Update 5:27pm CT: <a href="http://rockets.clutchfans.net/310/rockets-cut-4-and-ish-smith-still-standing/">Video: Adelman comments after practice today</a> <HR> @RocketsJCF: Rockets waived Antonio Anderson, Mike Harris, Alexander Johnson and Jerel McNeal today. Roster now stands at 15 players.
Nice. Too bad for Harris, hopefully he can find a good fit somewhere else soon. 'Twas nice of the Rockets to give these guys a trip to China before cuttin' 'em.
Thanks for the news. McNeal was cut before even one pre-season game? I have to imagine his signing was purely done to give the Rockets first dibs on him for the D-League team. Egelseder, Sullivan and Anderson possibly joining RGV, too. Harris and Johnson are probably too old to make no money in D-League and should probably go overseas (back to China?).
I just wanted to chant MVP one time when Harris was at the free throw line at home before he got cut, didn't have the opportunity to this preseason. But, I'm so glad Ish made the cut!
I am sure you will be see these 4 players with the RGV unless they get big offers from some European team.
Looks like I was a minute late typing this from my phone, so I'm going to merge this with the other thread.
Good point. I think they just signed McNeal so they can stash with the Vipers. The new rule allows you to keep some players who were with you at camp and stash them on your NBDL team.
Yep, I suppose we'll see Eglseder, Sullivan and McNeal on the Vipers (as "first-dibs" players under the new rules), along with Anderson and Harris (rights already held by RGV), unless Harris goes for a paycheck elsewhere. It was nice having you around as non-guaranteed salary filler this summer, Alexander Johnson! Just note that this does not necessarily mean that Ish Smith will be a Rocket much longer. He was guaranteed $50,000 under his contract no matter what, so there is no point in the Rockets cutting him during training camp in order to avoid fully guaranteeing his salary. To my knowledge, the Rockets could possibly hold onto Ish even into the regular season, could still waive him before the January 10 deadline (when all salaries become fully guaranteed), and still minimize their cap exposure (as the team did a couple years ago with Pops Mensa-Bonsu, although Pops actually got picked up off waivers by Toronto that year).
I guess that answered my Mke Harris thread from yesterday I guess MVP NBDL honors didn't carry too much weight for him, on this roster, anyway. Good luck Mike!
I thought Alexander would be a nice addition, but we have enough depth. I don't mind adding "Erica" for the minimum, just as insurance for Yao. Obviously, Dampier isn't in the same category as Yao, but he does provide size in the front-court and can give six fouls if necessary.
Yeah, Mike should go to Europe or China and get a good paycheck. You have to feel for players like Harris, who are so damn close to making it in the league, but seem to not quite fit an NBA roster.
