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Houston’s Plan to Keep James White Around

Mar 12, 2009, 7:00 PM UTC

Forget Daryl Morey’s ability to inspire Michael Lewis, or compareâ†µShane Battier to a funny-looking Lego man. In my book, he’s cementedâ†µhis standing as one of the league’s visionary execs by daring toâ†µbelieve in James White. White, the dunking dynamo who has never beenâ†µable to stick in the NBA, was signedâ†µby Houston to a 10-day deal earlier this month. But with veryâ†µlittle garbage time expected and less practice than usual, fewâ†µexpected White to get a chance to prove himself. Well, he didn’t, butâ†µMorey has a plan.â†µ
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â†µFrom the Houston Chronicle:â†µâ†µâ‡¥We just met with coach Adelman, and we plan to bring him back forâ†µâ‡¥another 10-day,” Morey said. “We left our flexibility for injury orâ†µâ‡¥for whatever reason. The plan is to bring him back for at leastâ†µâ‡¥another 10-day. We really think James is someone potentially to investâ†µâ‡¥in.”â†µâ‡¥
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â†µâ‡¥White has not played and the Rockets have not had a full practiceâ†µâ‡¥since he signed. The Rockets’ schedule, however, has more practiceâ†µâ‡¥opportunities in the next 10 days.â†µâ‡¥
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â†µâ‡¥“When I first came here, Shawn Respert (the Rockets’ director ofâ†µâ‡¥player programs) sat me down and told me that I had to be patient andâ†µâ‡¥think more about the future than the immediate present,” White said.â†µâ†µLook, I’m not saying White will change the world, or even become theâ†µnext Dunk Contest champion of note—I’ve already moved on to Mikeâ†µTaylor. But there’s something there in White, and whether or notâ†µhe’s the future of adjusted +/-, kudos to Morey for realizing thatâ†µthis minimal investment could, if paid attention to and not allowed toâ†µget lost in the shuffle, pay off down the road.â†µ

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