Houston Rockets Trade Rumors

Rockets trying to acquire Kaman
February 1
SI.com
 
"The Houston Rockets have had extensive discussions with the New Orleans Hornets about center Chris Kaman and appear to be in the lead to trade for him, numerous sources told SI.com. The NBA-owned Hornets, who acquired Kaman from the Clippers in the Chris Paul deal on Dec. 15, rendered him inactive last week and publicly acknowledged their decision to trade him. Hornets general manager Dell Demps has been shopping for a deal involving young players and draft picks while the big man awaits his next destination. Kaman, 29, an All-Star in 2009-2010 when he averaged 18.5 points and 9.2 rebounds, is making $14 million in the last year of his contract. Dealing with the Hornets means any trade"
Rockets pass on lottery picks options, extensions; will save money for summer.
January 25
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Rockets have told each of their four lottery picks from the 2009 NBA Draft – Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn, Terrence Williams and Jordan Hill – they won't be picking up the fourth-year option on their rookie contracts, a person with knowledge of the talks said. The moves were not unexpected. Only Hill is playing. The Rockets, however, made the decision not as much because of the play of the four lottery picks, but to create room for a max contract should there be a free agent (Dwight Howard, Deron Williams lead the class), according to the person familiar with their thinking."
DeMarcus Cousins demands a trade? Time to crank up the Sacramento-to-Houston Express again
January 2
Houston Chronicle
 
"Soon, it won't matter what was said or who said it. Paul Westphal called out and suspended DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins no doubt will blame Westphal. Irreconcilable differences almost always end in divorce. When a coach and a player cannot coexist, the outcome is usually the same. Both are usually shown the way out of town. It does not happen at once, but it usually is the beginning of the end. The Kings will no doubt try to repair this relationship, or at least pretend that they have, but no one will buy it. Cousins will likely return to the team, pledging his great determination to excel for his team and teammates. Westphal will insist they will move on stronger than they were before. By"
Knicks claim guard Jeremy Lin
December 27
ESPN.com
 
"The New York Knicks have claimed guard Jeremy Lin off waivers. Lin was released Sunday by the Rockets to make roster room for Houston's signing of Samuel Dalembert. The Rockets had claimed Lin off waivers after he was released by the Golden State Warriors, who had to let him go to create the requisite salary-cap space for a four-year offer sheet worth nearly $43 million to then-restricted DeAndre Jordan that was matched by the Los Angeles Clippers. Lin is a Bay Area native who played in 29 games last season as a rookie with the Warriors, becoming the NBA's first Asian-American player since 1947."
Rockets release Lin to make room on roster for Dalembert
December 26
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Rockets released guard Jeremy Lin late Saturday night to reduce the roster to 14 players and make room to sign center Samuel Dalembert. Dalembert, 30, agreed to join the Rockets on Wednesday, but they were unable to sign him in time to go through Friday's two practices or the Saturday morning practice. Coach Kevin McHale was unsure if Dalembert, 6-11, would play tonight against Dwight Howard and the Magic. "I think it is (a setback)," Rockets guard Kevin Martin said of Dalembert not practicing before the season opener. "We looked forward to him getting out there, getting into game shape, trying to get our system down. Of course it's a setback, but Jordan (Hill), (Hasheem) Thabeet and"
Kings in the lead for Dalembert?
December 20
CBSSports.com
 
"Samuel Dalembert is maybe the top free agent prize left on the market, especially in terms of big men. And there are two teams in desperate need of a center -- the Rockets and the Kings. The Rockets saw Yao retire, their trade for Pau Gasol fall apart at the feet of David Stern and their offer to Marc Gasol get matched. The Kings had to void the contract of their new center Chuck Hayes because of a heart issue. That leaves them both in need of a big man, but right now, Sacramento might have the leg up. Kings general manager Geoff Petrie was asked about re-signing Dalembert and he told the Sac Bee, "We've stayed in touch with him periodically along the way. We'll see what develops here in"
Rockets make offer for Grizzlies' Marc Gasol
December 12
Houston Chronicle
 
"Having been unable to land the elder Gasol brother, the Rockets have begun a pursuit of the other Gasol. Unlike their trade for the Lakers' Pau Gasol, which came to a shocking and in some ways debilitating end when first vetoed then foiled by the NBA, they don't expect to land the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol. The Rockets on Sunday prepared an offer for Marc Gasol, a person with knowledge of the offer said, hoping to engage the Grizzlies in talks for a sign-and-trade agreement. The Rockets will offer the maximum contract they can to Gasol, worth $55 million over four years, but the pursuit of Gasol is a longshot because he is a restricted free agent. If he signs a Rockets offer sheet, the"
Revised deal reached to send Paul to L.A.
December 10
CBSSports.com
 
"The Lakers, Hornets and Rockets reached agreement on the framework of a revised trade sending Chris Paul to the Lakers Saturday, pending the resolution of some moving parts and approval by the commissioner's office, multiple sources told CBSSports.com. Houston would still get Pau Gasol from the Lakers in the three-team swap, while the Rockets would send Luis Scola and Kevin Martin to the Hornets, as in the original version that was killed by commissioner David Stern in his role as final decision-maker on major personnel moves for the league-owned Hornets. It wasn't immediately clear how the Hornets were satisfying the league directive to acquire young players and valuable draft picks in"
Revised three-team trade involving Chris Paul reportedly has been submitted to the league office
December 10
New Orleans Times-Picayune
 
"New Orleans Hornets are part of a revised of three-team trade deal that involves Chris Paul still going to the Lakers has reportedly been re-submitted sent to the NBA office for approval. The deal is expected to include more draft picks and younger players than Thursday's trade that was blocked by NBA Commissioner David Stern that had Paul going to the Lakers and the Hornets acquiring guards Kevin Martin and Goran Dragic, forward Luis Scola and a first-round draft choice from the Houston Rockets as well as Lakers forward Lamar Odom. In addition, Houston would had acquired Pau Gasol. Hornets officials could not confirm Saturday if a new revised deal has been re-submitted to the league."
Chris Paul trade talks remain in full swing
December 10
New Orleans Times-Picayune
 
"Well, that was awkward. A day after packing for Los Angeles, only to have his trade to the Lakers nixed by the NBA, New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul unexpectedly showed up for the first day of training camp Friday at the Alario Center. Still, it might have been just a cameo. Hornets General Manager Dell Demps said he is resuming trade discussions for his four-time All-Star and didn't rule out revisiting the Lakers and Houston in trying to consummate a deal that would get league approval. "Yes, people are still calling, and we're calling people,'' Demps said Friday. "So we're confident we can get a deal.'' Demps, though, didn't have a timetable on when a deal will be completed."
Hornets, Lakers, Rockets resume Paul talks
December 9
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The New Orleans Hornets, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers have resumed negotiations in an attempt to find a way to complete a blockbuster trade that would send Chris Paul to L.A., league sources told Yahoo! Sports. "All three teams are engaged," one source told Y! Sports. "Not sure if it will work." The resumption of talks comes less than 24 hours after the three teams agreed on a trade only to have NBA commissioner David Stern veto it. Stern released a statement on Friday saying he blocked the trade because the league-owned Hornets were "better served with Chris in a Hornets uniform than by the outcome of the terms of that trade.""
Sources: Teams appeal Chris Paul ruling
December 9
ESPN.com
 
"The three teams involved in the Chris Paul trade blocked Thursday by NBA commissioner David Stern are appealing to the league for Stern to reverse the decision, according to sources close to the process. There is no indication yet that Stern is prepared to reverse course after taking the dramatic step of blocking the league-owned New Orleans Hornets' decision to deal Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers."
Stern kills Lakers' deal for Paul
December 8
Yahoo! Sports
 
"NBA commissioner David Stern has killed the New Orleans Hornets' trade of Chris Paul after several owners complained about the league-owned team dealing the All-Star point guard to the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Some owners pushed Stern to demand that trade be nullified, and the Hornets be made to keep Paul on the roster for the foreseeable future, sources said. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was one of the most vocal in a chorus of owners irate with the belief that the five-month lockout had happened largely to stop big-market teams from leveraging small-market teams for star players pending free agency. Before Stern intervened, the Lakers had reached an"
Lakers set to land Paul
December 8
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The Los Angeles Lakers are nearing an agreement to acquire All-Star point guard Chris Paul in a three-team trade that will cost them Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Lakers are finalizing the trade with the New Orleans Hornets and Houston Rockets. Under the terms of the deal, the Lakers would send Gasol to the Rockets. The Hornets would receive Odom, Rockets guards Kevin Martin and Goran Dragic and forward Luis Scola, league sources said."
Three-team trade discussed that would send Paul to Lakers
December 8
SI.com
 
"The Lakers, Hornets and Rockets are discussing a three-way trade that would send Chris Paul to L.A. and Pau Gasol to Houston, league sources told SI.com. New Orleans would receive Rockets swingman Kevin Martin and center Luis Scola. The Lakers have been in the hunt for Paul since the beginning, but L.A.'s refusal to include Andrew Bynum in any deal for Paul has prevented talks from advancing. The Lakers prefer to hold on to Bynum as the possible centerpiece of trade talks with Orlando for Dwight Howard. The Hornets are not interested in Gasol (who has three years and $57 million left on his deal), but in the last 48 hours they have put out feelers to try and gauge league-wide interest in"
Source: Kings offer Chuck Hayes $20M
December 8
ESPN.com
 
"The Sacramento Kings have offered a four-year contract valued at $20 million to Houston Rockets free agent Chuck Hayes, according to a team source. The under-the-cap Kings, according to the source, are optimistic Hayes will accept the deal, which would pay the 6-foot-6 forward in the mid-level exception ballpark of $5 million annually. Said another source close to the process: "Look for [Hayes] to take it.""
Nene, Chandler weighing options after fallouts with former teams
December 7
SI.com
 
"Nene and Tyson Chandler have more in common than being the top-tier big men in this year's NBA free agent class: They both had their feelings hurt by their former team. Chandler appears unlikely to return to Dallas, in large part because of the Mavericks' insistence on preserving their payroll for next year's free-agent crop and because of Chandler's increasing involvement in the Chris Paul saga in New Orleans. But a source with knowledge of the situation said the prospect of Nene returning to Denver remains entirely possible -- if not probable -- for the exact opposite reason. Nene, who recently expressed disappointment over the Nuggets' reluctance to offer an extension until late last"
New Orleans Hornets are interested in David West and Carl Landry
December 5
New Orleans Times-Picayune
 
"With only five players currently under contract and a free-agency signing period beginning on Friday, the agents for former New Orleans Hornets' power forwards David West, Carl Landry and Jason Smith both said Sunday that the team wants all three to return this season. However, Lance Young, who represents West, and Mark Bartelstein, the agent for Landry and Smith, said that their clients were in high demand throughout the league. NBA general managers and coaches reportedly can begin contacting players personally today in an attempt to recruit their services. Bartelstein said Sunday that Hornets general manager Dell Demps – who could not be reached for comment – has also inquired about two"
Free-agent buzz: Heat lead chase for Battier
December 4
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Once NBA teams can speak with free agents beginning Monday, Miami Heat president Pat Riley has his franchise in strong position to sell Shane Battier on signing to play with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Battier has been a primary target in free agency for the Heat, and sources say the pitch of Riley, coach Erik Spoelstra and key Heat players could ultimately confirm Battier's strong feelings about chasing a championship in Miami. Riley and Spoelstra see Battier as a strong defender with an ability to hit the open shots that'll come his way playing with James, Wade and Chris Bosh. Battier has been a proven playoff performer, and possesses the"
If Nene is the Rockets' Plan A, what's Plan B? They likely will trade for it
November 30
Houston Chronicle
 
"We'll assume, given the time constraints, the Rockets won't be packing up a caravan of face painters in an effort to impress Nene. It is not so much that the ploy failed last time, though the bandwagon did head to Florida when Chris Bosh was in Dallas. The idea was to get some attention for the pursuit of Bosh when no one seemed to be noticing. It did not have to accomplish much if it could do that. Maybe it did. It didn't matter. Daryl Morey did get his sit down with Bosh and Bosh later said he was impressed. We assume he liked the iPad, too. The Rockets could not, however, offer a chance to join The Heatles. Bosh went to Miami as if there never were a chance he would do anything else."
Nene wants out; six teams in hunt
November 29
CBSSports.com
 
"One of the surest bets of the soon-to-begin 2011 NBA free-agent period is that Nene wants out of Denver. Where he winds up, and how, will be among the most intriguing storylines when the floodgates open around Dec. 9. The Nuggets are operating under the firm belief that Nene will test the market as an unrestricted free agent, according to a person familiar with the team's thinking. Six teams have registered interest, the source said: Golden State, New Jersey, Indiana, Miami, Dallas and Houston. Nene, the top unrestricted free agent on the market in the view of many team executives, will have a say over where he winds up -- though not as much as free agents did under the previous system"
If there's no NBA season, Rockets may consider overhauling roster
November 17
Houston Chronicle
 
"Players can dunk their way through All-Star games. Lawyers can file lawsuits and bill clients. David Stern, commissioner of a league with no games, and Billy Hunter, leader of a union downgraded to a trade association, can spew sound bites and blame one another. The NBA is in its "nuclear winter" of discontent. Coaches and general managers and all those who answer to them can fill their time trashing their plans for the season that might never come to begin the painfully slow process of preparing for the next season. For the Rockets, the potential demolition of the 2011-12 season could change everything."
Rockets' Donatas Motiejunas signs with Polish club
September 23
Houston Chronicle
 
"Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas signed a two-year contract with Polish Club Posseco Prokum Gdynia, which bought out his contract from Benneton Treviso, Motiejunas' NBA agent Herb Rudoy confirmed on Thursday. Motiejunas, selected with the 20th pick of the 2011 draft and acquired by the Rockets in a trade with the Timberwolves, had said in June he would remain in Europe only for the duration of the lockout and could return to the Rockets for his rookie season."
Chuck Hayes to China?
September 11
SLAM Online
 
"Six years ago, all 30 NBA teams passed on the Houston Rockets' Chuck Hayes. This time around, Hayes is in demand as an unrestricted free agent once the lockout is resolved. But it's not resolved and that demand begins in China. "China would be the ideal place as Hayes popularity there is unbelievable," said Hayes' agent Calvin Andrews of BDA Sports Management. "We have a great relationship with teams over there and Chuck would be a fan favorite." Hayes can thank Yao Ming for the extra exposure. Anyone who has played significant time alongside Yao has reaped the benefits of receiving an extended fan base in China. China offered Hayes a lucrative deal early in the summer according to"
NBA wants 3rd round in draft
September 7
SheridanHoops.com
 
"After an overnight flight connecting through Helsinki, Finland, I bumped into a scout for the Denver Nuggets near the tourist information booth at the quaint little airport here where the second round of EuroBasket is taking place. Whether he knows it or not, he may be here scouting future third-round draft picks. That's right: Third round. SheridanHoops.com has learned that NBA owners have proposed adding a third round to the annual draft, a proposal that the players' union has countered by offering an array of changes to the draft that would help address the owners' desire for more competitive balance."
NBA Lockout Update: Sides are closer than they're saying
September 6
SheridanHoops.com
 
"Here's the dirty little secret about the NBA lockout, despite what both sides — the owners and the players — would have you believe: They are a lot closer to a settlement than most people realize. I know this because I talk regularly with a bunch of important people who tell me important things, and I am going to explain why I believe a settlement will be reached that will not only save the season, but also enable the NBA to have an "all is forgiven" honeymoon period (similar to what the NFL just experienced following its labor settlement) in which the frenzy of free agents signings, trades, training camps and exhibition games will make everyone forget all of the doomsday talk they've been"
Next bargaining session coming early September?
August 17
CBSSports.com
 
"It took 46 days for the NBA and its players' union after the lockout began July 1. It didn't go all that well. Rhetoric from both sides ramped up, lawsuits started flying around and most importantly, there wasn't any movement towards the middle. Then David Stern accused the union of cancelling a meeting last week with the union responding that Billy Hunter had been told Stern wasn't going to be available for two weeks. So as you can tell, this is all going just super. But they're finally going to try again sometime in early September, according to Newsday. At this point, the union will host an executive meeting in New York at the end of August. The anticipation is the union and league"
David Stern: NBA to look at contraction
August 15
CBSSports.com
 
"The NBA currently has thirty teams, but the league's commissioner, David Stern, seems open to the possibility that that number of franchises could shrink in the future. Speaking on an ESPN.com podcast, Stern stated that there is some interest in contraction from both the league and players sides and that the subject will be picked up after the current Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations are completed. "[Contraction] is not a subect that we're against," Stern said. "In fact, when you talk about revenue sharing, a number of teams have said that if you have a team that is perpetually going to be a recipient, aren't you better off with the ability to buy them in? Because between the"
Houston set to receive 2013 All-Star Game
August 11
San Antonio Express-News
 
"Even with the lockout dragging on, some NBA business continues to transpire. Several media outlets in Houston are reporting that the NBA All-Star Game will return to the Toyota Center in 2013. The NBA's annual showcase of stars was last played there in 2006. "It's a done deal," a person familiar with the bidding process told the Houston Chronicle on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly. "We're just waiting for the NBA to make the announcement." KRIV-TV in Houston reports that the game will be played Feb. 17, 2o13, with All-Star festivities beginning two days earlier. The Rockets originally were targeting for the 2014 game, but have decided to bring the"
Luis Scola says he might play for Yao Ming's China team
July 25
Pro Basketball Talk
 
"Luis Scola, the Houston Rocket's forward, isn't going anywhere. He has four years, $46 million left on his NBA deal. But throw him in the "flirting with overseas" category during the lockout, although the Argentinian forward is not exactly thinking what you are thinking. At least according to the Argentinian sports site Ole. Scola prefers Yao Ming's land as a destination if the NBA season does not start because of the lockout."It's a more open market, it has so much potential and the country is appealing to me," he told Ole."
McHale picks Kelvin Sampson to join staff
July 13
Houston Chronicle
 
"More than two months after Kelvin Sampson interviewed for the Rockets' coaching job that eventually went to Kevin McHale, Sampson ended up on the Rockets' bench anyway. McHale picked Sampson to be his lead assistant, a person with knowledge of the decision said Tuesday, with the Rockets reaching agreements in principle to hire Sampson and Timberwolves assistant J.B. Bickerstaff to join McHale's staff. The Rockets had previously promoted Rio Grande Valley Vipers coach Chris Finch from their NBA Development League affiliate. Sampson, the former Oklahoma and Indiana coach who was one of the first candidates interviewed for the Rockets' head coaching position, was expected to be considered for"
Sources: Rockets' Yao set to retire
July 8
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Yao Ming, one of the seminal figures in the globalization of the NBA, has decided to retire after nine injury-plagued seasons with the Houston Rockets, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Yao played just five games last season, and hasn't been able to fully recover after having surgery in January to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. The veteran center informed the Rockets, the league office in New York and NBA China of his decision to leave the game within the past 48 hours, sources said."
It only gets harder for owners, players; owners expected to push for $45 million hard cap
June 30
San Antonio Express-News
 columnist Mike Monroe
"The NBA's Board of Governors met Tuesday in Dallas and heard a report on collective bargaining from Spurs owner Peter Holt, chairman of its labor relations committee. The league wouldn't reveal if the board officially authorized locking out the players once the clock strikes midnight Thursday, the end of the collective bargaining agreement that's been in place since 2005, but it doesn't matter. As commissioner David Stern has warned already, such a vote is a mere formality and can be conducted by any means at any time. The first lockout authorization via text message may be mere hours away. Holt's committee will meet with the negotiating committee of the National Basketball Player's"
Rockets to pick up option on Dragic's contract
June 29
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Rockets confirmed on Tuesday last week's report that they would pick up their option on point guard Goran Dragic's contract. Dragic, acquired in a trade deadline deal with Phoenix for Aaron Brooks, will earn $2.1 million in the final season of his contract. He averaged 7.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 22 games with the Rockets."
Warriors pass on Andris Biedrins trade offer
June 27
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Warriors have passed on a several trade offers from Houston, including one that would have sent center Andris Biedrins to the Rockets for Jordan Hill and Hasheem Thabeet. At least, that's what Warriors director of basketball operations Kirk Lacob told French Web site BasketUSA.com. The Warriors seem to have growing confidence in a mental and physical training program they developed for Biedrins this summer."
Rockets said to be working a deal for Andris Biedrins
June 26
SB Nation
 
"After the Rockets were not able to pull in their coveted big man at the NBA Draft on Thursday, the wheels in Daryl Morey's head are spinning like mad trying to get this team a player in the middle that can make a difference. That player may end up being... Andris Biedrins? Latest NBA scuttlebutt has the Rockets possibly sending center/forward tweener Jordan Hill and um, effort/desire tweener Hasheem Thabeet to Golden State for Biedrins. In seven seasons with the Warriors, Biedrins has averaged 7.7 points, 8 rebounds, and just over a block per game while playing in around 24 minutes per contest. He's very obviously not "the" guy the Rockets covet, but they would have you believe that he's"
Rockets get extra pick in Flynn trade after deal amended
June 26
Houston Chronicle
 
"A day after the Rockets and Jonny Flynn said there are no issues with a hip condition that required surgery last summer, a person with knowledge of the trade talks that brought Flynn to Houston confirmed the deal had been amended because of the injury. The Rockets received Minnesota's second-round pick next season after the deal was changed Friday. Yahoo! Sports reported Saturday that the Rockets received the extra pick because of concerns team physicians had with Flynn's left hip. But Friday, the Rockets denied there were any lingering issues with the hip. "He's fine," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said Friday. "There are no issues with that." Morey declined to comment Saturday."
Rockets to pick up option on Dragic's contract
June 25
Houston Chronicle
 (scroll down)
"Flynn, the sixth player chosen in the 2009 draft, will have to compete for playing time behind Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic. Even with the acquisition of Flynn, the Rockets will pick up their option on Dragic's contract next week, a person familiar with the decision said Friday."
New assistant joins staff
June 25
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Rockets placed the completion of Kevin McHale's coaching staff on hold until next month but do have one assistant in place. Chris Finch, who coached the team's NBA Development League affiliate, has been elevated to an assistant coach, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said Friday. Finch helped with the workouts of draft prospects, and attended the news conference introducing the four new players and a workout of the players late Friday."
Florida's Chandler Parsons drafted by Houston Rockets at No. 38
June 24
Orlando Sentinel
 
"Florida forward Chandler Parsons fell out of the first round of the NBA Draft on Thursday night, but he'll have the chance to prove his talents with Houston. The Rockets drafted Parsons, this year's SEC Player of the Year, with the 38th overall pick. Three other teams in the second round passed on Parsons and drafted another small forward, including the Heat. Miami selected Bojan Bogdanovic from Bosnia with the first pick of the second round - although the Heat traded him. Duke's Kyle Singler went to Detroit at No. 33 and and UCLA's Tyler Honeycutt went at No. 35 to Sacramento. The 6-foot-10, 221-pound Parsons averaged 11.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists last season while shooting 48"
Morey hoping his draft-day risks will be rewarded
June 24
Houston Chronicle
 columnist Richard Justice
"Dirk Nowitzki, anyone? When the Rockets scouted 20-year-old Donatas Motiejunas, Nowitzki was the player who kept creeping into the conversation. How's that for putting pressure on the kid? How's that for setting Rockets general manager Daryl Morey — and Motiejunas — up for failure? Don't you love it? When Morey parted ways with Rick Adelman, he knew he was taking a chance. Morey knew that in letting a proven coach go, he might not get someone nearly as good. But he also said he didn't become an NBA general manager to play it safe and that the only way to move forward as an organization, the only way to get back to the point of being able to win in the playoffs, was to take a few chances."
Timberwolves draft Derrick Williams, trade Jonny Flynn to Houston in deal for Brad Miller
June 24
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"In the few minutes that Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn talked to the media Thursday night near the end of the NBA draft, he was very clear on two subjects: He would take no questions on coach Kurt Rambis, and Arizona forward Derrick Williams, the player he chose with the No. 2 pick, will not be used to swing a trade. "We did not draft Williams to put him in a deal," Kahn said. "He's staying." As for Rambis, already fired according to reports that surfaced Wednesday night, Kahn said, "There is no news to share on the process." Kahn also did not clarify a number of potential trades the Wolves reportedly made Thursday night, including one deal that sent point guard"
Safest bet? Expecting a wild night
June 23
Houston Chronicle
 
"With the class of 2011 inspiring widely divergent opinions, the NBA draft has long seemed certain to be unpredictable. And on the eve of the draft, there was a taste of the volatility that could come tonight. Word of just a few changes near the top set off a chain reaction throughout the expected first half of the first round and included players who'd been projected to be available at the Rockets' pick at No. 14. And that didn't factor in any of the trades that are in the works. The Rockets are among several teams looking to move up. The teams with the top six picks have been talking at length to each other, seeking ways to jockey for position and still get what they want, though Kyrie"
Milwaukee, Houston discussing a deal
June 22
Racine Journal-Times
 
"The Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets could be swapping more than draft selections today. They could also be swapping players. For the last several days, there have been rumors the Bucks were seriously exploring the possibility of moving back from their No. 10 position in Thursday night's NBA draft. Bucks general manager John Hammond conceded he's had on-going discussions with several teams but declined to go into details. There has been widespread speculation the Bucks have had in-depth talks with the Houston Rockets, who have two first-round picks -- Nos. 24 and 23 -- and are desperately trying to move up in an attempt to select a much-needed center. But it appears discussions between"
Houston attempting to move into the top 10; Detroit may have given Kawhi Leonard a guarantee
June 21
Yahoo! Sports
 (scroll down)
"Houston continues to offer the 14th and 23rd picks in the draft to move into the top 10, and could have a willing partner with the Detroit Pistons at No. 8. The Pistons have told teams they won't trade down until they see who drops to them on draft night, sources said. In what could be an interesting window into the Pistons' preferences, San Diego State forward Kawhi Leonard worked out for Detroit on Monday, and shortly thereafter cancelled his Wednesday workout with the Milwaukee Bucks, who have the 10th pick. Several executives believe Leonard may have left Auburn Hills with a guarantee."
Hawks assess trade interest in Smith
June 21
Yahoo! Sports
 columnist Adrian Wojnarowski
"The Atlanta Hawks have started to gauge trade interest on forward Josh Smith, and Smith isn't averse to ending his seven-year stay with his hometown team, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Monday. Smith hasn't requested a trade, but has privately told league friends that the Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic are his preferred destinations should the Hawks decide to move him. "The relationship has run its course," said a league source with knowledge of the dynamic. There's been growing acrimony between Smith and the organization, sources said, largely because of the feeling that Smith has been too convenient of a scapegoat. Smith had one of his most"
Morey says Rockets 'fine at 14'
June 19
Houston Chronicle
 
"This time, Daryl Morey has reason to believe the draft-day deal he has sought since becoming the Rockets' general manager will come through. To his surprise, however, he wouldn't mind if it doesn't. Morey, who said he has found the draft class of 2011 to be better and deeper than he expected, has tried to move up in the draft in each of his seasons with the Rockets. This season, he believes he has a better chance of making some kind of move, armed with an additional first-round choice, a nearly full roster and an extra pick (with some stipulations) next season. Morey has made his usual calls to move up from the 14th pick in Thursday's draft and has been open about that being his preference"
McHale eyes a little help
June 13
Houston Chronicle
 
"When Red Auerbach, the late Boston legend who drafted Kevin McHale, lit victory cigars on the Celtics' bench, he had no right-hand man to share the moment. He had no assistant coaches, no player development staff, no one staying up nights studying video. As stunned as Auerbach might have been had he been told of the career path of McHale, the playful rookie he drafted, he likely would have been amazed at the changes in NBA coaching since he left the bench in 1967. When McHale signed on as Rockets coach last week, his first order of business was to begin interviews with assistant coaches, with one expected to serve in the lead assistant role that has become popular in the NBA. "You try to"
Rockets to interview Grizzlies assistant Dave Joerger
May 30
Houston Chronicle
 
"With one coaching search complete, the Rockets will open another this week. Seeking a lead assistant to Kevin McHale to run the defense and help with day-to-day preparations, the Rockets will interview Memphis Grizzlies assistant Dave Joerger this week, a person familiar with the process said. The interview is not yet scheduled. The Rockets will also consider New Orleans Hornets assistant Michael Malone and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Kelvin Sampson, the individual familiar with the process said. Malone is considered a top candidate to join Mike Brown with the Los Angeles Lakers as a lead assistant. He had been on Brown's staff in Cleveland before joining Monty Williams in New Orleans this"