The Rockets are suspending guard Kevin Porter Jr. and big man Christian Wood for Monday’s game in Philadelphia vs. the Sixers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Both players are being disciplined for their poor behavior on Saturday night vs. Denver. As we detailed over the weekend, Porter left the arena following a halftime altercation with assistant coach John Lucas, while Wood told coaches he wasn’t interested in playing in the second half after being held out of the lineup because he missed a mandatory COVID-19 test.
The ESPN report provides a few more details on Saturday’s incident. According to Wojnarowski and MacMahon, one young Houston player challenged Wood and told him that – as a veteran – he should be setting a standard for the team. ESPN’s duo also says the Rockets believe Porter has made progress on his anger-management issues, which resurfaced on Saturday.
It’s unclear if this will be the extent of the punishments for Porter and/or Wood. At this point, there’s no indication that either of their suspensions will extend beyond Monday’s contest. Houston’s next game is on Wednesday in Washington and both Porter and Wood are still traveling with the team.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets, a one-game suspension will cost Porter a little over $12K and Wood approximately $94K. That works out to 1/145th of their respective salaries.
If you’re the Grizzlies you need to walk away with 1 or both of Sabonis and Wood
Send Adams and picks to the Rockets for Woods
and/or
Send Culver and Anderson and picks to the Grizzlies for Sabonis
Grizzlies got a young core and could use some big bodies down low especially come playoff time.
I dont know if those trades can be done, but I’d rather have Sabonis than Wood. He is a better fit, longer friendly contract and has a better health history.
Grizzlies have been really good this year. Even with Morant out they were good. Usually im all for a trade to get better but I think Memphis need to stay the same. They have such a strong group and play so well together. Wouldn’t want to ruin the chemistry and upset the flow of the team
Not sure if it’s been reported since this, but I would bet a lot of money that the “one young Houston player” that challenged Wood was Jae’Sean Tate.
That’s what I was thinking.
Personality wise, I would agree…but …I’ve heard Tate refer to himself as a veteran. He would’ve said ‘WE’ need to set the example, plus Tate is older, I think, than Wood. For it to spark such a nerve, I’m guessing a young rookie said it. IMO, it was probably one of the foreign players because they’re conditioned to lead younger players by example. I’m not sure if Green would call anyone out so that leaves Christopher, who I think would call someone out.
Sengun or Christopher has my money.
Since this is a team imposed fine and not from the league office, where does the “lost” money go? Does it go to the same fund as when the league office fines a player?
Thanks in advance!
It’s not a fine, it’s a suspension so an unpaid day. It’ll be deducted from their next payment.
The players won’t have to pay that $12/94k, they just won’t earn it.
My understanding is that it goes to the same fund whether it’s a league or team penalty.
The CBA section about this subject starts off with the sentence, “In the event that a fine or suspension is imposed on a player…” without specifying whether the fine or suspension is levied by the team or the league.
And for cap purposes it’s not subtracted if it’s team imposed. Only league imposed fines are subtracted from the cap.
John Lucas has been through it all and had a very accomplished career as a player and a coach…. These young guys should be all ears and there’s no excuse for throwing things at a coach.
This is how the younger generation deals with adversity or it’s problems
I’m on the KPJ band wagon, or at least I was, he’s continuously getting better. But I can’t help but think he’s burning a lot of opportunities. Lucas is the reason Harden is as good as he is along with a long list of others. he’s a top coach that deserves the respect, I’m not happy with how KPJ has been but it’s the first strike down in Houston so I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt that he is “getting better”.
As for Wood, it’s not the first time he’s shown attitude in the rockets locker room. I see him being gone much sooner than Porter, he’s a much better than people give him credit for. But he doesn’t fit, he don’t want to be part of a rebuild.
What’s Wallys name now or is he still under that handle? Dude is going to run out of players.. Harden, CP3, Westbrick, Wall, Wood, Porter… RIP Rockets future.
He’ll add Holmgren or Banchero to it next offseason.