They wanted to sign him so another team didnt snag him first. He's a project but given what he's shown in the D-League he might be able to contribute some this year as a backup Center. They obviously are giving up on the Thabeet/Hill project so its time to look at the next option. What Smith has shown so far is that he is miles above Thabeet as far as production goes, and very similar to Hill. Plus contract wise is much more flexible and less risky to go this route.
So they control his rights while he develops. They probably see him as someone that has some upside, while Adrien does not. DD
If they dumped Adrian and had RGV sign him to make room for Smith, then I am assuming that we are going to have Smith come up to fill Adrians position as center when Hill needs a night off. Which seems to be 2 out of every 3 games. Dalembert is better showing up 1.5 games out of 3 so it is a must that there has to be another center ready to go on the bench. Thabeet counts not.
His contract isn't guaranteed for next season. Players on those kind of deals do sometimes request and are granted a release if they get a better deal overseas or opportunity with another NBA team. I think they just want him to play for the Vipers for the rest of the season.
You just described the whole damn team's habit of showing up 1-1.5 out of 3 games. This whole team needs to work harder & show up every night.
He's probably still going to play for the Vipers this season, theres no doubt in my mind. However, we are about 5 weeks away from the trade deadline, and after that they might really need his help if they move Hill & co. After being around the Rockets organization this much, Im sure Smith would rather grind it out with them for a year or two seeing as though there is a massive opportunity in Houston to make it big time. He's a few years away from giving up on that hope at 21 years old.
The Rox won't give up on Hill until they get another big like Kamen. Motiejunas, for whom I have lots of hope, hasn't yet proven himself at this level. They won't trade Hill unless we're getting another big coming back.
I think the Rockets would be okay with Patterson getting all of the backup minutes if Hill was needed in a trade. Hill is not good enough to hold up any trade Morey thinks will make the team better. Morris can also swing to the 4 if necessary, although the Rockets think he has more potential as a 3.
Morris is too "special" to compete in the NBA, or haven't you heard? Needs a whole year playing D-league pick up games.
If he's gonna do nothing but have "DNPs" and be on the inactive list, might as well let him have more seasoning in the D-League. What really REALLY should happen is Thabeet being down in the D-League if thats possible. Or have Thabeet play more on the big team. But I think it'd be lame for team chemistry to have Smith come in and start playing over Hill and Thabeet right away.
I know you're being funny here, but in an attempt at restoring some sensability to this board, Morris has only played in 5 games for the RGV this season (not including the game in which he played less than a minute before injuring himself). That's hardly about the Rockets wanting to keep him there all season. They've already said that they'd like to see some consistency from him defensively playing against wing players. How much consistency can we really determine in 3 game stretches? Expect him to stay with RGV until he's had a 6+ game stretch of solid defensive performances in the DL, or until the trade deadline passes. Either way, we're almost certainly going to see him with the Rockets in March. Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.
I've been waiting all season for that. I think the best they've done so far was about a 3 game stretch. Defense was really starting to look like it was coming together, then it was lost...again. I was thinking about it this morning. I don't really need a superstar on this team for me to be happy about it. I just need someone, any one, to play consistently this season so that I know what I'm going to get out of that guy night in and night out. Last year, for me, it was Scola with the scoop. This year...*shakes his head* Maybe Smith will be that guy...but that's probably expecting too much from a guy coming out of the D-League. Can I get some consistency, please? I think this team has no identity BECAUSE it has no consistency.
So, I wonder if Smith is gonna travel with the Rockets or stay down in RGV and just make more $ doing the same thing.
