Rockets Roundup: 12/17/14

#1 Red94

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Posted 17 December 2014 - 05:00 PM

New post: Rockets Roundup: 12/17/14
By: Kevin Kim

A quick and digestible look at the most top-of-mind Rockets news of the past few days.

Hardwood Paroxysm. 15-footer: James Harden beats the MVP drum.

While the early season starts from some surprising MVP candidates have succumbed to gravity and slowly began to descend back to Earth, one young guard has come from the South to the forefront of the MVP conversation. The Houston Rockets are 18-5, have the second-best defense in the league, have survived without Dwight Howard, and James Harden is playing out of his mind right now.

Houston Chronicle. Isaiah Canaan expected back vs. Nuggets.

For a second consecutive game, the Rockets could get one of their injured players back on Wednesday, with guard Isaiah Canaan expected to return after missing seven games with a sprained ankle. Dwight Howard returned on Saturday. Forwards Kostas Papanikolaou and Terrence Jones, and guard/forward Francisco Garcia are out, but Papanikolaou hopes to return to the court, and possibly a game, next weekend.

NBA.com. Morning shootaround: December 17.

Reports: Wolves’ Brewer remains on trade radar for Cavs, Rockets – It’s been a while since Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Corey Brewer had his name bandied about in trade talks, but that chatter may be heating up again. Back in mid-November, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets were sniffing around on potential deals for him — which is something that hasn’t changed a month later.Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group has more on the Cavs’ interest in Brewer (and others) and Darren Wolfsen of ESPN1500 in Minneapolis has more on the Rockets’ interest in Brewer, too...

#2 thejohnnygold

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Posted 17 December 2014 - 07:36 PM

I am surprised there hasn't been more chatter regarding Morey's self-imposed deadline of the 19th to use the TPE. What do people think of possibly bringing in Brewer? Who gets cut/traded?

I'm of the opinion that, like last season's Asik deadline, nothing is going to happen between now and then.

#3 Sir Thursday

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Posted 17 December 2014 - 09:10 PM

I think that self-imposed deadline probably weakens his bargaining position quite a lot (possibly to the point of defeating the purpose of having it in the first place). If other GMs see that he really wants to get a deal done before the 19th, they're going to use the threat of letting the days go by to avoid having to lower their price at the negotiating table. Or at least they should do if their smart. But then, I'm not on the phone calls (wish I was!)

#4 adonneus

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Posted 17 December 2014 - 11:46 PM

I think that self-imposed deadline probably weakens his bargaining position quite a lot (possibly to the point of defeating the purpose of having it in the first place). If other GMs see that he really wants to get a deal done before the 19th, they're going to use the threat of letting the days go by to avoid having to lower their price at the negotiating table. Or at least they should do if their smart. But then, I'm not on the phone calls (wish I was!)

ST

I felt that way last year, and I am still mixed about his broadcasting of that intention. On the other hand, if he feels he already has a strong position and that many people want to trade with him, the deadline might be a good way to impose stress on the other GMs. He's saying that he's going to make a deal with someone, so if you're a GM, you better sweeten the deal to ensure that someone is you.

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