Houston Rockets Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Odds & Ends: Nets, McHale, Felix

November 14th, 2013 at 11:10pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Shortly after the Nets’ 21-point loss in Sacramento on Wednesday night, Brooklyn GM Billy King had a closed-door meeting with head coach Jason Kidd and Kevin Garnett to presumably discuss (as Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News surmises) why almost nothing seems to be going according to plan in Brooklyn right now. In another Nets-related piece, Lenn Robbins of NBA.com writes that the current roster hasn’t shown they deserve a player’s coach like Kidd.

Here’s more of the miscellaneous links to pass along tonight:

When asked further about why Omer Asik didn’t play during tonight’s game in New York, Rockets coach Kevin McHale said that Asik told him that he wasn’t feeling well earlier (Sean Deveney of the Sporting News via Twitter). It should be noted that this was Asik’s first DNP-CD of his NBA career.
Cavaliers shooting guard Carrick Felix recently returned to the practice floor after being out with a sports hernia, but head coach Mike Brown made it clear that the 23-year-old rookie would find his minutes in the D-League once he’s ready to play (Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal).
Zach Harper of CBS Sports details why Andre Iguodala may be the ultimate role player.
Although Michael Beasley may be a ways away from being a contributor with consistent playing time on the Heat, NBA.com’s Couper Moorhead tells us how the former second-overall pick continues to work hard and has taken a significant step forward to improve his overall game.
Joseph Lombardo, who founded the investment firm Prim Capital (which previously handled the investments and finances of the NBPA), has been charged with fraud, according to the Associated Press. Authorities say that Lombardo used a signature stamp to forge the signature of a deceased general counsel for the NBPA and another employee that awarded Prim Capital a $3MM fee over five years.
Nate Duncan of Hoopsworld goes in depth about what to make out of the Timberwolves’ and Pacers’ hot starts this season.

Asik Asks Rockets For Trade, Request Denied

November 14th, 2013 at 9:24pm CST by Ryan Raroque

9:24pm: Brian Windhorst of ESPN says Houston has informed Asik that they currently do not intend to deal him.

6:46pm: According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, two individuals with knowledge of the situation report that Omer Asik has asked to be traded. It’s not much of a surprise that the Turkish center has seen a reduced role after the Rockets added Dwight Howard this past summer, and there have been questions about how Asik might struggle with relinquishing the type of role he had last season. The tipping point may have come during Wednesday night’s loss against Philadelphia, in which he came off the bench for the first time in 96 games and logged just four minutes.

Feigen notes from one of his sources that the trade request was delivered within the past 48 hours. While Asik and his agent Andy Miller would not directly comment on the report, Miller had this to say:

“(The) situation is very frustrating right now and were trying to work through it…For Omer, the objective has always been to continue to develop and grow as a player. That’s why we came to Houston in the first place. If that objective can’t be met, if we can’t get the right platform to grow and contribute as a player, it’s certainly frustrating.”

The 27-year-old center started in 82 regular season games for the Rockets in 2012/13, averaging 10.1 PPG, 11.7 RPG, and 1.1 BPG in 30.0 MPG. Through nine games this season, Asik has started in eight contests but has been limited to 20.7 minutes a game thus far. This isn’t the first time in which he’s tried to ask for a deal out of Houston, as we relayed two reports back in early July that the 7’0 center had been seeking a trade. It’s worth noting that the Pelicans were considered to be a strong suitor for Asik over the summer, and Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski had tweeted that a potential deal at the time would have been centered on Ryan Anderson.

As per Feigen, the Rockets currently do not have any trade in the works, and a deal would be more likely in the coming months than in days.

Amico On Asik, Kings, Pistons

November 14th, 2013 at 9:23pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Earlier today, we relayed a report that the Kings and Cavaliers have been actively involved in trade talks with each other, although Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio cites a league source who says that there’s “nothing of substance” to that report. In his latest piece, Amico touches upon possible interest Omer Asik around the league in addition to potential teams that could be involved in other trade talks. You can read more below:

While the Rockets might not be looking to deal Asik at the moment, multiple sources have identified the Raptors as a team that is already highly interested.
The Kings are considered to be league-wide front runners to make a deal, and Amico notes that the team’s new management explored moving several pieces during this past offseason – including guard Jimmer Fredette. He also adds that Sacramento is likely to field calls leading up to the trade deadline in February.
There is league-wide speculation that the Pistons are looking to move the expiring contracts of Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva in exchange for more talent and could act soon.

Odds & Ends: Asik, Carmelo, Garrett

November 14th, 2013 at 8:13pm CST by Ryan Raroque

During tonight’s game between the Knicks and Rockets, Kevin McHale opted to start Terrence Jones at power forward and made second-year man Greg Smith as the first big man to come off the bench. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle says that although you could read into Omer Asik‘s trade request as a reason for him not playing much, he underscores that it’s more about how McHale has been unhappy with Asik’s play as of late (Twitter links). While it’s anyone’s guess at this point, I don’t think it would be too far-fetched to argue that Houston would look to get a deal sooner rather than later in order to avoid the situation turning into a possible major distraction for the team.

Here’s more of tonight’s miscellaneous news and notes from around the league:

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated thinks that two trade calls the Rockets should make regarding Asik would be for the Pelicans’ Ryan Anderson or Thaddeus Young of the 76ers (Twitter link).
ESPN’s Chris Broussard turned to four long-time executives – two from the Eastern Conference, two from the West – to weigh-in on Carmelo Anthony‘s current standing in the NBA (Insiders only).
Nate Gagon of the Deseret News ponders what the future holds for recent Jazz addition Diante Garrett and whether or not he’ll follow the same path as Sundiata Gaines, whose career in Utah was short-lived after a promising start.
HoopsHype presents a slideshow of the top 100 free agents of 2014.
Michael Pointer of IndyStar.com discusses why not much can be concluded yet from the Pacers’ 8-0 start.

Odds & Ends: Marshall, Warriors, Knicks

November 12th, 2013 at 4:50pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bulls aren’t in action today, but it’s a big basketball night in Chicago nonetheless, as Kentucky plays Michigan State and Duke plays Kansas in the NCAA’s Champions Classic. In the eyes of ESPN.com’s Chad Ford (Insider link), those four teams have 13 projected first-rounders for the 2014 draft, including an incredible eight projected lottery picks. As GMs and scouts look forward to an eventful night of college basketball, let’s check out what’s going on around the NBA….

Kendall Marshall, traded last month by the Suns and then released by the Wizards, is drawing some NBA interest, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Wojnarowski reports (via Twitter) that Marshall had been considered by the Jazz, and remains on other teams’ radars.
Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle talks extensively to Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob about the challenges he’s faced since taking over the team, and the direction in which the franchise is headed. Lacob provides a number of interesting quotes on the acquisition of Andre Iguodala, the plans for a new arena, and increasing expectations for the Warriors.
In his latest mailbag for SI.com, Ian Thomsen examines the Knicks and discusses a hypothetical trade between the Rockets and Trail Blazers.
D.J. Foster of Bleacher Report explores the possibility of the Knicks trading Iman Shumpert.

D-League Notes: Nets, Rockets, Kings

November 9th, 2013 at 6:05pm CST by Jonathan Nehring

While the Nets, Rockets, and Kings are busy preparing for their games this evening they also remain busy with their respective D-League affiliates..

The Nets announced they have recalled forward Tornike Shengelia from the D-League Springfield Armor. Shengelia was assigned to the D-League only two days ago and will join the Nets for their game against the Pacers this evening. Shengelia has not had a chance to play in the NBA this season due to the depth on the Nets’ bench but averaged 1.6 PPG in 4.9 MPG in 19 games for Brooklyn last season. It’s likely Shengelia is in the lineup due to Andrei Kirilenko and Kevin Garnett‘s ailments.
Scott Rafferty of SB Nation wonders if Tyshawn Taylor, another young Nets player who is struggling for minutes, will crack Brooklyn’s NBA rotation this year. Taylor was also sent down to Brooklyn’s D-League affiliate, the Springfield Armor, this week. Last year Taylor played in 38 games for the Nets, averaging 5.8 MPG and 2.2 PPG.
The Rockets announced via Twitter they have named Gianluca Pascucci the GM of their D-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Pascucci was the Rockets’ Director of Player Personnel last season.
Ray McCallum, rookie point guard for the Kings, has been inactive the first three games of the Kings’ season but not due to his lack of ability according to coach Michael Malone. Although earning praise from his coach as a “very good defensive player,” Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee suspects it will be hard for McCallum to find minutes that are currently going to Greivis Vasquez and Isaiah Thomas and that the D-League may be a better option. Jones predicts that’s where McCallum will find himself once the Kings’ D-League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, begin their season Nov. 22nd.

Western Notes: Timberwolves, Pekovic, Rockets

November 7th, 2013 at 10:42pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Timberwolves GM Milt Newton is content with how the roles have worked themselves out on the roster: “I see our team already falling into knowing their roles and playing their roles, so that’s good to see. I’ve spoken to guys from other teams, and there’s a period that a lot of teams go through when they’re trying to figure out who is the go-to guy, who is the guy who’s going to get the most shots. We don’t seem to have that problem” (Charley Walters of TwinCities.com).

It doesn’t seem to be as easy of an adjustment for everybody, however. With Kevin Love‘s return to the lineup and Kevin Martin securing a major role within the team’s offense, Nikola Pekovic has been struggling to return to the niche he found on that side of the floor last season. Though Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune points out that Pekovic’s scoring average (11.0) and shooting percentage (38.9%) are significantly lower than last year (16.3 and 52%), the 6’11 center insists that he isn’t unhappy and is focused on trying to find other ways to help the team win games.

Here’s more out of the Western Conference tonight:

Kevin Pelton of ESPN examines the Rockets’ offensive struggles while using a big lineup, and suggests that dealing Omer Asik for Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson or the Bucks’ Ersan Ilyasova would be ideal (Insiders only).
Lakers star Kobe Bryant opened up about his health and Dwight Howard among other things in this video from Hoopsworld. Earlier this evening, Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles tweeted that Kobe had been sprinting as part of his rehab, but hasn’t begun any lateral/ cutting movement yet.
As brilliant as the Clippers have been offensively, Eric Pincus of Hoopsworld gathers up some thoughts about their defensive struggles.
Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram writes that the Mavericks have been able to develop chemistry by keeping the same starting five, which is worth noting considering that Rick Carlisle had shuffled through 23 different starting lineups last season.

Odds & Ends: Bynum, Warriors, Howard, Draft

November 7th, 2013 at 3:36pm CST by Luke Adams

Andrew Bynum has returned to the court for the Cavaliers this fall after a lost season in Philadelphia, but as the big man prepares to suit up against the Sixers tomorrow night, the news coming out of his camp isn’t exactly positive. Bynum indicated earlier this week that he doesn’t expect to ever regain his old explosiveness, and acknowledged that he’s still getting “little sharp” pains in his knees.

Today, speaking to Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal and other media members, Bynum admitted that he considered retirement, and still thinks about it occasionally (Twitter link). I’m hopeful that the 26-year-old will get healthy and have a productive year in Cleveland, but his latest comments are a little ominous.

Here’s more from around the NBA:

While eventually signing Klay Thompson to a long-term extension should be tenable, Tom Ziller of SBNation.com questions whether the Warriors will or should retain Harrison Barnes beyond his rookie contract.
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports spoke to current and former Lakers in an attempt to determine why the marriage between Dwight Howard and the Lakers was destined for a divorce. Sources tell Spears that the Lakers’ brass told its employees to make Howard feel “special and important,” but that Dwight still felt undervalued by the team.
Howard cites Kelvin Cato as the first person to suggest that he should join the Rockets, well before D12 neared free agency, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
Over at ESPN.com, Chad Ford’s Insider-only list of the top wings for the 2014 draft is headlined, unsurprisingly, by Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker.

Rockets Assign Canaan, Covington To D-League

November 7th, 2013 at 11:05am CST by Luke Adams

The Rockets became the first team this season to assign players to the D-League, when they announced today that Isaiah Canaan and Robert Covington would join the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Twitter link via Jason Friedman of Rockets.com).

Neither Canaan nor Covington has seen the court for Houston so far during the regular season, so it makes sense that the team would send them to the Vipers, where they’ll get a chance to play. Both rookies figure to shuttle back and forth between the NBA and D-League squads frequently this year — as I wrote when I examined D-League assignment trends in the spring, few teams use their D-League affiliates more actively than the Rockets.

D-League camps are set to open Friday, but the Vipers’ regular season schedule doesn’t get underway until November 23rd, so it’s not clear yet how long Canaan’s and Covington’s assignments will last.

Western Notes: Cuban, D12, Nuggets, Cousins

November 7th, 2013 at 8:51am CST by Luke Adams

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been one of David Stern’s most notable nemeses during the latter half of Stern’s tenure as commissioner, racking up seven figures worth of fines from the NBA. But as Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com details, in a recent interview with NBA TV, Cuban had nothing but kind words for Stern, saying that he’ll miss the NBA commissioner after he retires in February. Cuban also joked that he’s determined to be the last person fined by Stern during the commissioner’s 30-year tenure.

Here’s more from around the West on a Thursday morning:

Dwight Howard tells Sam Amick of USA Today that he feels like it’s “irrelevant” to keep talking about why he left the Lakers for the Rockets at this point, noting that it happened months ago and that people change jobs every day.
In a mailbag for the Denver Post, Chris Dempsey observes that the Nuggets don’t really have any immovable contracts, which means there will be plenty of trade options available for the club later in the season. Dempsey expects the team to make at least one or two moves, perhaps including Andre Miller.
After signing a four-year, maximum-salary extension with the Kings, DeMarcus Cousins is dealing with increased responsibility and increased expectations this season, as Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee writes.