Daryl Morey expects Royce White to play the remaining four regular-season games with the Rio Grande Vipers before a decision is reached about him playing in the playoffs.

“We’ll see where it goes from there,” Morey said. “The plan is to play it by ear. See what the best plan is at that point when we reach the end.”

White said on Wednesday that a plan for him to leave the Vipers at the end of the regular season has been in place for several weeks, citing the “hectic” schedule of the D-League playoffs.

Royce White has no plans to play in the D-League playoffs.

White returned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Tuesday and scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out six assists in a 104-94 win over Tulsa.

“I’ll be here until the end of the regular season,” White said after the game. “The playoff schedule and how hectic it is in the D-League probably ain’t going be the best thing for me. Going to the playoffs, I want them to have a team that’s going to stick together.”

White chose not to answer questions about why he left the Vipers last week.

Five days after he left the team, Royce White has returned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

White announced on Twitter that he had returned to the D-League affiliate and that a "miscommunication" with the Rockets had been cleared up. He said last week that he left the team and returned to Houston on the advice of a team doctor.

The Rockets have had no comment on the matter.

LeBron James and James Harden have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for games played Monday, March 18 through Sunday, March 24.

James averaged 30.8 points, 10.0 assists, 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 blocks, while shooting 59 percent from the field. He recorded his fourth triple-double of the season with 25 points (14 in the fourth quarter), 12 rebounds and 10 assists, as the Heat rallied from a 27-point deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 20.

Harden led the Rockets to a 3-0 week with averages of 26.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He scored a game-high 29 points, connecting on 17-of-18 from the free throw line, in a win over Utah on March 20. 

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta's Al Horford, Brooklyn's Brook Lopez, New Orleans' Anthony Davis, New York's Carmelo Anthony and Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge.

Kevin McHale wanted the Houston Rockets to keep Shaun Livingston, who was among the team’s final cuts after the preseason.

“He’s a great guy,” McHale said. “Knows how to play. He’s past so much of the stuff he had to get past as a young player to be a team player.  He just has a whole vibe about him that’s great.

“I was advocating very hard for his influence.”

Livingston was reportedly cut for salary cap reasons.

“It’s no secret that’s (Rockets general manager) Daryl Morey’s strategy, how he is known,” Livingston said. “He is very complex with the cap and how he does things. It could end up working out for the best for them. I’ve been a victim of circumstances this season. That’s been my theme this season.”

After declaring to leave the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA D-League, Royce White posted on his Twitter account that he will rejoin the Houston Rockets next season.

"AGAIN, no one is quitting ANYTHING, just getting prepared 4 next season with the @HoustonRockets... I'm very excited, can't wait to rejoin," White wrote on his verified account.

White had said he was returning to Houston but not to join the Rockets.

The Rockets selected White with the 16th pick in last year's draft, but both sides have dealt with constant back and forth differences centering on how to compromise about the forward's mental state.

Royce White announced via Twitter that he is leaving the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

White did not offer an explanation, but later said he was returning to Houston, not the Rockets.

White appeared in 12 games for the Vipers and averaged 9.6 points and 5.6 rebounds, making 41.6 percent of his shots and 62 percent of his free throws.

After being blown out by the Golden State Warriors at home, Chandler Parsons took a shot toward the trash talking of rookie Draymond Green.

When asked if the Rockets have developed a rivalry with the Warriors, Parsons said: “That kid is irrelevant that was talking trash." By "that kid," Parsons meant Green.

The Warriors (38-30) and Rockets (36-31) are currently positioned sixth and seventh, respectively, in the Western Conference.

The Houston Rockets continue to plan for an offseason in which they will pursue a prominent free agent big man.

Sources say the Rockets' preference is to sign Dwight Howard, but will pursue Andrew Bynum and Josh Smith as alternatives.

The Rockets have publicly acknowledged that they need a second star to pair with James Harden.

The Houston Rockets have agreed to a four-year contract extension with Daryl Morey, owner Leslie Alexander said on Thursday.

Morey had one season left on his contract.

"The reason I extended Daryl, I thought he's done a terrific job in his tenure with the Rockets," Alexander said.

Morey has rebuilt the Rockets with wise trades and signings, most notably acquiring James Harden in a deal last offseason.

The Rockets currently rank seventh in the Western Conference with a 33-29 record.