attitudes. Coisins need to change his attitude and be about team not self.
While I agree, I think they could be a bit improved this season….They still lack a number of solid 3-point shooters, but with Rondo driving and passing, it could lead to quite a few more open looks and easy shots/ dunks for Bogie and AD..
Houston, on the other hand, except for Ariza and Capela, they have no defenders…What difference does it make if you can score 110-120 every game, if you give up 110-125??
Houston isn’t getting Melo in a trade. The league won’t let another superstar be traded from the Eastern conference to the Western conference. The only way Melo ends up in Houston is if he’s bought out by the Knicks and signs with the Rockets.
The league won’t let it happen? If the salaries match then there’s nothing the league can do to stop a trade
Agreed on the Spurs regressing, though we say that every year.
Gay is an upgrade to Simmons, so I’m ok with letting Johnathon walk. I like Murray, but I really would have rather they had gone after a better PG instead of signing Mills back at $12.5 per. Even if Parker makes it back mid-year, the Spurs can’t expect much from him, and should let him walk as an FA next year. I’m not saying Chris Paul, but George Hill (who could also replace Manu if he retires) would have been a better fit.
The front court still looks thin. I’m fine with Joffrey replacing Dedmon, but Lee and Gasol are still not back, and quality rotation pieces like Mbah a Moute are being picked up at vet minimum prices.
Unless they have a deal(s) brewing, I’m not loving the look of the 2017-18 Spurs.
I just hope they win 50 games