Tag: Danny Green

Rockets open to keeping Justin Holiday, Danny Green, Frank Kaminsky

Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminsky joined the #Rockets prior to Friday’s game in Miami, and it sounds as if Danny Green is on the way. All three were acquired at Thursday’s trade deadline.

The primary incentive for Houston’s trade deadline moves sending Eric Gordon to the Clippers and Garrison Mathews and Bruno Fernando to the Hawks was draft capital.

But, the Rockets took back veterans in those trades for salary matching purposes. While former Rockets guard John Wall will be waived — not a surprise, given his recent harsh comments about the team — the status of the other three was not immediately clear.

For rebuilding teams such as the Rockets (13-42), it’s not uncommon for veterans without clearly defined rotation roles to be released late in the season if they are on expiring contracts (which all of these players are).

On Friday, however, evidence emerged that Houston might have a plan for them. Per courtside reporter Vanessa Richardson, who works on Houston’s television broadcasts, Holiday and Kaminsky were with the Rockets at Friday’s game day shootaround in Miami and expressed excitement over joining the team.

Around the same time, general manager Rafael Stone was holding a virtual press conference in Houston to discuss the moves.

While he left the door open for the plan to change, Stone said he had spoken at considerable length Thursday with both Green and Holiday and suggested they could be valuable veteran mentors.

“We added a couple guys who have really been around the league and have wonderful reputations, and great work ethic,” Stone said of the duo, with each potentially boosting Houston’s wing defense and shooting along with those leadership qualities and intangibles.

While Green is not yet with the Rockets, owing to travel issues, he could join the team as soon as Monday’s game at Philadelphia. Coincidentally, that’s where he played last season.

Houston made it clear a Wall reunion is not in the cards. “We intend to waive John Wall,” Stone said succinctly.

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Rockets GM Rafael Stone explains Houston’s trade deadline moves

In Friday’s press conference, #Rockets GM Rafael Stone shared his perspective on Houston’s trade deadline moves (Eric Gordon) and what comes next for the 2022-23 roster and beyond.

In Friday’s press conference, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone shared his perspective on Houston’s trade deadline moves — headlined by a deal sending Eric Gordon to the Los Angeles Clippers — and insight on what comes next for the 2022-23 roster and beyond.

Will newly acquired veterans like Danny Green, Justin Holiday, and Frank Kaminsky be sticking around? Stone made it clear Friday that Houston is at least open to the idea, though additional conversations will be had with each of those players to determine the right fit.

None of the players acquired by the Rockets has a salary beyond the 2022-23 season, so Houston’s plan to create significant salary cap space in the 2023 offseason remains very much intact.

The rebuilding Rockets also bolstered their stockpile of future draft assets through Thursday’s deadline dealings, both with a 2023 first-round pick swap obtained in the Gordon trade and a pair of future second-round picks (Oklahoma City’s in 2024, 2025) acquired in the deal sending Garrison Mathews and Bruno Fernando to Atlanta.

From a GM’s perspective, here’s insight from Stone on how and why those deals went down at the deadline, along with his plan moving forward as Houston attempts to climb back to NBA relevancy.

Report: After trade deadline moves, Rockets evaluating status of Green, Holiday, Kaminsky

Danny Green, Justin Holiday, and Frank Kaminsky were all acquired by the #Rockets on Thursday, but it isn’t yet clear who from that group (if any) will stick around.

The primary purpose of Houston’s trade deadline moves sending Eric Gordon to the Los Angeles Clippers and Garrison Mathews and Bruno Fernando to Atlanta was to acquire future draft capital.

But to make the math work, the Rockets had to take in comparable salaries to what they sent out. Thus, at least temporarily, enter Danny Green, John Wall, Justin Holiday, and Frank Kaminsky. Yes, that John Wall, the former player who was very critical of the organization in a harsh podcast interview last month.

None have any guaranteed money owed after this season, so it won’t impact Houston’s plans to create salary cap space this summer. And Wall certainly won’t be sticking around, for obvious reasons.

The other three, however, might be. After all, the Rockets sent three players elsewhere in the deal, so they do have open roster spots for the rest of the 2022-23 season. Kelly Iko of The Athletic writes:

There are still ongoing discussions regarding Green, Holiday and Kaminsky. From the outside looking in, holding on to Green and Holiday could be beneficial between now and the end of the season. Both are experienced two-way veterans that could help Houston’s remaining young core over the next few months.

But there’s also the reality that names like Green, Holiday and to a lesser extent, Kaminsky should be attractive on the open market. Green is in the final year of his deal but is an example of a two-way wing the team would pursue this summer, meaning Houston’s brass has to evaluate whether or not it makes more sense to keep him on the roster and get an early look or allow him to latch on with a contender for the playoffs. Green’s been described as a positive locker room presence in the past, but those discussions are ongoing.

Between those three players and Wall, the Rockets technically acquired four players on Thursday while sending out only three. To do so, Houston waived sparingly used veteran Boban Marjanovic, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. However, the Rockets plan to immediately re-sign Marjanovic to a smaller deal after he clears waivers. In effect, his roster spot remains claimed.

As for the trio of newcomers, the dynamic is similar to when veteran guard Dennis Schroder finished last season with the Rockets after being part of the Daniel Theis trade (with Boston) for salary reasons.

Houston wasn’t going to force Schroder to stick around, since he was an expiring salary and not in their long-term plans. But they were open to keeping Schroder around, should he prove willing to accept a smaller role on a rebuilding team. He did.

It remains to be seen if Green, Holiday, or Kaminsky will be open to such an arrangement, or if they might want an immediate move to either a playoff contender or a team more willing to offer playing time. After all, the Rockets are likely to prioritize any extra minutes for second-year prospects Usman Garuba and Josh Christopher.

If the veterans want to leave, Houston could waive them and perhaps look to other veterans to fill those temporary roles, or perhaps use the roster spots to evaluate younger options from the G League.

Rockets general manager Rafael Stone could offer more clarity when he meets with the media on Friday morning. Stay tuned!

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Reaction: Rockets trade Eric Gordon to Clippers for 2023 first-round draft swap

By trading Eric Gordon to Los Angeles, the #Rockets will be able to move up from Milwaukee’s first-round draft pick to that of the Clippers. Here’s a look at immediate reaction to the deal.

Ever since the Rockets traded James Harden to Brooklyn in January 2021, veteran guard Eric Gordon hasn’t been in age alignment with the ongoing rebuilding movement in Houston.

Now, after years of rumors, a trade has finally reached the finish line. Gordon, now 34 years old, is headed to the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team deal also involving the Memphis Grizzlies.

“Throughout six-and-a-half seasons, Eric did everything we asked of him and more, both on the court and in the community,” said general manager Rafael Stone. “We wish him nothing but the best and want him to know he’ll always have a home here in Houston.”

Though the Rockets acquired veterans Danny Green (from Memphis) and John Wall (from the Clippers) in the trade for salary matching purposes, both could be quickly waived, and neither was the primary incentive for the deal. The incentive was a 2023 first-round swap right acquired from the Clippers, which allows them to move up from the Milwaukee pick that Houston owns (currently at No. 28 in the order) to the Los Angeles selection (currently at No. 18 overall).

As for Gordon, the 2022-23 season was his seventh with the Rockets, where he was by far Houston’s longest-tenured player. In seven seasons with the franchise, the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year averaged 15.7 points (36.0% on 3-pointers) and 2.3 assists in 30.4 minutes while providing steady and capable defense, as well.

Most importantly, he routinely improved his play in the playoffs, where the Rockets consistently found themselves during Gordon’s first four seasons with the team. Postseason performance is no longer a relevant variable in Houston, given the youth movement, but it does explain his appeal to a likely playoff team, such as the Clippers.

Here’s a look at how fans and media members responded to the trade agreement in real-time, along with early analysis of the deal.

Multiple Sixers react to Danny Green making Grizzlies debut, ACL recovery

The Philadelphia 76ers react to Danny Green making his debut for the Memphis Grizzlies after his recovery from an ACL injury.

On May 12, 2022 in Game 6 of their Round 2 playoff series, then-Philadelphia 76ers guard Danny Green took a hard fall to the floor and he had big Joel Embiid fall on him to make things worse. Green limped off the floor and did not return as Philadelphia was eliminated.

It was revealed that Green tore his ACL. After he underwent surgery, it was expected he would miss the entire 2022-23 season. The Sixers flipped him to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night in exchange for De’Anthony Melton.

On Wednesday, Green completed his remarkable recovery, taking the floor for the Grizzlies in their home game with the Portland Trail Blazers. In classic Green fashion, he played 10 minutes and knocked down a 3 in a 122-112 loss.

After his debut, Green’s former Sixers teammates, Tobias Harris and Georges Niang, gave love to him for making this recovery.

Danny Green discusses relationship with former Sixers teammate Joel Embiid

Danny Green discusses his relationship with former Philadelphia 76ers teammate Joel Embiid and praises the team for battling through injuries.

Danny Green had two productive seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers as he averaged 7.8 points and shot 39.5% from deep in 131 games with 97 starts. He provided vital floor spacing and he was also an important piece in the locker room as well.

The Sixers then flipped Green to the Memphis Grizzlies back in June to acquire De’Anthony Melton in an effort to add to their depth and upgrade the toughness on the roster. Green suffered a torn ACL in the Game 6 elimination loss to the Miami Heat when he and Joel Embiid collided so he hasn’t played yet in the 2022-23 season as he continues to recover.

As Embiid and the Sixers pay a visit to Memphis on Friday, Green hopped on his podcast “Inside the Green Room” and discussed his relationship with Embiid while praising the Sixers for what they have done thus far despite their own injury issues:

He (Embiid) checks in every once in a while. We haven’t spoken as of recent, but he’ll tap in. He’ll randomly FaceTime or text and say, ‘Hey, what’s up? How’s things going? ‘He had a recent injury. I probably should check on him. Him, James (Harden), and Tyrese (Maxey) all foot injuries I believe, but they’ve been ballin. Shake (Milton) has been ballin, Furkan’s (Korkmaz) been ballin, Melton has been ballin. All the guys over there, Tobias (Harris) has been hoopin and I’m happy to see some of those guys get the opportunity to play. I think we’re just working on the brakes right now. Hopefully, in a couple months, you’ll see more of me and not just behind the camera or on the bench. Hopefully, on the floor and in uniform.

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When Green does eventually return from his injury, it will be interesting to see how he fits in with a young and talented Grizzlies team. He can bring a lot of valuable shooting and experience to that team as they move forward with their season.

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Danny Green recalls avoiding Joel Embiid-Ben Simmons matchup in practice

Danny Green recalls avoiding giving the ball to Joel Embiid against Ben Simmons during a Philadelphia 76ers practice.

At this point, everybody knows about the drama between Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers toward the end of his time with the team. The 3-time All-Star wanted no part of the Sixers and he made it clear on a regular basis at the beginning of the 2021-22 season.

When Simmons returned to the team in the middle of the preseason and he showed up to practice, he was matched up with Joel Embiid on the defensive end of the floor. The sparks that could have flown in that matchup would have been enough to light up the sky if Embiid would have gotten the ball.

Instead, to keep the peace, former Sixers guard Danny Green recalled not giving the big fella the ball on his podcast “Inside The Green Room”:

I had the opportunity to give Joel the ball against Ben. For the sake of keeping the energy well, I swung the ball across the floor away from that matchup because I don’t know what Joel–because Joel is known to have some chippy plays in him as you have seen throughout his career. He’s not the one to back down anything or hide his feelings or emotions and I know there was probably some frustration with him and who knows how it would have came out during that play, but I thought it was smarter and safer for us as a group to try and keep–if we were trying to bring him back–to move the ball to the other side of the floor. Had I thrown that ball into Joel? Ben and Joel had matched up? I really wish I had thrown the ball in and see what would have happened.

Simmons recently opened up more about his relationship with Embiid as he kept it as normal as possible. He made his return to the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday as a member of the Brooklyn Nets and it seemed as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

However, with the way Green put it, it sounds like Embiid wanted nothing to do with his former star teammate. Whenever these two do match up on the floor, it will certainly be a clash to watch. The Nets will return to Philadelphia on Jan. 25.

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Danny Green says the Grizzlies are absolutely obsessed with rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again

“From morning, to night, from shootaround to the game, it’s NBA YoungBoy.”

NBA veteran Danny Green has played in many different locker rooms during his professional career. Each one has its own unique character.

Green is a three-time NBA champion who was traded in exchange for De’Anthony Melton from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Memphis Grizzlies during the offseason. He says his new teammates have one thing in common: They are all obsessed with the same musician.

Green said that one of the first things he noticed about Memphis is that everyone on the roster listens to 23-year-old Louisiana rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again. He spoke about the obsession on his podcast with co-host Harrison Sanford.

Here is what Green had to say when discussing the musician:

“Coming here it made me realize why he’s number one…All they do is listen to Youngboy all day. From morning, to night, from shootaround to the game, it’s NBA YoungBoy.”

Grizzlies star Ja Morant has posted videos of himself blasting NBA YoungBoy. The guard has also come onto the court with the musician playing as well.

YoungBoy used the song “Rose Gold” to give a shout-out to Morant.

Earlier this year, Damichael Cole wrote about how YoungBoy’s music influences the Grizzlies. Here is what Jaren Jackson Jr. told Cole (via Commercial Appeal):

“That’s probably why we have won so many games, honestly. Everybody is on the same page, everybody knows the words. At this point, everybody listens to it. We all know the words. The whole team.”

Cole said that Jackson, Morant, and Brandon Clarke are typically the players who are in charge of the playlists for the team.

Several of the players I interviewed during the pre-draft process, including Onyeka Okongwu and Ayo Dosunmu, described YoungBoy as their favorite musician.

Last season, before a game, Phoenix’s Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton gave fans an impromptu YoungBoy singalong on the jumbotron.

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Former Laker Danny Green talks about bad moves team has made

Former Lakers 3-and-D wing Danny Green is not a fan of the moves the team has made over the past year and a half.

During the 2019-20 season, the Los Angeles Lakers won their 17th NBA championship despite not having the best roster in the league.

They did so behind the strength of their two superstars – LeBron James and Anthony Davis – as well as a withering defense that created ample fast-break and early offense buckets for them.

Los Angeles had one of the best records in the NBA midway through the following season when Davis and James suffered major injuries that caused them to miss a considerable amount of time.

Since then, the team has made some roster decisions that many around the league have derided. In the eyes of many, the Lakers basically dismantled a championship roster for no good reason.

One key 3-and-D wing for them during their championship season referred to these changes and implied that they have a poorly constructed roster.

Via Lakers Daily:

“Current Memphis Grizzlies small forward Danny Green seemed to concur when speaking with Howard Beck on ‘The Crossover.’

“‘We know what happened,’ said Green. ‘I think it’s interesting, I mean all the teams that I’ve played for, you try to see what kind of moves they make, what direction they’re going in, and especially if you win a championship there, it’s home, you have some type of invested feeling toward that city, toward that group, toward some of the players that are still there, the organization. I mean we know what happened. Things have changed. They have Dennis (Schroder) back now for cheaper. I thought he was a good fit for them. I thought there was a lot of good pieces that were good fits for them that they let go or traded away and they thought they had a better fit. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what you need around LeBron and AD (Anthony Davis).'”

The big move most criticize the Lakers for is the trade that sent out Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma and a first-round draft pick for Russell Westbrook. In addition, the team also elected not to re-sign Alex Caruso, a key role player who was extremely popular with fans.

The result was a very poorly constructed roster last season.

This season’s roster is somewhat better constructed, but the lack of 3-and-D wings is glaring, and the team could sorely use players such as Green, Caldwell-Pope and Kuzma to fill that void.

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Danny Green is ready to mentor Memphis Grizzlies’ young core

14-year NBA player Danny Green was all smiles for the Memphis Grizzlies media day as he prepares to help the young team get over the playoff hump.

The National Basketball Association is cranking up their 2022-2023 season with media day underway.

The NBA has undergone a new wave where more players change teams every off-season, like musical chairs, to compete for a ring. One of those players with new threads is former Tar Heel [autotag]Danny Green[/autotag], who will be playing for the Memphis Grizzlies this season.

Green was traded from the 76ers to Memphis for the No.23 overall pick and DeAnthony Melton. Green experience will be significant for the Grizzlies with his championship experience, winning rings with the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, and L.A. Lakers.

Green was all smiles for Memphis media day, talking about his excitement about joining the Memphis Grizzlies.

“I was excited,” Green said. “Blessed to be a part of an organization while rehabbing. My goal is always to keep playing, get healthy and get back as soon as possible. I think Zach (Grizzlies G.M.) and Memphis believed in me that I can get back and be able to play effectively when it matters.”

Green is expected to rehab most of the season, recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Green was recorded this past August getting shots up on the court just three months after the surgery.

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