News and rumours from H-Town and beyond are available for you to follow on Inside The Rockets, provided by Sports Illustrated. The Houston Rockets and the NBA are dynamic entities that are always changing.
Jabari Smith Jr., a second-year forward, will start for the Rockets against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. Smith’s left ankle sprain prevented him from playing in Houston’s previous four games. Through 40 games, Smith is averaging 13.7 points on 47.6 percent shooting and 8.7 rebounds.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that former Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. has entered into a plea deal for reckless assault in the third-degree harassment case involving Kysre Gondrezick, a WNBA player, and his ex-girlfriend. Porter was taken into custody early on September 11th after he was accused of beating Gondrezick in a New York hotel.
“The resolution will allow Mr. Porter to put this incident, which involved false felony allegations and false facts, behind him with no criminal record and move forward,” Porter’s attorneys said in a statement, as reported by ESPN.
Less than a month remains until the NBA trade deadline, and the Rockets are just one of several clubs hoping to add players to their roster.
The Washington Wizards’ Daniel Gafford is reportedly wanted by three clubs, including the Rockets, according to Action Network’s Matt Moore. In 36 games, 6-foot-10 big man Gafford has averaged 10.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks.
With Gafford perhaps acquired, the Rockets would have a solid big man to support Alperen \engün.
Less than a month separates us from the NBA trade deadline, and the Houston Rockets will be buyers before February 8. Marc Stein reports that the Rockets are interested in acquiring Harrison Barnes, a forward for the Sacramento Kings, to improve their poor shooting.
This season, Barnes has made 40 appearances and averaged 10.8 points on 39.7% of his 3-point attempts. Houston shot 35.8 percent through 39 games, placing them in the bottom half of the 3-point shooting rankings.
“The Rockets, who have two trade-friendly contracts—Victor Oladipo’s $9.5 million contract, which expires this season, and Jock Landale’s $32 million, four-year deal—are rumoured to be looking for more size to help support budding star Alperen Şengün.
“League sources say the Rockets also have a level of interest in Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes in their quest to add shooting.”
