Category: Houston Rockets Blog

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Chris Paul out with hamstring injury

Following an MRI yesteday afternoon, Dr. Steven Flores of Memorial Hermann has diagnosed veteran star Rockets guard Chris Paul with a Grade-2 left hamstring strain.

Paul will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.

The injury was sustained during the second quarter of Thursday’s game against the Heat in Miami. It was a close game, that the Rockets wound up losing, 101-99. Paul played 12 minutes, totaling four points and four assists.

Paul has played in 26 games this season, averaging 15.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. He’s shooting just 41.5% FG, which is by far his lowest in years.

The Rockets are just 16-15 so far this season, which through Friday’s games would place them 9th in the Western conference. They have suffered a massive dropoff in defensive efficiency this season from last year.

Rockets waive Zhou Qi

The Houston Rockets have waived forward/center Zhou Qi.

Zhou Qi (7-1, 210) was the 43rd overall pick by Houston in the 2016 NBA Draft. He joined the Rockets in 2017-18 and had a career-high 4 blocks in the season finale at Sacramento. Zhou Qi spent the majority of the past two seasons playing for the Rockets single-affiliation G League partner Rio Grande Valley with career averages of 11.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks while shooting 51.3% from the floor.

In 2016-17, Zhou Qi led the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association to their first ever championship and was named Defensive Player of the Year. Zhou Qi is also a member of the Chinese Senior National Team and competed in the 2016 Olympics.

Brandon Knight making progress in recovery

 

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You remember guard Brandon Knight. He has talent. He played a few seasons each with the Pistons, Bucks and Suns. As recently as 2015-16, he put up 19.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game for Phoenix. Then got hurt in 2016-17 and hasn’t played since. Now he’s on the Rockets and hasn’t been heard from until pretty much right now, thanks to a big step in his eventual return. Here’s the Houston Chronicle reporting:

Rockets guard Brandon Knight, who has been out since the 2016-17 season when he had knee surgery to repair a torn left ACL, took a major step in his comeback, playing for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets’ G League affiliate.

Knight, 26, had a follow-up surgery this summer, pushing back his return to the court after he was acquired along with center Marquese Chriss in the trade that sent Ryan Anderson and De’Anthony Melton to the Suns.

— Full Article

Nene set to make Rockets season debut

The Rockets aren’t off to a good start this season. Their defense has dropped off considerably from last year. Having Nene in action to add depth to the frontcourt should help a bit. Not sure how much. But some. Here’s the Houston Chronicle reporting:

Rockets center Nene is expected to make his season debut on Saturday against the Bulls, with the Rockets holding him out one more day on Friday in part because they are playing a back-to-back but also because he went through his most demanding practice on Thursday.

“The important thing is I feel better,” Nene said. “I feel good. I’ve been working. In the last two, three practices I did what I need to do to see the movement I’m going to use in a game, especially in my style, my game style. I feel OK.”

— Full Article

Rockets GM Daryl Morey issues statement on Carmelo Anthony

Rockets GM Daryl Morey issues statement on Carmelo Anthony

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey today issued a statement on forward Carmelo Anthony’s future with the team.

“After much internal discussion, the Rockets will be parting ways with Carmelo Anthony and we are working toward a resolution,” said Morey. “Carmelo had a tremendous approach during his time with the Rockets and accepted every role head coach Mike D’Antoni gave him. The fit we envisioned when Carmelo chose to sign with the Rockets has not materialized, therefore we thought it was best to move on as any other outcome would have been unfair to him.”

Anthony was originally the third overall pick by Denver in the 2003 NBA Draft and is a 10-time All-Star. He is one of 11 players in NBA history with career averages of at least 24.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. Anthony is also a three-time Olympic gold medalist and is USA Basketball’s all-time leading Olympic scorer and rebounder.

NBA fight suspensions for Brandon Ingram, Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul

Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram has been suspended four games without pay, Lakers guard Rajon Rondo has been suspended three games without pay, and Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul has been suspended two games without pay, for their roles in an on-court altercation with 4:13 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Rockets’ 124-115 win over the Lakers on Oct. 20 at Staples Center. The suspensions were announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Ingram has been suspended for aggressively returning to and escalating the altercation and throwing a punch in the direction of Paul, confronting a game official in a hostile manner, and instigating the overall incident by shoving Rockets guard James Harden. Rondo has been suspended for instigating a physical altercation with, and spitting and throwing multiple punches at, Paul. Paul has been suspended for poking at and making contact with the face of Rondo, and throwing multiple punches at him.

Paul will begin serving his suspension tonight when the Rockets face the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Ingram and Rondo will begin serving their suspensions on Mon., Oct 22, when the Lakers host the San Antonio Spurs.

To view the incident, click on this link.

Rockets promote Monte McNair to assistant general manager

Rockets promote Monte McNair to assistant general manager

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that Monte McNair has been promoted to assistant general manager. McNair originally joined the Rockets as an analyst in 2007 and became Director of Basketball Operations in 2013 before transitioning to Vice President of Basketball Operations in 2015.

“Monte has been absolutely critical to the success of the Rockets over his long tenure,” said Morey. “His unique combination of analytical skills and ability to work with our coaching staff was a key driver in our record breaking season last year.”

In addition to managing the analytic efforts of the Rockets basketball operations department, McNair is involved with all avenues of player evaluation, including trade, free agency, and the draft. Over the past four seasons, McNair has worked closely with the coaching staff to provide on-court strategy and analysis along with opponent preparation.

A native of Oak Park, Calif. outside of Los Angeles, McNair played football at Princeton University, where he majored in computer science. Prior to joining the Rockets, McNair worked as a researcher at STATS LLC.

Rockets waive Bruno Caboclo, Angel Rodriguez, Tim Bond and Brandon Sampson

The Houston Rockets have waived forward Bruno Caboclo, and guards Angel Rodriguez, Tim Bond and Brandon Sampson.

Bond was eligible for the 2018 NBA Draft following a four-year career at Eastern Michigan. As a senior, he was named Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year and broke Earl Boykins school record for career steals.

Caboclo was originally the 20th overall pick by Toronto in the 2014 NBA Draft. He spent his first three and a half seasons with the Raptors before finishing 2017-18 with Sacramento.

Rodríguez was eligible for the 2016 NBA Draft following his senior season at the University of Miami. Last season he played for Maccabi Haifa B.C. in the Israeli league, averaging 13.1 points, 4.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 steals.

Sampson was eligible for the 2018 NBA Draft following his junior season at Louisiana State. Following his senior year of high school in 2015, Sampson was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Louisiana.

Rockets sign guard Angel Rodriguez

Rockets sign guard Angel Rodriguez

The Houston Rockets have signed free agent guard Ángel Rodríguez.

Rodríguez (5-11, 181) was eligible for the 2016 NBA Draft following his senior season at the University of Miami. Over his final three seasons with the Hurricanes, Rodríguez averaged 12.0 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.7 steals. He has since played professionally in France, Israel, and his home country, Puerto Rico.

Rockets sign Brandon Sampson

Rockets sign Brandon Sampson

The Houston Rockets have signed free agent guard Brandon Sampson.

The deal is likely non-guaranteed and will probably only last through preseason, which ends in a few days.

Sampson (6-5, 184) was eligible for the 2018 NBA Draft following his junior season at Louisiana State. He played for Atlanta in both the Utah Jazz Summer League and the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Following his senior year of high school in 2015, Sampson was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Louisiana.