Horford's worth way more than the trade assets the Rockets are rumored to be offerring.

Put it this way, would any Rocket fan be upset if the Rockets traded both of the 1st rounders rumored in the package away along with Morris and Lamb for Horford? Don't think I would be.

Re: Atlanta's ability to take back money, Johnson and Marvin Williams are off the books. Between Petro, Morrow, Farmar, Harris, and Pachulia, they have something like $23MM in expiring deals to offer for cap relief. Their ability to offer a great package for Orlando shouldn't be slept on.

Right, but Houston has non-guaranteed contracts and straight cap space. So Houston can take back more than they have to send out. That could save Orlando money immediately - not just in a year. If Orlando is tanking, they want to do it as cheaply as possible.

The salary cap floor is 46mm, but they get to count Arenas' amnesty (21mm this year, 24mm next year) towards the floor. SO they really only HAVE to spend 25mm on contracts (plus the 21mm to Arenas) this year with the right buyer. And that is what Orlando is trying to do. 12 rookie contracts and future draft picks.

What Guitar said. The reason the Rockets are attractive is because Orlando could dump a lot of bad contracts on us. While Atlanta could take on Howard, Atlanta couldn't take on as many bad contracts as Houston can.

"Sports do not build character. They reveal it."
-John Wooden

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In 96, Gheorghe Muresean averaged 14.5/9.6/2.3.

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RIP Gheorghe Muresean's Artichoke.

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Put it this way, would any Rocket fan be upset if the Rockets traded both of the 1st rounders rumored in the package away along with Morris and Lamb for Horford? Don't think I would be.

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Not so sure about that. It's debatable whether Horford is a top 5 center in a weak time for centers, and he's coming off injury. Last year (his best), just among centers, he was 8th in points/48, 20th in rebounds/48, 28th in blocks/48, and 10th in steals/48. However he was 3rd in double doubles and 1st in assts/48.

Still, does any of that jump off as a top flight center? Not to me.

Sure, but on the other side of things, the Rockets can't come close to offerring a single player nearly guaranteed to be a cornerstone to a rebuilt franchise that Atlanta could offer in Horford.

That brings it back to my original point... the Rockets can offer an intriguing package, but so can Atlanta or the Lakers straight up. Orlando still holds the best cards in this, not Houston.

If the Rockets get it done, it will cost Martin, at least 2 first rounders, 2 of the 3 just drafted, and probably Parsons at the very least.

ATM-

The one thing Houston can offer that no one else can is a guaranteed lottery pick. Now, that could be 14th, but it could also be 5th. I do hear what you are saying though.

"Sports do not build character. They reveal it."
-John Wooden

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If the Rockets get it done, it will cost Martin, at least 2 first rounders, 2 of the 3 just drafted, and probably Parsons at the very least.

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I think that is exactly what Houston will look to give up. Maybe even more picks. Probably not more players though. Martin, Patterson, Parsons, Lamb, and either Jones or White. Some "fillers" too if they need to make the money work. That, plus the immediate cap relief, is more lucrative than Al Horford or a year of Andrew Bynum.

I really don't think Parsons will be included in the trade. Not sure why, but I expect him to remain a Rocket.

"Sports do not build character. They reveal it."
-John Wooden

I don't see any way that the Rockets keep Parsons out of the trade. Orlando isn't going to accept garbage. The Rockets will have to give up players they want to keep, namely Parsons and Lamb.

[This message has been edited by Ryan34 (edited 7/13/2012 1:20p).]

If a trade happens its not likely to be today.

Still waiting on the Lin and Asik offer sheets to be processed, signed by rockets, then matched by Knicks/Bulls.

Also, still need to process the amnesty clause paperwork on Scola folowing the Lin/Asik offers. Then once all that cap is free the Magic/Rockets can sit down and bang out a final trade agreement.

IMO, Morey will try and find a way to keep Parsons on the team. Probably give up Martin, Lamb, White, Jones, and two future first rounders, one being the lottery protected pick from Toronto. Also in addition relieving the Magic of a bunch of crappy contracts with Turkoglu, Richardson, Duhon, Davis, etc.

Thats a tall order to ask of any GM....

I have no doubt Morey will try to hold onto Parsons. Succeeding is a different story. If including Parsons will get the deal done, he won't hesitate to pull the trigger, nor should he.

Ryan,

I agree, if he needs to include Parsons, he will. But I don't think it gets to that. Houston will be willing to take on 3 out of the 4 contracts that Orlando wants to get rid, would be willing to provide a guaranteed future lottery pick and would be willing to trade three current year mid-first rounders. Plus, they would throw in a very large expiring contract. Honestly, I am not sure how much more Orlando could ask for in the deal. I would say though if they do want Parsons, I would probably pull either Jones or White from the deal.

"Sports do not build character. They reveal it."
-John Wooden

I can agree with the throwing in Parsons if necessary argument.

My guess would be he prefers to keep Parsons but if he cant have him because the Magic must have that as part of the deal he will want to keep Royce White instead. Which in all honesty might be a good gamble. Granted Chandler had a solid first year in the NBA and we don't know how White will shape out their numbers coming out of college gives the advantage to White.

Parsons (UF)
6'9" 230
PPG: 10.2
RPG: 6
APG: 2.4
FG%: 47.6

White (ISU)
6'8" 270
PPG: 13
RPG: 9
APG: 4.9
FG%: 53.1

Orlando Magic is relocating to Houston.

Royce White is a PF. He is not a shooter. Less than 50% from the FT line.

Yea that last one was more about production versus position and "shooting". His FT stats might not be there but his FG% and PPG isnt too shabby. He has a lot of potential.

What I was aiming for is that IMO its too much to give all 3 draft picks, two future firsts, parsons, martin, and patterson for Howard, Richardson, Turkoglu,Davis and Duhon. Morey is smarter than that, hopefully....


MARC STEIN AT ABOUT 2:30PM

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Marc Steinþ@ESPNSteinLine

Luis Scola has been officially released today via the amnesty clause by Rockets, sources with knowledge of the move tell ESPN

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[This message has been edited by CFTXAG10 (edited 7/13/2012 2:36p).]

Don't get me wrong, I like Royce White a lot. I just don't think he can play SF.

Doesn't matter how good of a shooter he is, have you seen Parson's free throw numbers this year?

Just matters if he can defend NBA small forwards. Some he can, some he can't.

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Sources that have been right all along on this — check the Twitter timeline starting Sunday, July 8 — believe the Houston Rockets will be able to finalize facilitation of the Orlando Magic’s coveted rebuilding strategy shortly after Chicago center Omer Asik’s situation is settled.

Asik was promised a three-year, $25 million offer sheet that Rockets GM Daryl Morey will make good on, which would affect just how many of the contracts new Magic GM Rob Hennigan wants to move can be absorbed.

Houston officially requested amnesty of Luis Scola on Friday afternoon, confirms ESPN’s Marc Stein.

The Magic are interested in clearing Jason Richardson, Glen Davis, Chris Duhon, Quentin Richardson’s and Hedo Turkoglu’s – contracts, likely in that order despite the fact Turkoglu is due the largest salary, 11.82 this season and a $12 million player option that will be taken in ’13-’14. The thought is his expiring deal could be an asset at that point.

Kevin Martin’s $12 million expiring contract will be the major piece the Rockets send over, but the Magic would be able to choose from a collection of prospects including local product Chandler Parsons, Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris and 2012 draft picks Jeremy Lamb, Royce White and Terrence Jones to accompany him in the deal. Future draft picks will also move, with the lottery-guaranteed selection the Rockets are getting from Toronto in the Kyle Lowry deal being especially coveted.

If Chicago allows Asik to walk, sources say the steal could still be re-worked to appease Orlando enough to end the saga.

Houston’s motivation to deal hinges on making use of Martin’s sizeable contract and coming up with at the very least, a trade chip in Howard that can potentially net Andrew Bynum, Brook Lopez or assets from a team willing to rent Howard at the trade deadline.

That’s right, Howard could spend his year in limbo as a mercenary, fallout from a questionable decision to opt-in on March 15.

The Rockets would love nothing more than for him to warm up to H-town, where he’s got an existing friendly relationship with Hakeem Olajuwon and can learn a ton from head coach Kevin McHale. That would take some convincing, of course, but with an eject button in place, this isn’t as large a gamble as most would think.

Remember, Morey already traded Martin and Scola once, netting an aging Pau Gasol in a deal voided by Commissioner David Stern. Gasol would’ve been an upgrade, but wouldn’t have been as attractive a commodity as Howard will be, even as a rental coming off back surgery. Morey has been looking for an elite center since Yao Ming was forced to retire, and regardless of all the foolishness and drama in this Brooklyn-or-bust campaign, would be getting the game’s best. No one questions Howard’s professionalism once he hits the floor. After all, he aggravated his back injury in a memorable effort in Philadelphia where no one could question his commitment.

Again, this has been the most likely scenario since Sunday, when sources informed PBN that Howard wouldn’t end up with the Nets in spite of all the reports that a deal was imminent. On Monday, July 9, I reported via Twitter that the Rockets were “ready to throw more kindle into fire for Magic, further exhausting process for Magic, who obviously covet additional options.”

Sources say the Magic simply were never blown away by the tireless leg work the Nets put into making a deal work, balking at the prospect of bringing in Lopez as an anchor for the franchise. Lopez eventually re-signed with the Nets for four years, $61 million.

Howard was reportedly telling his circle that the Magic would get a deal done for him to get him to Brooklyn after a face-to-face meeting with Magic management where he again expressed his interest to help open the Barclays Center. Whatever assurances were given are unknown, but Hennigan has been consistent that nothing has come before doing “what’s best for the organization.”

Undoubtedly, the Magic heard the backlash from fans who watched all the reports whizzing through the air waves and social media which railed against the prospect of granting Howard’s wishes for a marginal package. Purely speculation, but that probably didn’t help Brooklyn’s cause.

Hennigan’s vision all along, outside of landing a comparable talent like Bynum, was to regain cap flexibility and add draft picks with new salary cap regulations coming into play in ’13-’14. Houston looks poised to help him get started on the right foot.

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http://www.probasketballnews.com/news/sources-rockets-clear-front-runner-to-add-howard/

Also, Jonathan Feigen reporting:

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Rockets bumped up offer to Lin by fully guaranteeing all three years, worth $25.1 million. Previously, third year partially guaranteed.

The Rockets improved the offer because of the need at the point, but also to make it a bit tougher to match $14.9 mil in year 3. (Was $9.3).

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Orlando GM Rob Hennigan at Summer League Today:
http://www.nba.com/magic/video/2012/07/13/071312henniganmp4-2155428

[This message has been edited by CFTXAG10 (edited 7/13/2012 3:42p).]

Am I the only one who thinks lamb is the most exciting of the rockets draftees and hope they keep him? Maybe it's the sheer number of PFs drafted lately who haven't done a whole lot.

Lamb really intrigues me.

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Doesn't matter how good of a shooter he is, have you seen Parson's free throw numbers this year?

Just matters if he can defend NBA small forwards. Some he can, some he can't.

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Right I agree. He didn't shoot enough 3s (12 total) to speak about and I don't have his FG% numbers by distance. I also have serious doubts about him being able to defend SFs and ability to beat them off the dribble, but kept it short and just mentioned his shooting.

I think White can give some PFs problems, but I have a hard time envisioning him going against SFs.

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Am I the only one who thinks lamb is the most exciting of the rockets draftees and hope they keep him? Maybe it's the sheer number of PFs drafted lately who haven't done a whole lot.

Lamb really intrigues me.

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I really like Lamb as well. He's going to be a good scorer right away and he has the wingspan to be an impact defender. Needs to get bigger obviously. I wish we could keep him but I doubt we will.

Lamb is who I want to keep most. I thought that was a really good value pick.

I hate player comparisons but for some reason Lamb reminds me of a Scottie Pippen clone that could use his length to become a good defender and a great 2nd option on offense due to his size and ability to score.

If I am Morey he is more untouchable than Parsons.

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stevekylerNBA: Being told both Houston and Lakers still very much engaged... nothing close, but both teams working hard. Still up to Magic to deal.

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Would be funnny if after all this drama the Lakers and Rockets strike up a deal leaving Orlando in the dust. Not likely, but would be a nightmare for the new orlando GM

while it would be funny, what the hell does houston have that the lakers want?

my guess is a big bag of nothing

We will gladly give the Lakers Kevin Martin and his expiring contract for Bynum. They can't trade draft choices for the next 4 years (NBA rule can't trade 1st rounders in consecutive years) so I am sure they would want future picks. They probably would want us to take Artest back to free up space for next year and a run at CP3.

Any deal just with Lakers and Rockets should be in Rockets favor since we hold all the cards and the Lakers are waterlogged with contracts.

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We will gladly give the Lakers Kevin Martin and his expiring contract for Bynum. They can't trade draft choices for the next 4 years (NBA rule can't trade 1st rounders in consecutive years) so I am sure they would want future picks. They probably would want us to take Artest back to free up space for next year and a run at CP3.

Any deal just with Lakers and Rockets should be in Rockets favor since we hold all the cards and the Lakers are waterlogged with contracts.

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This can't be serious.

You're honestly saying that we will be able to get Bynum and Artest for Kevin Martin and draft picks?

You're out of your mind

Really excited about Donatas Motiejunas. I'm glad he's ineligible to be traded right now so we aren't tempted to include him to get a deal done. He's our most promising young player IMO.

I saw some of his highlights from the summer league, he looks pretty good.

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We will gladly give the Lakers Kevin Martin and his expiring contract for Bynum. They can't trade draft choices for the next 4 years (NBA rule can't trade 1st rounders in consecutive years) so I am sure they would want future picks. They probably would want us to take Artest back to free up space for next year and a run at CP3.

Any deal just with Lakers and Rockets should be in Rockets favor since we hold all the cards and the Lakers are waterlogged with contracts.

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We should just ask them to throw in Kobe also.

Looks like the Knicks aren't matching. Morey is a genius.