White traded to Denver; Conroy, Temple sign
The Rockets reworked their collection of guards to compete for roster spots, sending James White to the Denver Nuggets and signing Will Conroy and Garrett Temple.
With White facing long odds to make the team, the Rockets traded White for the draft rights to Axel Hervelle, a 6-9 power forward from Belgium. Hervelle will likely remain with Real Madrid, where he is a teammate with guard Sergio Llull, a Rockets' second-round acquisition in June. He averaged 8.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 21 minutes per game last season, and 6.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in 19 Euroleague games.
From Jon L of Ridiculous Upside:
You should know Conroy from the season he had with Albuquerque last year. In case you've forgotten, he led the D-League in scoring last year (unless you count Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who played in only eight games) while also averaging about eight and a half assists per 48 minutes. He also averaged four and a half turnovers pe4 48, which isn't great, but it's as good or better than several other point guards in the league, and Conroy also had the ball in his hands a lot.
Temple went undrafted out of LSU a few months ago, and he's a combo guard with decent size and athleticism and an aptitude for defense. Bringing the two of these guys is an interesting offense-defense combination, and while I'm a little skeptical that either of these guys will make the team given how many players the Rockets already have under contract, they each have something to offer the team if Houston's willing to give them an honest chance.
And there you have it. The James White Experiment has come to an end, and rightfully so. Aside from his dunk-tastic athleticism, I was skeptical that White could be of any significance to a team, given his, for lack of a better word, awkwardness when handling or shooting the ball.
If you look back to July's Summer League Recap post, I've been high on Conroy for quite some time now. He is a quick, athletic point guard with a knack for getting to the rim a-la Kyle Lowry. Given what he has accomplished throughout his D-League career, he certainly deserves a chance to compete for a roster spot. And while Jermaine Taylor and Chase Budinger seem to be obvious choices to make the team, you can never be too sure with rookies. Somehow, at some point, Conroy could become a Houston Rocket.
Looking back at that same recap, I wasn't quite as thrilled about Garrett Temple:
Temple didn't look comfortable as a point guard. He only had two assists in the 62 minutes that he played this week, to go along with nine turnovers. He won't be playing for the Rockets this season - his game, at least at the point guard position, isn't ready yet. However, I do think he will eventually find a way into The Association. Just not sure when that's going to be.
For defensive purposes, Temple is worth a look. The only problem with that is that our current point guards are quite good at defending as well. Again, I don't see a place for Temple, at least not on this roster.
I don't know anything about Axel Harvelle, though he does have a badass first name. Apparently Daryl Morey likes Real Madrid, because we've now got the rights to two of their players in Sergio Llull and Harvelle.
If anything, Morey has given the Rockets more options in the backcourt, which can't be comforting to Taylor or Budinger. They'll have to work to prove to the Rockets that their talent can carry over to the NBA.
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If Morey manages to get rid of Cook...
I think this will be our roster:
Andersen / Dorsey / Pops / Yao*
Scola / Landry / Hayes
Battier / Budinger / T-Mac*
Ariza / Taylor
Brooks / Lowry / Conroy
by Cornholio on Sep 23, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree
But getting rid of Cook could potentially cost the Rockets a pretty hefty price, and I’m not sure it’s one that I’d want to pay just so that I could have a third point guard on the roster. It would be nice if Morey could figure out a cost-effective way to shed that contract though. They’re already going to lose some money on whatever buy out they spend on Barry and another couple million on Brian Cook just may not be worth it.
by forshizzzle on Sep 23, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, this is part of the plan to field TWO complete NBA teams.
One will be an athletic collection of no-name/high-motor talent. The other will be a collection of high-motor/defensively oriented players with great game skills and limited athleticism. One will surely come to rule the NBA.
Or we’re going to field our own Euro league team.
Or we’re going to petition Stern to expand to college football sized rosters.
Anyway, White had become a poor fit with the addition of Budinger and Taylor – two guys who could do everything he could do better, except sky to the dunk – and Taylor could be pretty close.
"So do you keep open 3pt FG percentage?"
"Yeah, we'd have everything you'd want, Bill."
"I hate you."
Bill Simmons/Daryl Morey Podcast 5/8/09
by Xiane on Sep 23, 2009 7:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Thinking more about it
I think White is going to be a tremendous fit in Denver. They’re (with a couple of exceptions) collection of uber-athletic goofs with a limited inclination to play D (spectacular blocks excepted). If he’s going to make it anywhere in the NBA, it’ll be there.
"So do you keep open 3pt FG percentage?"
"Yeah, we'd have everything you'd want, Bill."
"I hate you."
Bill Simmons/Daryl Morey Podcast 5/8/09
by Xiane on Sep 23, 2009 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Both teams would still be better than the Grizzlies.
Hell, we could probably split the Rockets into 3 teams better than the Grizzlies.
Mike Nolan is my hero.
by jack_ on Sep 23, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Conroy's got a good chance
Unless Conroy flops big time in camp,he’s got a good chance at making team. Once Barry’s released/traded/whatever,there are only 2 PGs on roster. Unless the team finds a combo gd,they need a third PG for fouls,minor injuries,bad play,etc. He’ll give team 8 Gd/SFs.
Still think Dorsey and Mensah-Bonsu are competing for one spot,so that would leave 7 bigs. Scola,Andersen,Hayes,Landry get bulk of minutes,Dorsey/M-B spot minutes,Cook on inactive and Yao out. Sometime near trade deadline Cook is “traded” to a Memphis type team w/cash to cover rest of salary and a bit more for taking him.
At that point Temple is brought up from D-League team and McGrady and Battier get some rest for-hopefully-the Playoffs.
PG is sure going to be interesting this yr,as reports on Lowry say he’s really working hard back in Philly. If Conroy shows he can be a solid NBA back-up and w/Llull waitng to come over the Rockets have the potential to be loaded at the point.
by Tisbee on Sep 23, 2009 9:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

















