Blast to the 'Ship - A Houston Rockets Story

[Rizzo]

July 21, 2014

[color="Red"]With 12 players under contract and the depth a little light at the small forward position, Kris Eisley had just one target on his mind for free agency: Shane Battier. We offered him a one-year contract for the veteran’s minimum. After about a week of pondering the offer, Battier accepted. He’s comfortable in Houston having already played here before and should fit in as a great rotational player off the bench for the Rockets.[/color]

July 23, 2014

After days of reporting that the Utah Jazz were in the lead, PF Derrick Favors spurns the only team he’s ever played for to head to Cleveland on a 4-year, $52.7m deal. He joins Tristan Thompson, Andrew Bynum, Tyler Zeller, Kelly Olynyk and Anthony Randolph in a crowded front court.

July 25, 2014

One day ago, Brandon Jennings had hoped he would sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Perhaps he was telling the truth, or perhaps he was looking to squeeze some extra cash out of Milwaukee. Today, he re-signed with the Bucks, agreeing to a 5-year, $57m deal. The 5th year is a team option.

July 26, 2014

Ty Lawson spurns the Nuggets for Western Conference foe Dallas Mavericks, signing a 4-year deal for $47m.

July 27, 2014

After flirting with the Lakers for a couple day, Andre Iguodala remains in Denver. The Nuggets just lost Ty Lawson and couldn’t afford to replace Iguodala as well. The deal is 5-years for $50m.

The Utah Jazz could lose another one of their free agents as Gordon Hayward signs an offer sheet with Detroit on a 4-year, $26m deal. He would need to beat out the incumbent Tayshaun Prince and 2014 18th overall pick Glenn Robinson III for the starting job.

Andrew Bogut will remain in Golden State. His deal is for 5-years at $10m per season.

Jeff Teague and the Atlanta Hawks agree to the same deal as Bogut and the Warriors, except the Hawks hold a team option on Teague’s final year.

July 28, 2014

The Lakers add a couple young pieces in Avery Bradley (3-years, ~$25m) and Ed Davis (3-years, $16.6m). They are also discussing a one-year deal with veteran big man Anderson Varejao.

Evan Turner has a chance to leave Philadelphia and could follow Ty Lawson to Dallas on an affordable 3-year, $18m deal. The 76ers will have a chance to match the offer sheet.

The Orlando Magic need a point guard badly and now are attempting to sign Greivis Vasquez away from the Pelicans. The deal is worth $25m over three years. The Pelicans will now either need to match the offer sheet or allow him to walk for nothing in return.

Veteran small forward Paul Pierce joins the Washington Wizards. He will get paid $6m for one season and look to solidify that starting lineup and help bring a title to the nation’s capital.

July 29, 2014

One day after Greivis Vasquez signs an offer sheet with Orlando, the Pelicans signed Rodney Stuckey to a 3-year deal worth $9m. Is this the end of Greivis in the Big East?

July 30, 2014

For those of you who thought Kobe Bryant would dawn another team’s uniform at this point of his career, simmer down. He has signed a one-year, $6.8m deal for the Lakers. Ben Gordon will also join him on a 2-year veteran minimum deal.

The Utah Jazz have matched Gordon Hayward’s offer sheet from Detroit.

July 31, 2014

Evan Turner will stay in Philly as the 76ers matched Dallas’ offer sheet.

Greivis Vasquez, on the other hand, will be changing teams as New Orleans decided he wasn’t worth keeping around.

[color="Red"]Patrick Patterson[/color], the former Houston Rocket, signs with the Los Angeles Clippers on a 3-year contract worth $9m. We wish him the best.

August 2, 2014

Anderson Varejao decides he doesn’t want to play for the Lakers and signs in…Charlotte? The bottom line to this decision: money! He received $10m per season over the next four years.

The Miami Heat, looking to fill the void left by Shane Battier leaving for Houston, signed Shawn Marion on a one-year veteran minimum contract.

Pau Gasol is talking with the Spurs and a signing could be imminent.

August 3, 2014

Maybe Varejao knew more than we did because the next day, the Hornets have inked Dirk Nowitzki to a 1-year contract for $5.3m. Two formidable big men could make Charlotte a playoff team. The roster has a nice mix of youth and veteran players.

Emeka Okafor leaves the upstart Wizards to sign with the Nuggets. He’ll spend two years there for $2.7m.

September 30, 2014

Kris Eisley, on the final day of being able to pickup a rookie option, decided to do just that on his two first round picks Marcus Smart and Jabari Parker. They are now locked up until 2018.

[Rizzo]

October 4, 2014

The day to assign players to the D-League has come. Although the Rockets have a very young roster, they will only be sending one player to their affiliate Los Angeles Sea Dogs. Doug McDermott, the 52nd pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, will be spending time in the D-League to hone his skills.

[Rizzo]

This league is on hold again because I cannot advance past the email to generate a draft class. Very frustrating...