Category: Houston Rockets Blog

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has assigned forward Patrick Patterson to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. Patterson is expected to join the Vipers on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

“Patrick is making tremendous strides in practice and coach is very comfortable that he could help us win in the NBA right now,” said Morey. “However, our depth at the big spot with Yao Ming, Luis Scola, Brad Miller, Jordan Hill, Chuck Hayes and Jared Jeffries means there is no playing time available. We believe strongly that players improve best by playing in games and the upcoming stretch presented a timely opportunity for Patrick to join Vipers training camp.”

Patterson (6-9, 235, Kentucky), who was selected by the Rockets in the first round (14th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft, has been on the inactive list for Houston’s first six games. He averaged 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 15.2 minutes in six games for the Rockets during the preseason. Patterson also averaged 9.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in five games (four starts) with Houston during the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

An early entry candidate out of Kentucky, Patterson finished his three-year career with averages of 16.1 points (.585, 617-1054 FG; .329, 24-73 3FG), 8.2 rebounds and 1.57 blocks in 97 career games (97 starts). He was one of five Wildcats picked in the opening round of the 2010 NBA Draft, which was the first time five players from one school were chosen in the first round of the draft. A 2007 McDonald’s All-American as a high school senior, Patterson became the 10th fastest player to reach the 1,000-point club at UK (58 games). He was a two-time All-SEC First-Team pick as a junior and sophomore, as well as a Second-Team selection as a freshman.

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:

Rockets guard Aaron Brooks said after Sunday’s game he was told to expect to miss four to six weeks with a sprained left ankle he suffered at the end of the first half Saturday night in an overtime defeat at San Antonio.

The injury snapped his streak of 119 consecutive games played.

“I don’t think I ever had an ankle injury like this before,” Brooks said. “I did break my hand in college, sat out like eight weeks.

“As far as football, I never had any injury. Luckily, nothing is broken. It’s a sprain. I’ll be back to normal.”

UPDATE FROM THE ROCKETS: Rockets guard Aaron Brooks underwent further medical evaluation from the Rockets medical staff prior to last night’s game.  It was determined that Brooks suffered a moderate to severe left ankle sprain on the last play of the first half of Saturday night’s game at San Antonio.  Brooks is expected to miss a minimum of four weeks.

InsideHoops.com editor says: And the hits just keep coming for the struggling Rockets, who did finally win their first game of the season, recently beating the very beatable Minnesota Timberwolves. Anyway, watch and see if backup point guard Kyle Lowry is able to step up while Brooks is gone.

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has picked up the second-year option on the contract of forward/center Jordan Hill and the third-year option on guard Courtney Lee.

While neither player is a star, both are capable of being key backup contributors on the Rockets this season.

An MRI performed yesterday afternoon on Rockets forward Chuck Hayes at Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute indicated that he suffered a mild to moderate sprain of his right ankle.

Hayes is expected to miss the team’s final two exhibition games at San Antonio and Dallas and will be listed as day-to-day.

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has hired David Patrick as a Personnel Scout.

Patrick, who was serving as associate head coach at Saint Mary’s College, joins the Rockets after spending a total of four seasons with the Gaels. He spent his previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Saint Mary’s after working one season as the Director of Basketball Operations. Patrick came to Saint Mary’s from Nicholls State University, where he was an assistant coach for the 2005-06 campaign.

Bermuda born, Patrick joined the coaching ranks in 2005 after playing four years of professional basketball overseas. Following his collegiate career, Patrick went on to be the first Bermudian to play professionally. Patrick went to Australia to play for the Camberra Cannons of the National Basketball League from 1999-2001. In 2000, following his first season with the Cannons, he was named the National Basketball League Rookie of the Year. He then joined the Chester Jets of England’s British Basketball League for the 2001-02 season where he garnered Second-Team All-League honors. His final professional season was spent in Spain as a member of Alcora of the LEB1 League in 2002-03.

Patrick spent one season at Syracuse University where he was a member of the 1996 NCAA Final Four team that finished as the national runner-up. He then transferred to the University of Louisiana-Lafayette where he was the point guard from 1997-2000. Patrick graduated from Louisiana-Lafayette in 2000 with a degree in criminal justice.

In high school, Patrick joined the Chapel Trafton Tigers from Australia as a senior. He led the team to the 1995 Class A State Quarterfinals and was named the Louisiana Player of the Year. He was selected as District Most Valuable Player and First-Team All-Parish League. Patrick was also chosen to participate in the Louisiana State High School All-Star Game. In addition, he was a member of Junior National Teams in Australia and was named as an All-Australian player from 1992-94.

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:

Brooks had hoped his breakthrough season and status as the NBA’s Most Improved Player award winner would prompt the Rockets to offer a contract extension. Instead, he said the Rockets’ unwillingness to work on a new deal for beyond this season is “bothering” him.

“It’s kind of stressful,” Brooks said. “I was hoping we maybe could get something done this summer, but we couldn’t, so I’m stuck in the position I’m in.

“I understand, but it’s bothering me. It’s the business of basketball. You have to take it like it is. I’m stuck with that.”

Brooks’ agent, Leon Rose, is scheduled to meet with general manager Daryl Morey today to discuss the situation, but he would not comment other to confirm the meeting.

Asked if he felt he deserves a contract extension, Brooks said, “Oh, no doubt. I deserve at least discussions.”

Discuss your opinion on the Houston Rockets forum.