Mercurial forward Royce White has been left off the Houston Rockets' summer league roster, and the team has "had talks about trading White," according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. White's rookie season highlighted the high-risk aspect of his pre-draft profile, as he created some difficult public situations for the team and failed to handle his NBA D-League assignment in the way the Rockets wanted.
NBA rumors: Rockets consider trading Royce White, according to report
The Houston Rockets have elected to leave Royce White off the summer league roster for 2013, and they are reportedly considering trade opportunities.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE
Houston's general manager Daryl Morey has moved aggressively to clear cap space for a run at free agent center Dwight Howard, and a trade for future assets would be a way to erase White's $1.72 million guaranteed salary from the books for next season. If the team chose to release White, the money would still count against the salary cap, so a trade is the only way to create additional flexibility.
The Rockets recently dealt Thomas Robinson to the Trail Blazers for two second-round pick and the rights to two European prospects, and the return for White is expected to be even smaller.
White recently commented on the team’s decision to leave him off the summer league roster, via his Twitter account:
I would've loved to play in the summer league, there's been no communication to me about being wanted there. #RedNation
— Royce White (@Highway_30) July 3, 2013
For months comm. between me and the team has gone through the union... (Delicate Situation), everyone's doing the best they can. #RedNation
— Royce White (@Highway_30) July 3, 2013
The No. 16 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft has not practiced with the team since Nov. 10 and has yet to play in a regular season NBA game for Houston.
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