morey magic?

Clock is ticking for a Houston Rockets magic move

Can Rockets GM Daryl Morey pull off another stunning trade, like the one that netted James Harden?

Courtesy photo

The Houston Rockets are currently 35-13 — good enough for both the second-best record in the Western Conference and the NBA. Led by the pair of superstar guards James Harden and Chris Paul, the team has been able to take the next step in the regular season and has shown they can play with the champs, the Golden State Warriors.

It’s a very good team and I hope you like it, because they won’t be making any major roster moves at the deadline.

February 8 is fast approaching. Rockets GM Daryl Morey usually has a few tricks up his sleeve, and we know he loves to wheel and deal.

Barring one of the greatest displays of Morey Magic that he can even think up, let alone actualize, the Rockets are going to be standing pat at the deadline, and whatever moves they might make will be minor.

The Rockets have no cap space, and they are over the tax threshold. They don’t really have tradeable commodities on their roster that aren’t considered key rotational pieces. Trading an Eric Gordon, Trevor Ariza, or Clint Capela creates a new hole to fill on the team, and none of those guys are making particularly large money (Gordon $13M this year, $13.5M in '18, $14M in '19; Ariza $ 7.5M this year then UFA; Capela $2.3M this year then RFA). They don’t have a first round pick they can deal this year (dealt in the Chris Paul trade).

So while you see other teams making headlines — as the Detroit Pistons did Monday by acquiring Blake Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers — understand the Rockets made their moves in the offseason in acquiring Paul and Luc Mbah a Moute, and they are going to battle with the guys they have.

Essentially the only position they need help is at the 4/5, where a big man who can bang and play defense against more physical players would be beneficial. Capela has shown he can rebound and protect the rim, but he still gets pushed around some by the larger, more physical guys in the league. Nene is always an injury waiting to happen and can’t realistically give more than 15 minutes on a consistent basis, and Tarik Black just isn’t a good enough player to go against the better PF & C in the league steadily, especially in the playoffs.

With limited bullets for a trade and no first round pick, even a GM as creative as Daryl Morey will find it extremely challenging to make any kind of move with substance. Their best bet may be to target a player like Knicks C Kyle O’Quinn, a junkyard dog style player who is tough defensively, rebounds well, and is efficient with his limited offensive game. He could be a defensive presence for the team against larger, more physical bigs. Of equal importance is he has an affordable contract at $4.25M, and he is a free agent at the end of the season, which means no long-term commitment for the Rockets and a low asking price as he is a straight rental player.

The Rockets wanted that third star to go with Harden and Paul, and thankfully, they didn’t pull the trigger on Carmelo Anthony. The right fit for them wasn’t available this past offseason.

By not making a significant deal this year, they keep their assets for the offseason, when they will need them to try to unload Ryan Anderson’s contract. Without losing Anderson’s deal (with two more years at $42M total) there is no chase for a Big 3, so trading him is Job No. 1 this offseason. They will need every asset they have to pull that off.

For this year, however, what you see is what you’re likely going to get. It will have to be good enough, because help isn’t on the way.

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This article originally appeared on SportsMap.

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pucker up

Growing pickleball franchise smashes into Houston with 2 locations

Two men play pickleball on a Picklr court.

Photo courtesy of The Picklr

A Picklr court campus similar to the ones soon to open in Houston.

Pickleball is one of the hottest sports sweeping the nation, and one of the biggest names in the game is setting up two new facilities in Houston. Picklr is scheduled to open indoor sports campuses in Cypress and The Woodlands in the coming months.

“Bringing a pickleball facility to Cypress will not only provide a fun and engaging recreational outlet for residents of all ages, but will also foster a sense of community and promote a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Steve Nguyen, owner of The Picklr Cypress.“This facility will serve as a vibrant hub for social interaction, skill development, and friendly/competitive competition, enhancing community bonds and offering a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.”

Although the game is approximately 60 years old, pickleball saw a massive spike in popularity following the pandemic when people were looking for fun group activities with easy points of entry. Though a racket sport like tennis, it is far easier and slower thanks to using perforated balls, smaller courts, and lighter paddles. This means the game is open to players of all ages, and was originally most popular with retirees. Now, there are roughly 5 million players across America, with players under 24 making up the majority. Houston even has its own professional team, the Hammers (not the Texas Hammer; that's this guy).

The court in Cypress will be located in the old ASI Gymnastics building at 8920 Barker Cypress. It's a relatively modest facility with only six courts including a practice court. By contrast, The Woodlands location will be much more opulent. At 66,517 square feet, it will have 20 courts, 4 private event spaces (one with an exclusive viewing area), as well as a shower, changing room, dry bar, and kitchenette. Picklr The Woodlands will be located at 16590 Interstate I-45 South.

These locations are the first for Picklr in Houston. They have twelve locations all throughout Texas, including in Round Rock and McKinney, and many more nationwide. Picklr locations operate on a membership model similar to a gym. Memberships run $159 a month for adults and $89 for minors, with unlimited access to open play, league play, and tournaments , as well as four free clinics a month. Additional coaching is available.

There is currently no set opening date for the two Houston-area Picklrs. Players interested in learning more may sign up for updates at ThePicklr.com.

pickleball openings