Houston Rockets Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Southwest Rumors: Hollins, White, Ingles

February 8th, 2013 at 7:47pm CST by Chuck Myron

Four of the five Southwest Division teams are in action tonight, including the Rockets, who have a key clash with the Blazers, the team sitting just one game behind them for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Rockets could be getting a boost from one of their lottery picks soon, as we examine along with other news from the Southwest:

The Associated Press provides more of Hollins' comments, noting that the coach would have preferred the Grizzlies keep their core together (link via HoopsWorld). Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal adds even more. "Was I disappointed? Of course I was disappointed. … But that doesn’t mean I love Rudy Gay more than I love Zach Randolph. It doesn’t mean that I can’t go on without Rudy Gay."

Earlier updates:

Royce White has passed a physical with the Rockets, and everything is set for him to join the team's D-League affiliate next week, reports Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston. White said there's no timetable for how long he'll stay with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, but added that he believes the Rockets want to make it a short stint.
In a series of dispatches on his Twitter account, Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal shared remarks from Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, who insists he's on board with the front office and wants to return to coach the team next season. "I hope everything I say isn't taken as I hate management," said Hollins, who made earlier comments that appeared to indicate he opposed the Rudy Gay deal. "Am I emotional about the trade? Yes. But it is the business of basketball and i understand it."
Australian big man Joe Ingles, currently playing in Spain, drew interest from the Grizzlies in the wake of last month's three-for-one trade. While a signing didn't materialize, the 25-year-old has long dreamed of joining the NBA, as HoopsHype's Jorge Sierra examines. Ingles' deal with FC Barcelona is up at the end of the season.

Rockets May Pursue Bynum In Free Agency

February 6th, 2013 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

As we heard earlier today from ESPN.com's Chris Broussard, the Rockets are expected to be in the mix for Dwight Howard in free agency this summer, representing perhaps the most dangerous threat to the Lakers for the All-Star center. However, according to Broussard (via Twitter), if Houston is unsuccessful in landing Howard, the team is expected to turn its attention to Andrew Bynum.

Despite having James Harden's max deal on their books for 2013/14, along with sizable salaries for Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik, the Rockets still only have about $40MM in commitments on next season's payroll. If the team hopes to make a run at Howard, it may require a bit of maneuvering to fit a maximum offer under the cap, since D12 is eligible for a first-year salary of about $20.51MM next season. But Bynum's maximum salary for '13/14 is about $17.73MM, which would make a max offer for him a little more manageable.

Like Howard, Bynum would be giving up some guaranteed long-term money if he were to sign a maximum-salary contract with a team besides the Sixers. As I outlined last August, Bynum could re-sign with Philadelphia for up to five years and close to $102MM, while a team like the Rockets could only offer four years and $75.7MM.

Of course, before considering the difference between various maximum-salary contracts, Bynum may have to exhibit that he's worthy of one. Broussard suggests the Rockets' interest in Bynum will hinge not only on Howard's availability, but also on how the Sixers' center looks when he finally returns to the court this season. Bynum's chances of earning max offers in July will rely in part on his health and production over the final couple months of 2012/13.

Lakers “Very Confident” Howard Will Re-Sign

February 6th, 2013 at 8:43am CST by Luke Adams

We began yesterday with a round-up of the latest Lakers rumors, and there's enough going on in Los Angeles lately that we're starting off today the same way. Here are the latest Lakers-related links:

Besides asserting publicly that Dwight Howard won't be moved this month, the Lakers have also assured Howard privately that he won't be going anywhere, according to Chris Broussard of ESPN.com.
The Lakers haven't asked Howard directly whether he plans to stay or go in free agency, but Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (within Broussard's piece) says the team is "very confident" that Howard will re-sign.
The Hawks, Mavericks, and Rockets figure to make a play for Howard in free agency, but the Lakers will have the ability to offer D12 about $30MM more in guaranteed money, as I outlined here. According to Broussard's sources, that extra money means a lot to Howard, who may be less inclined to give up an extra year of security given his recent injury woes.
Of the rival suitors for Howard, the Rockets may be the most dangerous, says Broussard. While Howard wasn't interested in going to Houston a year ago, he recognizes that the club is much improved since then.
Speaking to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN.com about his future, Howard said he's committed to the Lakers — for this season.
Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are "very concerned" about the injury Pau Gasol suffered last night, writes Chris Mannix of SI.com, adding that the club needs Howard more than ever now.

Ingram On Gortat, Granger, Rockets, Calderon

February 4th, 2013 at 4:56pm CST by Luke Adams

With just two and a half weeks remaining until this season's trade deadline, Bill Ingram's NBA PM piece at HoopsWorld today focuses exclusively on players who could be on the move on or before February 21st, or players who have already been dealt. Here are the highlights from Ingram:

Ingram spoke to Marcin Gortat about the difficulties of adjusting to an overhauled Suns' roster and a midseason coaching change. According to Ingram, sources continue to say that Phoenix would move Gortat at the deadline if and when the price is right.
Following up on Sam Amico's report of the Rockets' interest in Danny Granger, Ingram hears from an executive who jokes that one item on Daryl Morey's "daily to-do list" involves calling the Pacers and inquiring on Granger's availability. The Pacers have some internal concerns about Granger's knee and are debating whether now is the time to cash in, says Ingram.
While the Pistons consider Jose Calderon's expiring contract valuable, there's a real possibility he'll be part of the team's longer-term plan. If Detroit trades Rodney Stuckey or Will Bynum before the deadline, expect to see Calderon re-sign with the Pistons this summer, says Ingram.

Amico On Josh Smith, Cavs, Blatche, Granger

February 4th, 2013 at 8:36am CST by Luke Adams

Water-cooler conversation this morning may be dominated by talk of Super Bowl XLVII, but at Hoops Rumors, we're still focused on the NBA, including the latest trade rumors from around the league. Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio has a few updates on players and teams that could be in the mix as the February 21st deadline approaches, so let's round up the highlights from his piece….

Amico names the Mavericks, Bobcats, Rockets, Hornets, and Kings as potential suitors for Josh Smith. Many recent reports have suggested the Kings likely won't be too active at the deadline, but Amico notes that expiring contracts typically appeal to new ownership groups.
Cavaliers GM Chris Grant wouldn't mind making another move before the deadline. Nothing concrete is in the works yet, but Grant is still working with some cap space and a few expiring contracts (Luke Walton, Daniel Gibson, Omri Casspi).
Amico hears from multiple sources that the Nets have made Andray Blatche available in hopes of landing a draft pick. The Trail Blazers may have some interest, according to Amico.
The Rockets are keeping a "keen eye" on Danny Granger, who has missed the entire season with a knee injury. The Pacers aren't actively shopping Granger, but could be more open to moving him given the emergence of Paul George.
The Mavericks figure to be more active in trade talks as the deadline nears, as plenty of clubs are interested in Chris Kaman's expiring contract.

Eastern Rumors: Josh Smith, Lowry, Lucas, Bulls

February 2nd, 2013 at 1:58pm CST by Chuck Myron

It doesn't look like anything will derail a trip to the postseason for the teams currently in the top seven of the Eastern Conference, but with Rajon Rondo and Jared Sullinger both lost for the year, the Celtics appear more vulnerable than their three-game lead for the eighth spot would suggest. The Sixers, who could get Andrew Bynum back soon, are ninth, and the Pistons and Raptors, a pair of teams that could get a boost from this week's trade, are next in line. Here's more from the East:

Though other reports have contradicted Alex Kennedy's recent dispatch that the Suns have interest in Josh Smith, the HoopsWorld scribe stands by his story, and says the Rockets and Bobcats have had exploratory talks with the Hawks as well (Twitter links).
While Marc Stein of ESPN.com has heard the suggestion that the Raptors might have intended to get rid of Kyle Lowry as well as Jose Calderon, he doesn't see that happening now, especially given the close friendship between Lowry and new acquisiton Rudy Gay.
The Raptors signed John Lucas III last summer with the idea that he would slide into the rotation if a Calderon trade went down, Stein points out. Lucas responded with 17 points in less than 19 minutes during last night's upset of the Clippers.
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times wonders about the possibility LeBron James could sign with the Bulls in 2014, when the team is set to have plenty of cap space to accomodate King James and others.
Cowley also notes that Bulls GM Gar Forman is likely to sign free agents primarily to one-year contracts this summer, just as he did in 2012, as last year's free agent tracker shows.
HoopsWorld's Joel Brigham provides an update on Bynum, Derrick Rose, Danny Granger, and other key injured players due back around the All-Star break, speculating that their returns might make it less likely that their teams participate in trade deadline deals.

D-League Moves: Machado, Jones, Baynes

February 1st, 2013 at 8:45pm CST by Luke Adams

We'll track today's D-League assignments and recalls here along with signings, with the latest transactions added to the top of the page throughout the day:

Scott Machado has signed with the Rockets' D-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, writes Keith Schosser of Ridiculous Upside. The former Iona point guard played for the Vipers earlier in the season where he averaged 12 PPG and 7.1 APG in 11 contests.
Terrence Jones has been re-assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers by the Rockets, the team announced today in a press release. In 12 games with the Vipers this season, Jones ranks among the D-League leaders in PPG (19.1) and RPG (9.8).
The Spurs have assigned the newest member of the team, Aron Baynes, to the D-League, according to a press release. The Australian big man had appeared in two games for San Antonio since signing with the club last week. He'll join the Austin Toros in time for the team's game against the Bakersfield Jam tonight.

Odds & Ends: Amare, White, Gee, Beasley

January 31st, 2013 at 10:09pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Thursday evening:

Al Iannazzone of Newsday.com is impressed with Amare Stoudemire for accepting a reduced role for the Knicks this season.
Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today Sports writes that the Rockets and Royce White are beginning to come to terms on a plan for managing the rookie forward's anxiety disorder.
Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer praises forward Alonzo Gee's improvement as a defender.
Stefan Swiat of Suns.com writes that Michael Beasley is beginning to reach his potential with the Suns.
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times praises Bulls GM Gar Forman for the team's bench.

Latest On Royce White, Rockets

January 30th, 2013 at 10:01am CST by Luke Adams

After failing to report to the Rockets earlier this season as he fought to get the team to establish a mental health protocol, Royce White has been reinstated by the Rockets and is expected to report to the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers on February 11th. Still, while the saga appears headed in the right direction at the moment, White still has plenty of opinions on the NBA's treatment of mental illness, and provides some very interesting quotes in a conversation with Grantland's Chuck Klosterman. The entire piece is worth a read, but here are a few of the highlights:

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 26% of Americans over age 18 suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year, but White believes the amount of NBA players with some form of mental illness is "way over 26%."
In our recent poll asking whether the Rockets' selection of White was worth the risk, about two-thirds of you said no. GM Daryl Morey seems to disagree with the majority, pointing out to Klosterman that only about 20% of players drafted 16th overall have major NBA careers anyway.
White hasn't been playing much basketball since being drafted by the Rockets. "I work out very sparingly, to be honest," White said. "I probably shoot once a week."
White wants his own personal doctor to make the final decisions on his health rather than the Rockets' doctors, and believes that's a right every player should have: "It's a conflict of interest to have the team doctor paid by the team. What we need is a doctor who can look at a situation and say, 'Listen, I know the team wants you to do this, and I know their doctor is saying you should do this. But as a non-biased doctor with no interest in how you perform athletically, I recommend differently.' Right now, you have players pushing themselves back in three weeks who have three-month injuries."
If he were to join the Rockets immediately, White believes he could play for the team the rest of the season and handle the travel demands, but potentially at a cost. "I probably could do it," White said. "But what would the effect be? What would I have left at the end of the season? How good would I be for the team during the season?"

D-League Moves: Thunder, Mavs, Rockets, Suns

January 28th, 2013 at 3:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are today's D-League assignments and recalls, with the latest moves at the top of the page:

Jeremy Lamb and Daniel Orton, who have been shuttled back and forth between the Thunder and the Tulsa 66ers all season, were recalled from the D-League, the club announced today in a press release.
The Mavericks have re-assigned Jared Cunningham to the D-League, according to a team release. The move will give Cunningham a chance to play more minutes, as he'd only appeared briefly in one game for the Mavs since being recalled from the Texas Legends on December 31st.
The Rockets have recalled rookie big man Donatas Motiejunas from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the team announced in a press release. Motiejunas had been on his third assignment to the D-League, where he has averaged 20.3 PPG and 9.7 RPG for the Vipers in seven games this season.
Diante Garrett has been recalled from the D-League by the Suns, the team announced today (Twitter link). In seven games for the Bakersfield Jam since being assigned to the team earlier this month, Garrett averaged 15.1 PPG and 7.4 APG, shooting a blistering 62.5% on three-pointers.
The Nets have recalled Tornike Shengelia and Tyshawn Taylor from the Springfield Armor, the team announced today in a press release. Both players have played extremely well in their two D-League stints this season, with Shengelia averaging 28.3 PPG, 13.7 RPG, and 7.0 APG in three games, while Taylor has recorded 26.5 PPG and 7.5 APG in four contests. However, Shengelia is currently out indefinitely with concussion symptoms.