http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9415882/the-2013-nba-free-agency-primer

I don't really have anything productive to add, other than I really hope the Rox can get Howard. I think that would open up a legit window of contention.

Besides that, this stood out to me:

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The Texas teams will leverage their appealing cities...

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I don't ever remember Houston being lumped in with the list of glamour cities. Can we attribute this to now having a superstar in Harden?

Houston is a player favorite. No income tax and titty bars. Huge black culture in Houston.

Lots of players retire here even after they move (Robert Horry, Hakeem, Avery Johnson)

Houston has always been a more highly-regarded destination among players than people think. They've pulled in a lot of big FA names over the years. Certainly when you compared them to a Memphis, SA, or Milwaukee the difference is dramatic.

Exactly. Look at the big names of FAs SA has gotten:

Brent Barry at 33 years old
Antonio McDyess at 35 years old
Robert Horry after shooting 2-38 in the playoffs.
Kevin Willis at 40 years old

SA has never done good in free agency except for old guys chasing rings.

I've always thought Houston was a preferred destination for NBA players. That's not surprising at all.

As for SA, we don't get FAs but our players tend to stick around after retirement. I guess you learn to love it. Seriously, who is the last player of note to leave the Spurs in free agency?

Stephen Jackson?

Maybe that's why pop goes international all the time...

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Maybe that's why pop goes international all the time...

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The Spurs would be ridiculous if they could sign Iggy, even at the expense od losing Manu.

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No income tax and titty bars. Huge black culture in Houston.

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Houston is #4 on Jalen Rose's definitive Black Guy City Power Rankings. That should count for something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xlza8wFf1w

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I've always thought Houston was a preferred destination for NBA players. That's not surprising at all.

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I agree, i feel like its always been a great player's destination. But I've never seen it portrayed that way in the media.

Here's another article that makes me happy
http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=9419542

That's a pretty good primer, thanks OP.

This may get rockets and mavs fans a little excited:

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/9427945/los-angeles-lakers-not-likely-re-sign-dwight-howard-sources-say

I thought AJ lived in Dallas....
His home in spring is for sale.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/20/avery-johnson-texas-home_n_3474028.html
Where is he moving?

He is from New Orleans.

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I agree, i feel like its always been a great player's destination. But I've never seen it portrayed that way in the media.

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Its a preferred destination to live in, not necessarily to play in.

The media doesn't like to say "Houston has lots of titty bars, so athletes like it". Its easier to just talk about the cities they want to play for.