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Rockets Recall Jones, Smith From D-League

February 14th, 2013 at 1:38pm CST by Luke Adams

Today's D-League assignments and recalls can be found below, with any additional moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:

  • The Rockets have recalled Terrence Jones and Greg Smith from their D-League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. The Rockets won't play again until next Wednesday, but the Rio Grande Valley Vipers have an even longer layoff, with their next game coming on February 22nd. While Smith has appeared in just three contests for the Vipers, Jones earned a spot in the D-League's All-Star game, averaging 18.4 PPG and 9.3 RPG in 17 games so far.
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Daryl Morey Expecting Quiet Deadline For Rockets

February 14th, 2013 at 12:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported last weekend that the Rockets are unlikely to be major players at this year's trade deadline, as the team attempts to maintain its flexibility for this summer. That's a point that GM Daryl Morey reiterated in speaking to Sam Amick of USA Today, telling Amick he doesn't expect to make a blockbuster deal in the next week.

"Most likely, it's not going to be through trade," Morey said, of upgrading his roster. "Most likely, it's going to be through the use of our cap room where we have max room this summer…. I think (the next week) is going to be quiet. Of course a year ago, if you would've said, 'James Harden — what about him?' I would've said, 'No way. They won't trade him.' You never know. You stay opportunistic. But I would guess that this trade deadline is going to be quiet."

As Chris Broussard of ESPN.com noted earlier today, the Rockets figure to have enough cap room to make a play for the top free agents on the market in July. Dwight Howard will likely be the team's top target, with Andrew Bynum looming as a potential Plan B. Even if the Rockets can't land a premium free agent, that cap space could be useful for facilitating trades or signing second-tier players.

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Broussard On Eric Gordon, Rockets, Pacers, Smith

February 14th, 2013 at 12:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Already today, we've passed along a few trade rumors from Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game and Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. Now, it's Chris Broussard's turn, as the ESPN reporter has published a lengthy Insider-only piece on the latest rumblings from around the league. Here's what Broussard has for us:

  • The Hornets have made some calls to gauge Eric Gordon's trade value, but Broussard hears that there's less than a 10% chance he's moved within the next week. The Mavericks, Rockets, and the Warriors are among the clubs believed to have inquired on Gordon.
  • The Rockets still figure to make a run at Dwight Howard this summer, but Andrew Bynum and perhaps a trade for Gordon are the team's Plan Bs. Since Houston is saving its cap space for the summer, the club isn't expected to be too active at the trade deadline.
  • Indiana will likely keep Danny Granger through the deadline, but is willing to move Tyler Hansbrough, D.J. Augustin, or Gerald Green. The Pacers dangled Hansbrough and Augustin when talking to the Magic about J.J. Redick, but Orlando didn't have interest.
  • Three different general managers told Broussard on Wednesday that Danny Ferry and the Hawks have decided not to re-sign Josh Smith this summer and are trying hard to trade him this week. Rival executives don't expect Ferry to settle for the Nets' offer of Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks, however.
  • The Hawks have also discussed moving Kyle Korver and Anthony Morrow.
  • Teams have been calling the Suns, one of the league's most active clubs, about Marcin Gortat, Markieff Morris, and Jared Dudley. A deal with the Knicks involving Dudley and Iman Shumpert is "not happening," according to Broussard's sources.
  • As has been the case for many reporters over the last few weeks, Broussard has received mixed reports on whether the Jazz are more likely to trade Paul Millsap or Al Jefferson. The Trail Blazers are one team that likes Millsap, says Broussard.
  • A few executives that have spoken to Broussard have mentioned the possibility of the Clippers trying to trade DeAndre Jordan and Caron Butler to create the necessary cap space to make a play for Dwight Howard this summer. That one sounds awfully far-fetched to me though, considering the team would have to make additional moves to clear enough room, and would have to acquire only expiring contracts in return. Even then, there's no guarantee they could land Howard as a free agent.
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Bucher On Jefferson, Millsap, Josh Smith, White

February 14th, 2013 at 8:28am CST by Luke Adams

With a week remaining until this year's trade deadline, Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game took to Sulia last night to discuss a few trade rumors, as well as the long-awaited debut of a much-discussed Rockets rookie. Here are the highlights from Bucher:

  • Although Bucher reported a few days ago that the Jazz are more likely to move Paul Millsap than Al Jefferson, he hears from a rival executive that there's more league-wide interest in Jefferson.
  • The same executive told Bucher that the Jazz aren't necessarily deciding between keeping one or the other — both Jefferson and Millsap could be dealt, or Utah could ultimately retain both guys.
  • One general manager believes the Hawks' motives for shopping Josh Smith involve showing Smith all his options and perhaps convincing him that re-signing in Atlanta for less than the maximum salary could be the most attractive one.
  • Bucher adds that if Smith is moved, there's still a good chance it could happen after the season rather than within the next week. That's a riskier approach for the Hawks though, since Smith wouldn't necessarily need to be part of a sign-and-trade to switch teams in July.
  • Although Royce White is back on the court for the Rockets' D-League affiliate, it appears that he's been more focused over the last few months on mental health advocacy rather than conditioning. According to Bucher, White is "woefully out of shape," which feeds the view of many people around the league who question the rookie's commitment to his NBA career.
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Southwest Links: White, Spurs, Prince, Mavs

February 13th, 2013 at 4:25pm CST by Luke Adams

As every Southwest team except the Grizzlies prepares for action tonight, let's check in on the latest notes out of the division….

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Odds & Ends: Rockets, Kings, Draft, Calderon

February 11th, 2013 at 3:32pm CST by Luke Adams

As we continue counting down the days to next week's trade deadline, let's catch up on a few odds and ends from around the NBA:

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D-League Moves: Melo, Smith, Lamb

February 10th, 2013 at 1:45pm CST by Chuck Myron

We'll round up today's D-League assignments and recalls here, with the latest movement on top of the page.

  • Two days after re-assigning him to the Maine Red Claws, the Celtics have recalled Fab Melo, the team announced today in a press release. The rookie big man had six points and five rebounds in his lone game for the Red Claws this weekend.
  • Rockets center Greg Smith has been sent to the D-League, tweets Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Smith will join the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for the first time this season after spending 26 games with the Vipers last year. The 6'10" Smith is averaging 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 13.9 minutes with the Rockets this season, but lost his spot in the rotation to Cole Aldrich over the past two games.
  • The Bucks have recalled rookie Doron Lamb from the D-League, the team announced via Twitter. Milwaukee sent him down to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants a week ago, and the 6'4" shooting guard has had mixed results in four games since, going scoreless on Wednesday against Sioux Falls and hitting for 24 points last night versus Iowa. In six D-League games over two separate stints, Lamb is averaging 10.3 points in 25.5 minutes per game. He's put up 3.4 PPG in 12.2 MPG with the Bucks, but hasn't seen action in an NBA contest since January 5th, the final game before Jim Boylan took over for Scott Skiles as coach.
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Rockets GM Focused On Offseason, Not Deadline

February 10th, 2013 at 12:21pm CST by Chuck Myron

Josh Smith, Carlos Boozer and other prominent names have surfaced in trade rumors the past few days, but as Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle details, Rockets GM Daryl Morey isn't willing to make a deal before the deadline if it precludes the team from seeking marquee talent in free agency.

"Except if something unexpected comes along, someone signed that is very good and wants to be moved, we plan to keep our flexibility as an available destination for whatever free agent is available in July," the GM said.

Morey didn't rule out a minor move like last year's deadline deal that brought in Marcus Camby, as long as it doesn't compromise the team's summer plans. The Rockets have about $40MM in commitments for next season, which should be enough room to sign a maximum-salary free agent. Chris Broussard of ESPN.com reported this week that the Rockets are interested in Dwight Howard and, if they miss out on him, Andrew Bynum, both of whom will be free agents this summer. Reports have also linked Houston to Smith, who could be had either at the deadline or in the offseason.

As Feigen notes, James Harden continues to make a recruiting pitches to other stars around the league, but declines to name just whom he's been talking to. Harden would probably run afoul of the league's tampering rules if he did divulge any names, but, having signed a five-year extension that will keep him in Houston through the 2017/18 season, it's clear he wants the team to bring in more talent around him. The Rockets, tied with the Jazz for seventh place in the Western Conference, have a two-game lead on the Blazers for the last playoff spot, and Harden believes making the postseason would be a key in attracting free agents as well.

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Kyler On Gordon, Lakers, Redick, Expirings

February 10th, 2013 at 9:41am CST by Chuck Myron

HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler took to Twitter for his latest round of trade deadline updates, and we'll round up the highlights here:

  • We heard Friday that the Hornets are willing to discuss offers for Eric Gordon, but the team says its interest in trading him is overstated, according to Kyler, who adds that New Orleans is looking for "tremendous value" in return for the 24-year-old shooting guard.
  • The Lakers, winners of seven out of nine games, have an open roster spot, and are without big men Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill because of injury. Still, they're unlikely to make an addition unless they start losing again.
  • The Bucks, Bulls, Pacers and Knicks have all emerged as suitors for J.J. Redick, but the Magic's price is "very high" because they'd like to retain the sharpshooter.
  • Answering a question about Cole Aldrich's $2.445MM expiring contract with the Rockets, Kyler says expiring deals aren't as sought-after this season as usual, because most teams that want to clear cap space for the summer have already done so, and teams looking to unload players to avoid the tax wouldn't be able to get under the tax line by dumping anyone in the last year of his deal. It's a trend he expects to continue under the new CBA, with shorter contracts and fewer teams likely to become taxpayers.
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Stein’s Latest: Clippers, Josh Smith, Randolph

February 8th, 2013 at 11:42pm CST by Chuck Myron

Marc Stein's Weekend Dime at ESPN.com is usually full of juicy rumors year-round, and with the trade deadline less than two weeks away, this week's edition is especially jam-packed. Let's dig in:

  • The Clippers went fishing for Kevin Garnett, and while the Celtics seem uninterested in such a swap, Stein expects Clippers to keep looking for deals as the trade deadline draws near. L.A. might like to send out DeAndre Jordan, who's eager for more playing time and whose lack of production has frustrated coach Vinny Del Negro, but the more likely trade chip is third-year point guard Eric Bledsoe. Stein hears there's a 99.5% chance Chris Paul re-signs this summer, but if the Clippers endure an early playoff exit, Paul's future, as well as Del Negro's job, could hang in the balance.
  • If the Hawks trade Josh Smith, they'll be looking for "a quality young center" in return.
  • The Grizzlies have told Zach Randolph they won't trade him, and Memphis is unlikely to make another move involving Randolph or anyone else. Still, despite coach Lionel Hollins' insistence that he and management are on the same page, the coach's dim view of the Rudy Gay trade has cast a pall on the locker room, as Stein writes.
  • Reports that the Rockets have interest in Danny Granger are inaccurate, according to Stein.
  • Denver isn't biting on an offer for Timofey Mozgov unless the Nuggets get one that's "crazy good."
  • The Sixers, open to a shakeup as they wait for Andrew Bynum to make his Philadelphia debut, are shopping Evan Turner.
  • Samuel Dalembert was on the market even before he did his best to showcase his value with a career-best 35-point game against the Nuggets this week, and he's not the only player Milwaukee might trade. Monta Ellis and Beno Udrih are among the Bucks who could be on the move.
  • Boston isn't better with Rajon Rondo out for the season, but Stein believes the Celtics' six-game winning streak can be at least partially explained by the team's improved attitude without the moody Rondo around.
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