Tag: Sterling Brown

Injury updates: Eric Gordon, DeMarcus Cousins probable for Monday in Chicago

Eric Gordon and DeMarcus Cousins are probable, while Sterling Brown is questionable. John Wall and Danuel House Jr. remain out.

After playing extremely shorthanded in two consecutive games, the Houston Rockets should have several reinforcements in time for their next game on Monday in Chicago, according to head coach Stephen Silas.

Veteran guard Eric Gordon (left lower leg tightness) and center DeMarcus Cousins (right ankle soreness) are each probable for Monday. Gordon missed the last two games with what the team has described as a minor issue, while Cousins sat out Saturday. Sterling Brown, who also missed Saturday’s game, is questionable for Monday with his own leg injury.

John Wall will miss his third straight game with left knee soreness, though Silas said after Sunday’s practice that it is not a major concern. “I don’t believe it’s a long-term deal, from the information I’m getting from the performance staff,” he said. “It seems like a day to day thing.”

Danuel House Jr. remains sidelined due to a mandatory self-isolation period under the NBA’s new COVID-19 health and safety protocols. His eventual return date to team activities is unknown, per Silas.

The potential return of at least two key veterans (Gordon, Cousins) and the debut of recent trade acquisition Victor Oladipo is critical for Silas, whose Rockets have only had nine and eight active players, respectively, over their last two games in San Antonio. Saturday’s number was the minimum requirement for an NBA game to be played.

Monday’s tipoff between the Rockets (4-7) and Bulls (4-8) is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central time from Chicago’s United Center.

[lawrence-related id=43541]

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=j1766F1LPW-1098930-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

Rockets reaction: Christian Wood, Sterling Brown, Jae’Sean Tate lead ‘special win’ at Spurs

On the same day as the James Harden trade and with four expected rotation players out, Houston rallied late to win at San Antonio.

In a feel-good victory following a chaotic two days, the undermanned Rockets finished Thursday’s game on a 19-6 run to defeat the host San Antonio Spurs, 109-105 (box score). It was the first road win of the 2020-21 season for Houston and new head coach Stephen Silas.

Superstar guard James Harden was officially traded earlier in the day, and new acquisitions Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, and Rodions Kurucs haven’t yet had time to complete physicals and join the team. The Rockets had only nine active players, with rotation fixtures John Wall (sore left knee), Eric Gordon (lower left leg tightness), Danuel House Jr. (health and safety protocols) all sidelined, as well.

Nonetheless, the shorthanded Rockets (4-6) still found a way to shake off a two-game losing streak and defeat the Spurs (6-6), who entered having won four of five games. Big man Christian Wood led Houston with 27 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks, and he made 5-of-7 (71.4%) from behind the 3-point arc. Sterling Brown started for Wall and had 23 points (52.9% FG) and 7 rebounds, while rookie forward Jae’Sean Tate had the first double-double of his career with 13 points and 10 assists.

With Houston severely short on options, rookies Mason Jones and KJ Martin combined for 15 points off the bench on 7-of-13 shooting (53.8%). For both players, it was their first NBA action as rotation players.

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=QJ18o6uNyb-1109870-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

Meanwhile, strong defense by veteran forward PJ Tucker helped limit San Antonio’s leading scorer on the season, DeMar DeRozan, to just 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting (35.7%). With Tucker forcing him into a contested fadeaway, DeRozan missed a shot in the final seconds that could have tied the game. Tucker then made both free throws after securing the rebound, which iced the game and provided the final margin.

Here’s a sampling of Thursday’s postgame reaction from a joyous Houston locker room. The Rockets and Spurs will meet again on the same AT&T Center court on Saturday afternoon for an immediate rematch.

[lawrence-related id=43433,43353]

Here is the projected rotation for the Rockets after trading James Harden

The Houston Rockets traded away 2018 NBA MVP James Harden in a blockbuster deal. But what will the new version of this team look like?

The Houston Rockets traded away 2018 NBA MVP James Harden in a blockbuster deal. But what will the new version of this team look like?

Under first-year head coach Stephen Silas, Houston will run their offense through John Wall and Christian Wood. They will also incorporate two-time NBA All-Star Victor Oladipo, who was acquired from the Indiana Pacers in the deal as well.

Overall, this move was more focused on the future than the present, as the Rockets landed a total of four unprotected first-rounders and four unprotected pick swaps.

There were also immediate financial implications considering, as noted by our own Yossi Gozlan, Houston went from $5.2 million over the luxury tax to $3.7 million under the tax. Houston can also generate a traded player exception worth $10.7 million if they want to continue tweaking this roster, per Gozlan.

Below, however, as what the rotation looks like for the Rockets after trading away their longtime superstar:

Here is the projected rotation for the Rockets after trading James Harden

The Houston Rockets traded away 2018 NBA MVP James Harden in a blockbuster deal. But what will the new version of this team look like?

The Houston Rockets traded away 2018 NBA MVP James Harden in a blockbuster deal. But what will the new version of this team look like?

Under first-year head coach Stephen Silas, Houston will run their offense through John Wall and Christian Wood. They will also incorporate two-time NBA All-Star Victor Oladipo, who was acquired from the Indiana Pacers in the deal as well.

Overall, this move was more focused on the future than the present, as the Rockets landed a total of four unprotected first-rounders and four unprotected pick swaps.

There were also immediate financial implications considering, as noted by our own Yossi Gozlan, Houston went from $5.2 million over the luxury tax to $3.7 million under the tax. Houston can also generate a traded player exception worth $10.7 million if they want to continue tweaking this roster, per Gozlan.

Below, however, as what the rotation looks like for the Rockets after trading away their longtime superstar:

James Harden practices with Rockets, will make season debut Tuesday

Harden will play in Tuesday’s home exhibition against San Antonio. “We had a good conversation,” head coach Stephen Silas said of Harden.

All-Star guard James Harden practiced with the Houston Rockets on Monday and will make his first game appearance of the 2020-21 season in Tuesday night’s home exhibition contest versus San Antonio.

Harden was a late arrival at training camp following his offseason trade request, and the NBA required him to test negative for COVID-19 on six consecutive days before he could rejoin his teammates. Monday represented the end of that period, and Harden was on the court at Toyota Center to begin preparing for his ninth season in Houston.

“We had a good conversation, and I’m just going to leave it at that,” head coach Stephen Silas said when asked whether he had spoken with Harden about his situation. “He was locked in. He was asking good questions. He was bringing up good points. So, we had a good discussion.”

Silas, who spoke after Monday’s practice, downplayed the notion of Harden’s uncertain status potentially being a distraction to the Rockets.

“We talked basketball,” Silas said of his conversation with Harden. “I’m a basketball coach and he’s a basketball player. We talked hoop. It hasn’t been that much of a distraction. That’s something that the media has been talking about quite a bit and I’ve had to answer a lot of questions about, but as far as our growth and our kind of pushing forward this season… adding James and PJ [Tucker] to the mix makes it better.”

Harden was not made available to reporters on Monday.

Veteran forward PJ Tucker and guard Sterling Brown also made their practice debuts on Monday. Like Harden, both should play Tuesday.

“They were both in practice today and participated,” Silas said of Tucker and Harden. “It was good to have them there and have their spirit here, good to have their veteran savvy, their smarts, their ability, so many different things.”

The only Houston player who did not participate in Monday’s practice was Christian Wood, who remains sidelined by left elbow soreness. However, he expressed optimism that he would be able to play by Thursday’s preseason finale. “Just an abrasion, nothing crazy,” Wood said.

With Harden in the lineup, Tuesday’s exhibition versus the Spurs tips off at 7:00 p.m. Central. It will be televised on AT&T SportsNet Southwest.

[lawrence-related id=41844,41821]

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=rSbMQTwDFy-1066772-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

PJ Tucker, Christian Wood to miss Rockets’ preseason games in Chicago

Tucker didn’t travel as part of a gradual ramp-up in his activity, while Wood is out with a sore elbow. The injury is considered minor.

Veteran forward PJ Tucker and newly acquired center Christian Wood did not travel with the Houston Rockets to Chicago for preseason games this weekend, head coach Stephen Silas said before Friday’s opener.

Wood is out with a sore elbow, though it’s believed to be a minor issue, and Silas said he anticipates Wood being able to play once the Rockets return to Houston for preseason games next Tuesday and Thursday.

Meanwhile, Tucker had a slightly late arrival to training camp, which delayed his COVID-19 testing protocols. Silas said Friday that while Tucker has attended recent practices, he’s yet to actually go through one yet. Silas said the Rockets are in communication with Tucker, and he’s expected to practice with the team once they arrive back in Houston.

With Tucker, Wood, and James Harden all absent, the Rockets started John Wall, Eric Gordon, Danuel House Jr., Jae’Sean Tate, and DeMarcus Cousins against the Bulls in Friday’s opener.

Tucker posted Instagram stories earlier Friday of a workout with Harden, seemingly at Toyota Center in Houston. “The Beard” is not eligible to join group activities until the team returns from Chicago, owing to his own delayed camp arrival and extended testing protocols.

Reserve guard Sterling Brown has also been away from the Rockets due to testing protocols, though Silas said before Friday’s game that he had progressed to individual workouts. A timetable for Brown joining group activities has yet to be specified.

Assuming negative tests, Tucker and Harden could both join the Rockets on the practice court by Monday. The team will arrive back in Houston late Sunday night following a second game in Chicago.

[lawrence-related id=41510,41467]

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=vG9s9dCMtD-1067995-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

Contract tidbits for Sterling Brown, Jae’Sean Tate, and Bruno Caboclo

Brown has a straight-forward minimum contract with the Rockets, while the terms for Tate and Caboclo are a bit more complex.

Courtesy of NBA salary cap experts Bobby Marks (ESPN) and Keith Smith (Yahoo Sports), we now have new details regarding three recent contracts given out by the Houston Rockets in the 2020 offseason.

Per Smith, the contract to guard Sterling Brown — formerly of the Milwaukee Bucks — is very straight-forward. It’s for one season at the minimum salary, and it is already fully guaranteed.

The new contracts for Jae’Sean Tate and Bruno Caboclo, however, are a bit more complicated. Per Marks, both Tate and Caboclo only have $50,000 guaranteed, which gives the team flexibility if they decide to go in a different direction with one of those roster spots at a later date.

Caboclo’s deal becomes fully guaranteed if he is not waived by the first game of the NBA’s 2020-21 regular season (Dec. 22), while Tate’s contract guarantee will increase to $500,000 at that time.

Caboclo’s contract is for two seasons in total, while Tate’s deal is for three. However, all of the future years are non-guaranteed. This gives the team a number of potential paths moving forward, depending on the level of play shown by both players and also the state of the overall roster.

Led by new GM Rafael Stone, Houston used a portion of its mid-level exception (MLE) to give Tate the three-year deal, which is not allowed under minimum exception contracts. There are several reasons for this.

One potential reason is that Tate’s first-year salary is $1,445,697 — typically the minimum for a player with one year of NBA experience — instead of the standard NBA rookie minimum of $898,310. In other words, it’s a higher salary for the rising 25-year-old prospect.

However, another plausible reason is that the three-year deal makes it harder for other NBA teams to claim Tate on waivers, should the Rockets decide they need his roster spot to acquire someone else.

“By giving Tate three years, it makes him ineligible to be claimed by a team using the minimum exception if Houston waives him,” Smith writes. “By giving Tate just $50,000 guaranteed, it makes him eligible for a two-way [contract] with Houston, if he is waived.”

With Houston subject to a hard salary cap after the sign-and-trade acquisition of Christian Wood, the Rockets are already close to their maximum team payroll. However, should a player they like (Glenn Robinson III?) come available at a later time, the unique terms in Tate and Caboclo’s deals could give the team additional roster flexibility.

[lawrence-related id=40966,40653]