Dash

Berger saying the Warriors' owner killed the deal because he wants to keep whatever chance he has at Dwight Howard alive. http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ken-berger/17769053/lacob-nixes-monta-deal-new-dwight-list-revealed

Texans cut several players yesterday for cap space (Winston, Leinart and Ryans/Jacoby are rumored to be cut too).

Well a lot could change from now and Thursday's trade deadline, Houston is almost certainly going to make a trade happen and hopefully open up some playing time for guys like Marcus Morris. Terrence Williams is likely gone at the deadline for a 2nd round pick or he'll just rot at the end of the bench until his contract expires this offseason, and Budinger apparently would welcome a trade. I'm not saying that the Rockets won't make the same mistake again but rather I hope Morey has learned his lesson about collecting too many assets and going so long without making a deal to make room in the rotation for a few of them. If there is too much of a disparity between Harkless and Leonard then I could picture Morey going for another small forward, he has always maintained that his philosophy is to take the best player available because you don't know how your roster will look like in a year or two. Small forward isn't exactly a position of strength although Parsons has shown he could be the long term starter, but I'd glady take a shot in the dark with Meyers Leonard rather than take another above average forward to add to our lot. That is just me personally, hopefully the Rockets could package the 15th pick (assuming the Knicks grab the 8th spot back from Milwaukee) along with a player to move up in the draft and get Tyler Zeller. Then again with Lowry possibly out for a month you have to wonder that Houston will likely drop the 8th seed barring a significant trade meaning they could have a lottery pick even if the Knicks do make the playoffs. If that were the case then I wouldn't mind taking another forward (if he is the best player on the board) with the Knicks pick as long as the Rockets are able to bring in a center with their own pick (using both to trade up would be preferable though).

That was another deal reported in the morning involving the Hornets. This is a different deal just recently reported Berger (who is more credible by the way) and would get the Warriors their man in Andrew Bogut.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ken-berger/17757812/bogut-trade-scenarios-could-hinge-on-dwight Warriors would get Bogut, Magic get Monta Ellis and the rest is being hashed out. What could the Bucks get from Orlando that would make them surrender Bogut?

Houston has backed out in favor of another trade.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ken-berger/17757812/bogut-trade-scenarios-could-hinge-on-dwight

Great read. I'd prefer Meyers Leonard over Harkless just because he's a center prospect although granted he's pretty raw. Houston made the mistake of picking the best player available on their draft (Marcus Morris) rather than filling a major need and taking Nikola Vucevic. Morris could always pan out but so far he hasn't been given the opportunity to do so with the glut of small forwards on the Rockets' roster (Budinger, Parsons, Terrence Williams). With the ongoing drama of Terrence Williams and Marcus Morris (both venting on Twitter and T-Will faking a stomach ache so he could leave the bench), I doubt Morey makes the same mistake of taking BPA over need at least with a mid first round pick. Leonard would definitely be the pick if he were available at #15. Its pretty amazing how if the Knicks continue to dip that the Rockets could move up in the draft from the 15th pick to 9th. With Lowry possibly out for a month I wouldn't mind tanking so we can keep our pick, and go into the draft with two lottery picks but what happens at the trade deadline could very well change my mind. I would love to come out of the draft with one of the shooting guards (Beal, Lamb) and a center (Leonard, Zeller) on top of Donatas Motiejunas and Sergio Llull joining the team from overseas.

Texans possibly going after Peyton? http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_20156608/broncos-among-teams-talking-contract-peyton-manning

Nothing new but Berger seems to confirm that a potential Pau deal is dead. http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ken-berger/17751826/trade-deadline-update

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ken-berger/17751826/trade-deadline-update

It doesn't fix the Clippers defensive issues but... Jordan Blake Butler Crawford Paul is one hell of a lineup.

I read on the Magic board that Otis wants to win now rather than take a rebuilding package (something like that). I remember seeing it on Twitter before too but not sure exactly when.

Ken Berger ‏ @KBergCBS The Blazers and Clips are discussing a deal that would send Jamal Crawford to L.A. for Eric Bledsoe and Ryan Gomes, sources say.

This deal is dead. Lowry could be out for a month and Dragic is playing great, I can't picture Houston moving him without getting a point guard back.

....Seriously?

...with an infection. Jason Friedman saying 2-4 weeks. FML

I think it was Mannix who said that the Lakers don't want to pay $19 million for a third option, and its part of why they would like to move him. Anyways Houston/LA aren't good trade partners and I doubt a deal happens without a third or fourth team. Lowry won't move no matter what happens.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/post/wizards-willing-to-trade-javale-mcgee/2012/03/09/gIQAHmoZ1R_blog.html

http://i41.tinypic.com/5mgtxi.png

Wow tough news for the Wolves, they just grabbed the 8th seed a few days ago.

And Houston would be utterly stupid to trade Kyle Lowry for Pau Gasol.

Mannix said Lowry not involved in talks.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ken-berger/17689932/trade-deadline-update

Eric Pincus @EricPincus I have - in addition to a number of others reporting same - word from Rockets that they don't have deal in place for Gasol From Eric Pincus' twitter RT @PatrickHarrel: One Rockets front office guy I know: "If Gasol's been traded, it isn't to us. At least not yet."