Category: Houston Rockets Blog

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has assigned guard Jermaine Taylor to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. In addition, the Rockets have signed Rio Grande Valley guard Will Conroy to a 10-day contract, marking Conroy’s fourth-career Call-Up to the NBA.

Taylor (6-4, 210, Central Florida) has averaged 2.4 points and 0.2 assists in 13 games with the Rockets. A rookie out of Central Florida, Taylor recorded a season-high seven points (2-2 FG, 3-3 FT), one rebound and one steal in just 2:17 of action vs. Atlanta (1/25/10). He also scored five points (5-6 FT) earlier this season at Dallas (11/10/09). Taylor, who had his draft rights acquired by Houston from Washington on June 25, 2009, was selected by the Wizards in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft. He also averaged 11.0 points and 2.3 assists in four games (two starts) with Houston in the 2009 NBA Summer League.

“Jermaine has done a terrific job in his role with the Rockets and this opportunity to get extended minutes with the Vipers is the next step in his development,” said Rockets Vice President of Basketball Operations and Rio Grande Valley General Manager Gersson Rosas. “Coach Adelman and his staff have been very impressed with Jermaine’s work ethic and his willingness to learn our system. We want to give him the opportunity to get back into regular game situations and let him apply some of the things he has learned during his time with the Rockets. Jermaine’s athleticism and scoring ability will make an immediate impact on the Vipers.”

Conroy (6-2, 195, Washington) has averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.46 steals in 13 games (11 starts) with Rio Grande Valley this season. In his first season with the Vipers, Conroy was acquired from the Albuquerque Thunderbirds for Kurt Looby on Dec. 30, 2009. Previously signed as a free agent by the Rockets on Sept. 22, 2009, Conroy averaged 6.0 points and 2.6 assists in five preseason games with Houston. He was waived by the Rockets on Oct. 22, 2009. Conroy also received three Call-Ups during the 2006-07 season, playing in three games after one Call-Up with the Memphis Grizzlies and four games after two Call-Ups with the L.A. Clippers. Overall, he has picked up nine assists and seven rebounds in seven career NBA games.

“We were very impressed with Will during Rockets training camp and he has continued his fine play as a member of the Vipers,” added Rosas on the Conroy signing. “Will is an NBA-caliber guard who will benefit from spending additional time with the Rockets. Since joining the Vipers at the end of December, Will has demonstrated the high level of consistency that we’ve come to expect from him. He will provide the Rockets with additional depth and stability at the guard position.”

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that forward/center Joey Dorsey has been recalled from the team’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

“Joey has really used this opportunity and added playing time to work on his game and continue his development,” said Rockets Vice President of Player Personnel/General Manager of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers Gersson Rosas. “With guidance from the Houston Rockets coaching staff, Head Coach Chris Finch and his group have done a great job in working with Joey, giving him the direction needed to bring his level of play up to where he was named to the 2010 NBA D-League All-Showcase First Team. In addition, it was encouraging to see Joey as one of the top rebounders in the league and also in playing a major role in the Vipers first-place standing in the Western Conference.”

Dorsey (6-8, 268, Memphis), who has yet to see game action with the Rockets this season, averaged 14.9 points (.647, 97-150 FG), 13.3 rebounds (second in D-League) and 1.38 blocks in 16 games (16 starts) with Rio Grande Valley this season. Assigned to the Vipers on Nov. 13, Dorsey recorded 10 or more rebounds in 13 outings and posted nine double-doubles (tied for fourth in D-League). He scored a season-best 27 points (13-15 FG) and grabbed 15 boards in a 103-95 victory vs. Reno (12/21/09). Dorsey later matched his season high with 27 points (11-11 FG, 5-9 FT) and pulled down a career-high 22 rebounds (11 offensive) in leading Rio Grande Valley to a 115-107 win vs. Bakersfield (1/6/10) at the NBA Development League Showcase in Boise, Idaho. He was also named a member of the 2010 NBA Development League Showcase First Team.

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the Rockets have waived forward Mike Harris. Signed as a Call-Up from Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Dec. 23, Harris averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in two games with the Rockets.

Harris (6-6, 235, Rice), who had rejoined the Rockets following a stint with the team during the 2007-08 season, was averaging a team-leading 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 10 games (10 starts) with the Vipers at the time of his Call-Up. A former standout at Rice University, Harris spent his rookie NBA season with the Rockets, averaging 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 17 games in 2007-08.

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:

With the Rockets ending the year surprisingly in the thick of playoff contention, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said Thursday he was going to extend the contract of Rockets coach Rick Adelman in the coming weeks.

Adelman, whose winning percentage with the Rockets is better than any coach in franchise history, had gone into his third season with the Rockets in the final guaranteed of year of his contract, with the Rockets intending to address his contract situation in the off-season.

“I’m going to pick up his option,” Alexander said. “We’re going to do it soon, relatively soon.

“I think he’s done a terrific job. He’s taken a team that has lost two key starters and he melded the team and he’s won. That’s what we want here. He’s very self-effacing. He only cares about — which I love — is the team and winning.”

The Houston Rockets are actively seeking a trade for guard Tracy McGrady, who will remain inactive until it happens.

Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey issued the following statement today regarding the team’s agreement with McGrady to seek a trade: “After multiple conversations with Tracy and his representatives, we have agreed to look into trade opportunities and have granted him an indefinite leave from team activities.”

After playing just 66 games in 2007-08 and 35 last season, McGrady in 2009-10 has logged just 45 minutes in six games.

Houston has also been without injured center Yao Ming this season.

Despite their two top stars not being on the court, the Rockets have an 18-13 record. If the regular season ended today, they’d be the Western conference 7th seed for the playoffs.

McGrady is the highest paid player in the entire league this year. His contract is expiring, so if the Rockets can’t find a suitable trade that actually helps their team, it’s quite possible T-Mac simply remains inactive all season.

It’s also possible that the team doesn’t find a trade for McGrady and the two sides someday make amends. Perhaps we’ll still actually see McGrady on the court wearing a Rockets jersey weeks or months from now.

But for now, the team will actively seek a trade — but only one that helps them, of course.

— Jeff Lenchiner

Fans have been discussing the T-Mac ordeal in this forum topic.

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the Rockets have signed forward Mike Harris as a Call-Up from Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Harris rejoins the Rockets following a stint with the team during the 2007-08 season.

“Mike Harris has been the best player in the D-League and instrumental in the Vipers 7-3 start,” said Morey. “He will be a quality addition to our team. We are excited to add him.”

Harris (6-6, 235, Rice) returns to Houston from the Rio Grande Valley, where he was averaging a team-leading 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 10 games (10 starts) with the Vipers. At the time of his Call-Up, Harris stood second in the D-League among qualified leaders in points per game. He scored in double figures in all 10 games with Rio Grande Valley, while recording two double-doubles. Harris recorded a season-high 35 points and a season-best 12 rebounds at Tulsa (12/19/09). Harris actually began the 2009-10 season as a training camp invitee with Oklahoma City, but was waived by the Thunder on Oct. 23.

A former standout at Rice University, Harris spent his rookie NBA season with the Rockets, averaging 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 17 games in 2007-08. Harris originally signed with Houston as a rookie free agent on July 13, 2007, but was waived by the Rockets on Oct. 22. He later signed a 10-day contract with Houston on Mar. 8, 2008, before inking a second 10-day contract on Mar. 18. Harris was signed for the remainder of the 2007-08 season by the Rockets on Mar. 29, 2008. During the 2008 NBA Playoffs, he averaged 1.0 points and 0.7 rebounds in three postseason games with Houston. Harris also averaged 12.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in five games with the Rockets in the 2007 NBA Summer League.

Harris, who also played in the preseason with the Milwaukee Bucks prior to the 2006-07 campaign, was selected third overall in the 2006 D-League Draft by the Colorado 14ers. In 48 games (16 starts) with Colorado, he averaged 11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.54 blocks per contest in 2006-07. In addition, Harris has played internationally in the Ukraine with BC Kyiv (2005-06) and with DongGuan of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

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MyFoxHouston reports:

NBA sources told FOX 26 Sports the Houston Rockets plans to re-sign free agent guard Von Wafer fell through when Wafer did not pass his physical Tuesday night.

Sources told FOX 26 the Rockets may re-visit Wafer’s situation soon.

With Wafer no longer an option the Rockets signed forward Michael Harris from the team’s NBA Development league affiliate, the Rio Grande Vipers.

Harris was at the Rockets game with the Clippers Tuesday night just to watch the game and then he got the surprise of his life.

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