The Los Angeles Clippers held semiserious trade talks at last year's deadline with the Houston Rockets on a DeAndre Jordan deal.

The trade would have sent Jordan to the Rockets for Clint Capela, picks and players.

Jordan will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current season. Capela will be a restricted free agent in 2018.

The Houston Rockets released Isaiah Canaan just four days after signing him to a non-guaranteed contract.

Trevor Ariza was expected to be out three to four weeks, but he only missed four days, which led to the Rockets' unexpected reversal from Canaan.

"We're disappointed because I know Isaiah was really excited about getting back with the Rockets," Canaan's agent Mark Bartelstein said. "When they got the perimeter play of Trevor back, Daryl (Morey) the Rockets general manager called and said 'I don't think there's enough minutes for us to just justify using up our cap flexibility.'

"While we're disappointed, we understand it. If there's not an opportunity for Isaiah to play, they're so tight up against it, it, put them in a tough situation. They want to stay in close contact where if something were to happen with the roster and they have a need, I know he's the first guy they'll look at."

The Rockets are keeping their 15th roster spot open.

"It's pretty simple," Daryl Morey said. "Isaiah did nothing wrong, but we're obviously focused on the big picture. We're having to think down the road. We need to preserve all our flexibility. Unless someone is currently, actively on the floor or in the plan for it, hard to keep him on the roster."

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward Josh Smith after receiving an injury hardship exemption by the NBA.  

Smith, 6-9, 225, most recently played for Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association, appearing in 26 games in China, Smith averaged 18.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 blocks.

A 12-year NBA veteran, Smith has appeared in 891 career regular season games (772 starts) with Atlanta, Detroit, Houston and the Los Angeles Clippers, holding career averages of 14.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.9 blocks in 32.5 minutes per game. Additionally, Smith has appeared in 73 career postseason games (60 starts), averaging 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks in 31.6 minutes.

The Houston Rockets have agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with Isaiah Canaan.

Canaan was waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder before the start of the season.

Canaan was drafted by the Rockets in 2013 and was eventually traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 1.

Antetokounmpo averaged 38.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game with a True Shooting Percentage of .709.

Harden averaged 27.7 points, 9.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game.

Briante Weber has agreed upon a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets.

Weber will initially report to the Rockets' G-League affiliate but will have the opportunity to be called up.

The Rockets will be without Chris Paul for another 2-3 more weeks.

Weber's deal includes a team option for the 2018-19 season.

Weber has played briefly in the NBA with the Grizzlies, Heat, Warriors and Hornets.

Chris Paul talked about the end of his tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers in a series with ESPN.

“Like, a lot of people see wins and losses and that stuff like that, but it’s the culture of our team,” Paul said.

Paul went on to say that he told his brother, CJ Paul, to tell the Clippers this:

“I was like, if you ain’t trying to contend with the Warriors, then what are doing? The Warriors haven’t lost in the playoffs. Like, if you’re not trying to contend with them, then what are you doing?”

Chris Paul will sit out the Houston Rockets' game on Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks with a bruised left knee.

Paul suffered the injury in the Rockets' opening night win at Golden State and also sat out their game on Wednesday.

Paul was traded to the Rockets in the offseason in which he delayed signing a long-term contract.

Update: Marc Stein of the New York Times reports Paul could miss a month.

Chris Paul sat out the final four minutes and 47 seconds of the Houston Rockets' opening night win over the Golden State Warriors due to knee soreness.

"Dragging his leg a little bit; I had to get him out of there," Mike D'Antoni said.

Paul showed no sign of displeasure with D'Antoni's decision. Paul was rooting on his teammates and waving a towel in celebration during the final minutes of the game.

"I'm a hell of a cheerleader, man," joked Paul.

Paul also sat out last week's preseason finale due to a bruised left knee.

Tilman Fertitta talked about what his tolerance level may be for paying the luxury tax.

The Houston Rockets figure to get more expensive next season if they re-sign Chris Paul at 35 percent of the cap with James Harden already on a supermax.

"This is what was told to me by my experts that work here: If it's going to take you to the Finals, then you should pay the luxury tax. And I totally agree. If you have to lose money to get to the Finals or win a championship, I think you do what you have to do because it's going to come back to you.

"Remember, I don't look at things year to year. I don't operate any of my businesses year to year. I look at everything long-term, so if it costs me money to win a few championships, I'm fine with that. But you don't want to be in the luxury tax and not be getting to the Finals, so if you don't have a team that can get to the Finals, you shouldn't be paying the luxury tax.

"I'm going to take the advice of Daryl and his team and Tad. I will do what they suggest that we do."