Losing games cannot be allowed to be a precursor to a losing culture … The best free agent left gets a big endorsement … Greg Smith’s big night stuns Lakers …
Dec 052012
Dec 042012
HOUSTON (AP) — Toney Douglas had a season-high 22 points and Greg Smith added a career-best 21 to help the Houston Rockets overcome a tough outing by James Harden and rally for a 107-105 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
Dec 042012
HOUSTON (AP) — Toney Douglas had a season-high 22 points and Greg Smith added a career-best 21 to help the Houston Rockets overcome a tough outing by James Harden and rally for a 107-105 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
Jul 082012
On July 13, the Houston Rockets will square up against the Toronto Raptors to kick off their 6-game NBA Summer League schedule in Las Vegas. The Rockets will be utilizing the NBA Summer League to search out possible pieces to their regular season roster puzzle just like the other 23 NBA teams set to take part. Unlike some of the other NBA teams, the Rockets have loaded a roster with 3 studs from the 2011-2012 D-League season. Other squads surely will boast a lineup with a familiar D-League face or two, but it seems the Rockets are particularly loaded in D-League top performer talent.
Houston’s roster will include former D-League standouts Coutney Fortson, Manny Harris, and Greg Smith. All of which received call-ups last season from the D-League and deservedly so. As it stands Rockets GM Daryl Morey will not only be carefully watching his new draftees at the NBA’s Summer League, but also a few respected D-League standouts such as the aforementioned list.
Courtney Fortson averaged 17 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.14 steals for the Los Angeles D-Fenders last season and received a call-up to the Los Angeles Clippers. Fortson helped guide the D-Fenders to the league’s best record in the regular season during his stint with the club.
Manny Harris chalked up averages of 21.4 points, and 3.3 assists last season with the Canton Charge and was called up to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Harris spent the first part of last season rehabbing an injury, but his impressive averages in the D-League could not go unnoticed and allowed Harris an opportunity to share his talents in the NBA once again. Harris will be seeking out an impressive Summer League to once again get him a spot on an NBA roster.
Greg Smith rounds out the D-League standout Summer League players for Houston. Smith averaged 16.6 points and 7.8 boards during his time with Rio Grande Valley last season. Unlike Harris and Fortson, Smith is a big man trying to land a spot on Houston’s permanent regular season roster. Depending on the rest of Morey’s off season moves, Smith may have the best opportunity of suiting up for Houston on a regular basis since they may need some depth at the post position.
Houston has been one of the great franchises as of late to utilize the D-League’s many great qualities that it can lend out. Be sure to watch as these former D-league stars battle it out this summer in Las Vegas.
Jul 032012
One time I was going to the airport at lunchtime, and I kept looking for somewhere to stop for grub, but I was in a hurry, so it had to be right there off the highway and convenient or I drove past it, because I did not have time to waste. So I drove and drove, past everything, and before I knew it I was in the terminal, paying 7 for a soggy turkey sandwich on stale bread.
Know the feeling? I bet Rockets general manager Daryl Morey does.
The Houston Rockets, as you know, have agreed to pay a tall Turkish man named Omer Asik 25 million over the next three years. Until now, Omer has been playing for the Chicago Bulls, who thought he was so good they stored him on the bench for 22 of a typical game’s 36 minutes. In an average game, Omer takes two shots and two free throws, makes one of each, and gets five rebounds. He also blocks a shot.
Eight million bucks a year.
The Bulls had previously indicated they would match any offer for Asik, though it seems they did not anticipate an offer quite this generous. So this is what it has come to. The Rockets are in an imaginary bidding war for a former second-round pick that averages three points per game. This is the Rockets’ offseason. This is the 8 million Turkish sandwich on stale bread.
This is the offseason that just a week ago was all about getting Dwight Howard, who poked the Rockets’ sunburn by saying Monday he was only interested in one team (which we all assume to be the Brooklyn Nets).
I could rip. You could rip. We all could rip and make jokes and have a jolly good time. It would be deserved. I just don’t know if it would be worthwhile.
Morey knows the fans are disappointed because he’s disappointed too. He did everything he could to get Howard, and it didn’t work. He doesn’t need any of us to tell him this was not the kind of offseason anybody was hoping for around here.
So the question is not, Are you disappointed? The question is, Do you think Morey is competent?
I have a hard time arguing he is not. He seems to have the respect of his peers. He seems to have a clear and a well-articulated plan about how he wants to run the franchise. And for the most part he seems to be able to execute that plan. It’s rare day you come away thinking some agent or general manager pulled a fast one on Morey.
Monday was one of those rare days.
I’m not going to act like I know what the market was for Omer Asik, but the Bulls certainly seemed to be under the impression that it was something considerably less than 8 million per year. The Bulls had previously said retaining Asik was a top priority and that they would match any offers for the restricted free agent.
But the Bulls just found out you do not get in between the Rockets and a Turkish sandwich.
The Rockets, of course, are in this position because the only centers they have at the moment is somebody named Greg Smith, who you may remember from his illustrious career at Fresno State and . They’re hoping to re-sign Marcus Camby, who you may remember from when he was the No. 2 pick in the last NBA draft before Tupac died.
They had Samuel Dalembert, who was like an old Jaguar in that he was awesome when he worked, which was about half the time. But they traded him to move up in the draft, which was all part of the plan to get Howard.
Now it’s desperation time. It’s “fill out the roster” time. It’s time for the Turkish sandwich.
And it’s not a good feeling.
Jul 022012
Former Chicago Bulls center Omer Asik has verbally agreed on a three-year, $25.1 million deal with the Houston Rockets, according to ESPN‘s Marc Stein. For a player who has only started two games in the NBA, Asik got a great contract. As for the Rockets, not so much.
Houston GM Daryl Morey shelled out millions for an under-performing big man, and the poor business decision will come back to bite the franchise.
Asik—a Portland Trailblazers second-round draft pick in 2008—has played in 148 regular-season games with the Bulls. That said, he has averaged a mere 13.2 minutes and 2.9 career points per game.
The Rockets became enamored with the 7-foot, 255-pound Turkish native because the team is still trying to fill the void left by Yao Ming.
Houston threw their hat into the ring in attempt to acquire disgruntled Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, cites Yahoo.com‘s Adrian Wojnarowski. Nonetheless, the Howard sweepstakes is another issue in itself.
For the time being, the Asik agreement acts as some sort of security blanket. Which is ironic because his production-to-cost ratio is actually quite risky.
Currently, the only centers on the Rockets roster are youngsters Patrick Patterson and Greg Smith. That paint presence is very thin, and consequently, Asik seemed like the only answer early on in free agency.
The organization sees a 25-year-old who hasn’t reached his prime. Although, it’s hard to argue that Asik’s abilities warranted such a lucrative pay day.
Raw offensively, Asik has shot 52 percent from the field, but just 48 percent from the charity stripe. He must establish himself as an option in the paint, otherwise defenders will cheat off of him.
Taking the bad with the good, Asik has averaged .8 blocks and 4.4 rebounds per contest. He’s capable but unspectacular doing the dirty work and that’s his strongest asset—besides height.
Asik’s new contract won’t be signed until at least July 11. Once the papers are inked, Chicago will have three days to match it. However, that wouldn’t be logical from a financial standpoint.
Yahoo.com‘s Wojnarowski assessed the dynamics of Asik’s prospective offer sheet:
The Rockets have tried to acquire Asik in a trade for over a year, but finally forced the Bulls to have to commit to more than $8 million annually to keep him. The contract is back-loaded, and Asik’s salary in the third season of the deal would hit Chicago’s books at $15 million.
Logging roughly one quarter of available minutes per game does not translate to $25 million. But apparently, the Rockets thought it did.
If Asik is going to be paid top starter money, he must be prepared to play like one. If not, this move will ricochet on the Rockets and Daryl Morey.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Mar 102012
Rajon Rondo needs to go to work for Kevin McHale.
If the Boston Celtics point guard is not destined to retire as the second-greatest athlete—Hondo is still El Hombre—ever to play for the franchise, how can the team maximize his apparently inevitable departure?
That’s a crucial “if”…especially since there’s still no logical answer to the question “Why would you not hold onto, in a veritable Bruno Sammartino bear hug, so unique a set of talents as this young man possesses?”
But if indeed the post-Big Three Green Machine is to be motored by the nicely developing Avery Bradley or someone else not named Rajon, then whereto Rondo? And when?
The Reasoning
The expiring contract of a coveted young star far too often produces potholes in the path of an NBA season, so simply standing pat is not advisable.
This season’s Farewell Tour for the Big Three was launched on the twin tenets of getting healthy and catching lightning in a bottle, a strategy that would surely include a two-armed Rajon Rondo.
But notwithstanding some streaky success and a generally favorable schedule, Doc Rivers and his boys continue to look up at six teams in the hardly daunting Eastern Conference.
Will “healthy bottled lightning” be enough for these increasingly lovable (Brandon Bass, Mickael Pietrus) Celtics to defeat both the Bulls and Heat, on the heels of an April that includes a brutal stretch of 11 games (seven on the road) in 15 days?
Even a best-case scenario of surpassing the 76ers for the division crown (thus ensuring a top-four seed) might simply be postponing the inevitable.
And we’re only talking about getting through the East.
At what point does realistic optimism become pipe dream?
So if the Rondo ties are to be severed—for reasons other than talent—should not this dissociation happen sooner rather than later? Methinks that’s how Mr. Auerbach might assess the situation.
Rajon’s recent play, over and above lending some perspective to Linsanity (Abacus’ll take the Cole Train, thanks!), may be making his game as “attractive” as it’s ever going to be.
The Return
Now, what should Rivers and Danny Ainge be looking to get in return for their All-Star?
How does an emerging All-Star point guard, a versatile and athletic frontcourt player with three-point range and maybe six more post fouls sound to you?
Danny’s old friend and teammate McHale brought his Houston Rockets to the Garden for a look-see earlier this week.
Coach Kevin has emphasized the defensive end of the floor as his inconsistent squad fights for a playoff berth.
Rondo brings to the table the kind of grit that McHale is trying to instill in a young unit.
In return, Rondo’s rotation slot can be assumed by Kyle Lowry, who’ll provide similar in-your-face attitude and a better shooting touch.
The court sense and shooting range of 6’9” rookie Chandler Parsons would be a nice piece to add, and serve as insurance in the event that Jeff Green not be able to resume his career.
Toss in a developing big man like improving Jordan Hill or D-league grad Greg Smith, and you’re looking at a not unattractive package for a guy you’ve decided not to keep.
Trying to work an even-up deal for a premier point guard (Deron Williams) or other super stud (Josh Smith, a Gasol) addresses only one need.
This Rocket deal moves your man at maximum value and to the Western Conference, replacing him with a player in Lowry whose game still seems to be growing. And maybe Parsons can deliver a case of White Lightnin’ from his Dixie roots.
Another “If”
Would McHale, and more importantly Rockets GM Daryl Morey, place so much value on Rajon Rondo?
Would Rondo want to play for another team trying to claw its way into playoff position?
Interesting, whether it happens now or this summer.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Feb 212012
Feb 192012
Rockets rookie Greg Smith elevates and rejects a driving Al Jefferson.
Feb 092012
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has assigned center/forward Greg Smith back to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. The assignment marks the 35th time an NBA player has been assigned to his NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season. It also marks the first official assignment of [...]