Jonathan Feigen live chat right (Started around 12 EST)

A few questions I picked out. Probably nothing. Probably Feigen sitting on more info, ha.

Spoiler

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Comment From Ken
What would it take for the Rockets to get Josh Smith?

Jonathan Feigen: I would think a very good draft pick and a willingness to use some of that cap space to absorb his contract. In other words, I don't think the Hawks would take what the Rockets would have to offer in corresponding contracts. They would love a true center, but we know how that goes with the Rockets.
11:55
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Comment From Joe B.
if the Rockets aren't successful in getting Howard...what's the next step/options??

Jonathan Feigen: Well, it depends what happens along the way. in orther words, if they can move up high in the draft, they would be happy to have one very good prospect while they continue to look for that deal, sort of like when they had the rug pulled out from under them on the Pau deal. They keep trying to improve the roster and keep looking. Better to look with a top pick on board, though.
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Comment From cody
Jon, why does it seem no NBA superstars see Houston as a good place to play? Is it the owner or management or the city?

Jonathan Feigen: The offers. The Rockets have been far over the cap for years. Tough to draw top players without offer top dollars. When they have been able to offer similar contracts, they've been in the fight and won a few.
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Comment From Sean
Are the Rockets anymore interested in bringing in Pau Gasol via trade or has that ship sailed?

Jonathan Feigen: They would absolutely be interested. The Lakers, however, were willing to trade Pau to get Chris Paul. They have had a tough time adjusting to offers for considerably less accomplished players. You could make a case, though, that Kyle Lowry would be ideal for them. He's not CP3, but would be a great fit.
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Comment From martin
what are our options if we don't get howard

Jonathan Feigen: Keep looking. There are no games on Saturday. These things sometimes take years. The Pau talks went on for almost two years. When the Rockets got Artest, that thing was dead many times and they would have been happy to keep the player they drafted. They would like to have someone they'd want out of the draft and then work on something better.
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Comment From cody
is there even a slight chance we can retain Howard if we get him?

Jonathan Feigen: Sure, and I'm not referring to a Lloyd Christmas chance. Hey, he's been so fickle for the past year I can't imagine he'll be suddenly decisive. The chances are not great, but they are better than getting (and keeping) and player like that another way.
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Comment From Payton
Easy one first.... What do you think is going to happen?

Jonathan Feigen: Sorry, that's not an easy one. But most likely, they would move up a little, draft someone they like and move the other picks for future picks.
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Comment From Patrick
Who do you see as realistic trade partners for the Rockets to move up in the draft? Would they be satisfied to get Andre Drummond and roll the dice that he works out in the long run?

Jonathan Feigen: Sacramento and Toronto. They have made deals with the Kings in the past and though they have not completed trades with Toronto, they have been in tons of talks over the years. Teams do seem to make deals with familiar trade partners. I don't know if I would use the word "satisfied" on Drummond, but his size and ability makes him their sort of gamble. And they would like to let McHale work with him on his post game.
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Comment From Joey
I appreciated the team's attempt to make a move to get out of this cycle of being average. But, it simply doesn't seem realistic that there is enough time to turn 3 first round picks into a major trade that would provide the required overhaul in what is essentially 30 hours. Do we really think the Magic would finally let Dwight Howard go in such a short window of time after all this drama?

Jonathan Feigen: It doesn't have to happen tomorrow. I keep going back to the Artest deal. They worked on that long after the draft and thought they had no chance about 10 days before it came through.
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Comment From Landon
If the Rockets do not get Dwight Howard, but are able to obtain a top 5 or 10 pick, would the Rockets target Andre Drummond or is there another prospect that the front office might be higher on?

Jonathan Feigen: Morey would not show his hand. I asked. But I think Drummond. That would change if you are talking five, though, depending on who slipped there.
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Comment From Rokas
Is Minnesota interested in Martin? If so, is it possible to acquire Beasley and do Rockets like him? If no, who would like to take Kevin in the end?

Jonathan Feigen: Here's the deal with the Timberwolves and Martin. They won't offer much because they are pretty confident that they can get him as a free agent next summer.
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Comment From Brian
Outside of Dwight and Smith, any other players drawing interest from DMorey?

Jonathan Feigen: As always, Pau is a target.
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Comment From Pedro
What would rockets do with the three picks if they can't move up

Jonathan Feigen: Play cards. They don't want three picks. I'd be shocked if they keep all three. It could be like when they drafted Turkcan knowing they would trade him before his first training camp. (Got a better pick for him, too.)
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Comment From JL
What is lowry's beef with mchale?

Jonathan Feigen: They never clicked. Lowry did not like McHale changing as much as he did. He did not like McHale's style. He felt as if he was often singled out for criticism. And I don't think he's gotten past the incident in Denver.
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Comment From Jerry C
Have you seen or heard anything about the development of Morris, Parsons or Patterson? Has anyone shown extraordinary summer dedication to improve? Thanks!

Jonathan Feigen: Patterson has stayed in Houston and has been working at Toyota Center. Morris is out of town, I believe in Phoenix, so I don't know quite what he's doing. Parsons has gone back and forth to Florida and TC. He seems very determined to improve his range shooting. I think Patterson really will bounce back after a disappointing second season.
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nice news about Patterson:

"Comment From Jerry C
Have you seen or heard anything about the development of Morris, Parsons or Patterson? Has anyone shown extraordinary summer dedication to improve? Thanks!

Jonathan Feigen: Patterson has stayed in Houston and has been working at Toyota Center. Morris is out of town, I believe in Phoenix, so I don't know quite what he's doing. Parsons has gone back and forth to Florida and TC. He seems very determined to improve his range shooting. I think Patterson really will bounce back after a disappointing second season."

 

um ...all of this Pau talk is really, really scaring me. It's literally driving me nuts. I must now take some pills.

 

What was the incident in Dever that involved KLow?

 

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2012/04/mchale-downplays-lowry-incident/

 

Lowry was standing outside a huddle during a timeout. McHale pulled him back into the huddle, and Lowry didn't like that and they argued.

The rift apparently started earlier in the year (as Feigen notes), and probably the reason for Lowry to not being in the huddle. Lowry "not getting over Denver" probably is as much about being yanked by a coach, as anything else during that game. I wouldn't go pulling an NBA player if I were a coach.