[Chron] Rockets hope minor moves lead to a major one

[J.R.]

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterocket...o-a-major-one/

Another day, another deal. But once again, the Rockets hope they are just warming up for the draft night maneuvers to come. For the second-consecutive day, the Rockets dealt a player from last season’s rotation to strengthen their position in trade talks, either to land a top player to serve as the foundation of the roster or to get a “premium pick.” The Rockets moved up two spots from the 14th pick by sending center Samuel Dalembert to the Milwaukee Bucks. They acquired forwards Jon Leuer and Jon Brockman and guard Shaun Livingston in the deal. They also sent Milwaukee $1.5 million to complete the trade, a person with knowledge of the deal said. The Rockets like the potential Leuer, a 6-11 power forward from Wisconsin, showed as a rookie, but the move was made to inch up a bit higher in the draft. As with Tuesday’s move, sending Chase Budinger to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 18th pick, the trade of Dalembert to move up was made with the next trade in mind. The Rockets also do not want to stop there in their climb up the draft board, and they do not want to add three rookies to the three players they drafted last season. With that in mind, they have been talking to teams throughout the top 10, especially Sacramento, which holds the fifth pick, and Toronto, which has the eighth pick, about moving up. To move that much they would have to offer a veteran, rather than a package of picks. Guard Kyle Lowry is considered the most likely player to be moved, in part because of his relatively modest contract. But according to a person involved in the process, Lowry has in recent conversations seemed more open about returning to the Rockets since his comments last month and the team would like to bring him back if he is not the key to a larger deal. While Magic center Dwight Howard is the Rockets’ top target, the Magic have not specifically said what it would take to get him since trade talks between the teams ended March 15, and have not indicated which player they would want to get in the draft to help facilitate a deal. The Rockets are also are still interested in a deal for the Lakers’ Pau Gasol, according to a person with knowledge of their planning, but not at the price they would have paid before the season when they agreed to send Kevin Martin, Goran Dragic, Luis Scola and a first-round pick to New Orleans in the three-team deal blocked by commissioner David Stern. That deal would have cleared additional cap room and the Rockets believed it would have allowed them to sign Nene as a free agent. With that no longer a next step, and Gasol’s window one season shorter, the Rockets still are interested in Gasol, but would not offer as much as they had in December. While acquiring a centerpiece veteran remains the top priority, several individuals with knowledge of the Rockets’ thinking emphasized that the Rockets have also been aggressively pursuing a top pick to use the themselves, rather than only to facilitate a trade for a top established player. As of late Wednesday, opinions were mixed about whether to use a pick as high as No. 5 on Connecticut center Andre Drummond, an intriguing, athletic prospect but also a very young and raw project. Decisions about how to use a pick would be made well before the 6 p.m. start of the draft, but the top of the draft after Anthony Davis is made the top pick is considered unusually unpredictable. .... The Rockets do not expect a player they have high on their draft board to slip to them, as Patrick Patterson did when they had him ranked as their sixth-best prospect, tried to move up to get him and found him still available at No. 14. But they hope they won’t to still be at 12 when that pick is made anyway, with several days of changes expected to lead to many more.

[teebone21]

SMH SMH SMH

[shaggylambda]

Of course Lowry would be more open to returning to Houston. If I was about to be sent to Toronto or Sacramento, I'd want to come back to Houston too.

[HamJam]

Oh man, now that the Rockets have given Milwaukee 1.5 million I think that means that they can not purchase any 2nd round draft choices -- which, in this deep draft, is particularly unfortunate. I hated that part of the collective bargaining agreement. I feel like that was aimed directly at Morey and Les and their 2nd round pick buying arms race.

[Carl Herrera]

The Rockets are also are still interested in a deal for the Lakers’ Pau Gasol

YES!!!!!!

[Raven]

Needs to be a twitter account called.

S### Morey Does.

[Rockets2K]

Originally Posted by HamJam Oh man, now that the Rockets have given Milwaukee 1.5 million I think that means that they can not purchase any 2nd round draft choices -- which, in this deep draft, is particularly unfortunate. I hated that part of the collective bargaining agreement. I feel like that was aimed directly at Morey and Les and their 2nd round pick buying arms race.

They can if it doesn't cost more than 1.5M, teams are allowed 3M total per season to pay out as a part of any move.

[DaDakota]

They have to have other deals in play, the team has no room for 4 rookies.

DD

[saleem]

I am glad that Lowry is starting to change his mind.

[Fullcourt]

Originally Posted by DaDakota They have to have other deals in play, the team has no room for 4 rookies. DD

Agreed. McHale's comments yesterday confirmed this for me.

[NotInMyHouse]

Originally Posted by Carl Herrera YES!!!!!!

[JMAD21]

Oh boy, so many possibilities I can't even decide what I want anymore!

[saleem]

Originally Posted by Carl Herrera YES!!!!!!

Short term gain,long term loss. His trading value isn't likely to improve with time,he is a 2nd tier star who is overpaid.

[clos4life]

I'm all for Gasol as long as we are not giving up what they were asking for before. If not the Lakers I'm sure will find other takers, I just don't want us to overpay.

[JMAD21]

I'd be fine with Gasol of we can sign Eric Gordan...

[dmcray95]

Another brilliant piece of reporting by the most unimaginative beat writer in sports.

[BimaThug]

Originally Posted by clos4life I'm all for Gasol as long as we are not giving up what they were asking for before. If not the Lakers I'm sure will find other takers, I just don't want us to overpay.

How about this? (WARNING: Random trade proposal):

IF the Rockets are able to package #12, #16, Brockman(?) and another young player to Sacramento for the #5 pick, then they KEEP IT, select [Top Prospect X], then make the following trade:

Houston receives: Pau Gasol
Toronto receives: Kevin Martin and the #18 pick
L.A. Lakers receive: Luis Scola and the #8 pick

This is EXACTLY the kind of trade package the Lakers are looking for.

Meanwhile, the Rockets could come out of the draft with the #5 pick AND Pau Gasol, all without even having to trade Kyle Lowry.

Just a thought.

[thephatp]

Originally Posted by BimaThug How about this? (WARNING: Random trade proposal): IF the Rockets are able to package #12, #16, Brockman(?) and another young player to Sacramento for the #5 pick, then they KEEP IT, select [Top Prospect X], then make the following trade: Houston receives: Pau Gasol Toronto receives: Kevin Martin and the #18 pick L.A. Lakers receive: Luis Scola and the #8 pick This is EXACTLY the kind of trade package the Lakers are looking for. Meanwhile, the Rockets could come out of the draft with the #5 pick AND Pau Gasol, all without even having to trade Kyle Lowry. Just a thought.

Honestly, if we can't get Howard, I'd buy this.

[Russjr2]

I dont think we will end up with D Howard tomorrow night. I think it will be a mix of a young talent we draft and then a trade we never thought of for a good vet. Like Morey always does....... Pulls that rabbit out of his bag of tricks at the last hour.

It's going to be interesting TV tmrw after the 1st pick. Im sure all of us rockets fans will be waiting for Stern to say "we have a trade to announce..."

[Spooner]

Peter Vecsey: Memphis, by the way, says a source, is offering Zach Randolph, another solid citizen, for Pau. Rudy Gay, as of now, is not available