Tag: Mike D’Antoni

Mike D’Antoni: Gary Clark’s release motivated by potential trades

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni says trade possibilities were among the “main forces” prompting last week’s decision to waive Gary Clark.

The recent release of second-year forward Gary Clark was motivated in part by trade possibilities heading up to the NBA’s Feb. 6 deadline, Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni said Wednesday.

Known best for his defense, Clark played in 69 games over the last two seasons, averaging 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.4 minutes.

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Speaking with flagship radio station SportsTalk 790 on The Matt Thomas Show, D’Antoni explained some of the thought process behind the team’s decision to move on from the 6-foot-6 forward.

Specifically, D’Antoni cited the front office team of GM Daryl Morey.

I think Gary can play. There are a lot of factors that go into it. It’s not just whether he can play or not. Gary was great. Very professional, a very good guy, and has talent.

One of the main forces of letting him go was that it opens up the possibility, to make it easier for Daryl’s team to impact a trade. I don’t get into that, I don’t know. That’s probably the thinking behind it. Whether it happens or not, who knows.

Daryl and them have their way that they think is best. We hate to lose Gary. He was good for us.

The 25-year-old Clark, who played college basketball at the University of Cincinnati, has since signed a 10-day contract with the Orlando Magic.

But that’s certainly not a long-term deal, and D’Antoni alluded to the possibility of bringing Clark back later this season in his interview.

Who knows, we might get him back. He’s on a 10-day with Orlando, if I’m not mistaken. We’d be open to getting him back here. We’ll see how it goes, and we’ll wish him luck in the meantime. He could be a very good basketball player.

While Clark’s open roster spot could be filled by trade, it seems likely that financial considerations were at least a part of the thinking, as well.

Clark was waived on Jan. 7, which was the deadline for NBA teams to decide whether to keep each player on a partially guaranteed deal (which Clark was) for the full season or to waive them, which can save the remaining money on their 2019-20 contract and free up a roster spot.

With the Rockets narrowly above the league’s luxury-tax line, Clark’s release could be part of a plan by the Rockets to minimize payments or perhaps get beneath the line altogether.

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However, the team insists there’s more to the story. That day, a team source told the Houston Chronicle‘s Jonathan Feigen that the plan is to use Clark’s roster spot to add an NBA-ready contributor, rather than leaving it unused or awarded to a cheaper developmental prospect.

Houston’s roster was at the 15-player maximum after rookie guard Chris Clemons was converted to a standard NBA contract in December.

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As of Wednesday, eight days after Clark was waived, his roster spot still remains open. But the Rockets continue to signal that it could soon be filled via a trade or free agent signing in the days or weeks ahead.

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