March 2016 Houston Rockets Wiretap

Rockets Decline 17-18 Option On Tyler Ennis

Oct 31, 2016 10:14 PM

The Houston Rockets have declined their 17-18 team option on the contract of Tyler Ennis.

Houston could have locked up Ennis for next season at a price of $2.7 million. Ennis will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

Ennis is receiving an opportunity to prove himself with Patrick Beverley out with an injury.

Houston nearly waived Ennis before the start of the season.

Jonathan Feigen/Houston Chronicle

Tags: Tyler Ennis, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Rockets Exercise 17-18 Options On Clint Capela, Sam Dekker

Oct 30, 2016 4:41 PM

The Houston Rockets will pick up the 17-18 team options on the contracts of Clint Capela and Sam Dekker.

Capela was the 25th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Rockets and has emerged over the past season as their most valued big man.

Dekker was the 18th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft out of Wisconsin. Dekker spent most of his rookie season in the D-League as he worked his way back from a back injury.

Calvin Watkins/ESPN

Tags: Sam Dekker, Clint Capela, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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James Harden Excited To Increase Assists As Rockets Enter Season With 'Different Vibe'

Oct 26, 2016 11:50 PM

While James Harden has always been a prolific scorer, his ability as a passer may return to the public consciousness this season under Mike D'Antoni.

"You see the joy in my teammates getting shots and making shots," Harden recently told Bleacher Report. "They're comfortable. Everybody's happy. When they're happy, I'm happy. It's a different vibe. We're sacrificing for each other. That's where we are. We've got a long way to go, but for now it feels good."

D'Antoni decided in the offseason that he'd officially make Harden their point guard.

"It shocked me at first," Harden said. "And I kind of thought about it, and I was like, 'Yeah! I'm a passer. That's what I do. I create. I create and I give people opportunities to make them happy, to make them score.'"

D'Antoni wants Harden to create for others while also remaining aggressive as a scorer.

"Hopefully, he'll double his number of assists, and he had seven or eight [7.5] last year," D'Antoni said. "I hope he can average double that. He's one of the best passers I've been around."

Last season, Harden became the fourth player in NBA history to average at least 29 points, seven assists and six rebounds per game, joining Oscar Robertson, LeBron James and Michael Jordan.

"It's always been that way," Harden said of his passing. "That's why I call myself an all-around player, because I've been doing it for so long. I might not get as much credit as I deserve, but that's not for me to decide. I still go out there and just do what I've got to do. Eventually it will happen and people will figure it out."

Kevin Ding/Bleacher Report

Tags: James Harden, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Rockets Keep Tyler Ennis, Waive Pablo Prigioni

Oct 24, 2016 5:13 PM

The Houston Rockets will waive Pablo Prigioni and keep Tyler Ennis.

The Rockets acquired Ennis during camp from the Milwaukee Bucks for Michael Beasley.

Houston was previously planning on waiving Ennis.

Shams Charania/The Vertical

Tags: Tyler Ennis, Pablo Prigioni, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Waiver

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Rockets' Management Pushed For Clint Capela To Play Over Dwight Howard

Oct 24, 2016 11:18 AM

The front office of the Houston Rockets pushed for Clint Capela to receive more playing time last season over Dwight Howard.

The push added to the disharmony that played a big role in the Rockets' disappointing season.

J.B. Bickerstaff resisted complying with the wishes of general manager Daryl Morey and owner Leslie Alexander regarding a drastic reduction in Howard's playing time. 

Input from James Harden influenced Houston's desire to decrease the minutes of Howard but team sources insist Harden was never part of those discussions.

"There were times I was disinterested because of situations that happened behind the scenes that really hurt me," Howard said in a May interview with ESPN's Jackie MacMullan. "It left me thinking, 'This is not what I signed up for.'"

Asked to elaborate, Howard added: "I felt like my role was being reduced. I went to Daryl and said, 'I want to be more involved.' Daryl said, 'No, we don't want you to be.' My response was, 'Why not? Why am I here?' It was shocking to me that it came from him instead of our coach."

Howard learned of management's attempts to cut his minutes in midseason and shared a mutual interest with the Rockets front office to move him before the trade deadline. 

The Rockets anticipated that Howard would likely leave in free agency, making Capela's development critical to the franchise's future, and management felt that Capela's performance merited more minutes.

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Clint Capela, Dwight Howard, James Harden, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Patrick Beverley To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Knee Surgery

Oct 23, 2016 11:23 AM

Pat Beverley opted to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday and is expected to be out for four to six weeks, a person with knowledge of the decision said Saturday.

Beverley had not played since the first preseason game and had met with doctors several times to consider treatment options. 

Mike D'Antoni on Friday indicated Beverley could miss the season's first 20 games. Beverley averaged 9.9 points on 40 percent 3-point shooting last year.

Eric Gordon will replace Beverley in the Rockets' starting lineup.

Jonathan Feigen/Houston Chronicle

Tags: Patrick Beverley, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Injury

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Patrick Beverley Could Undergo Knee Surgery

Oct 18, 2016 7:40 PM

Patrick Beverley could undergo surgery on his left knee. Beverley will undergo further evaluations this week before a final determination is made.

Beverley has missed the past four preseason games with knee irritation.

Mike D'Antoni has planned on starting Beverley alongside James Harden in the backcourt.

With Beverley sidelined, D'Antoni has used K.J. McDaniels and Eric Gordon in the backcourt with Harden.

Calvin Watkins/ESPN

Tags: Patrick Beverley, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Injury

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Isaiah Taylor Waived By Rockets

Oct 17, 2016 2:34 PM

The Houston Rockets have waived Isaiah Taylor.

The Rockets have 18 players on the roster after waiving Taylor. 

Taylor didn't travel with the Rockets to China.

Jonathan Feigen/Houston Chronicle

Tags: Isaiah Taylor, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Waiver

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Rockets Will Consider Starting Eric Gordon

Oct 15, 2016 6:41 PM

Mike D'Antoni will consider using Eric Gordon as a starter for the Houston Rockets once the regular season begins.

Gordon has typically started throughout his career and D'Antoni wants him to adjust to that role at least initially.

The Rockets will start Patrick Beverley at one of the guard spots alongside James Harden who is now being used as a point guard.

Gordon signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Rockets in the offseason.

Calvin Watkins/ESPN

Tags: Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets, NBA

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Kevin McHale Doubts James Harden Evolve Into True Faciliator

Oct 11, 2016 11:25 PM

Kevin McHale coached James Harden for several seasons with the Houston Rockets and expressed doubt he can become a facilitator under Mike D'Antoni.

"You are who you are a lot of times," McHale, who will analyze games for TNT this season, said during a Tuesday conference call with reporters. "Can you change and be a facilitator first? I don't know. Kevin Garnett, a guy I go way, way back with -- Kevin Garnett was always a pass-first player. He was a pass-first player his first day of practice when he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"James is a scorer, and at the end of the day, you do fall back on what you are. James is a scorer at heart. Can you change that? ... Can you be something that you're really not for an entire 82-game season? He's a great facilitator, great passer, and he has great vision -- he really is a scorer as a basketball player."

McHale said Harden dominated the ball when he coached him with the Rockets.

Calvin Watkins/ESPN

Tags: James Harden, Houston Rockets, NBA

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Rockets Prioritizing Defense Under Mike D'Antoni, Jeff Bzdelik

Calvin Watkins/ESPN

Rockets Would Have To Promise Sergio Llull Significant Role To Bring Him To NBA

Marc Stein/ESPN

Rockets Hope To Sign Sergio Llull Next Offseason

Marc Stein/ESPN

Donatas Motiejunas' Qualifying Offer With Rockets Expires

Calvin Watkins/ESPN