Houston

All decisions in the NBA, whether they're made on or off the court, are subject to scrutiny from legions of unsatisfied fans.A first-round exit at the hands of a superior Oklahoma City Thunder team is nothing to be ashamed of, but there is no question the Houston Rockets and their loyal supporters have high hopes for this offseason.Thanks to plenty of expired contracts, the Houston Rockets enjoy a little tax relief, and as the saying goes, scared money don't make no money. In other words, the Rockets need to flex some of their cap space, and for Houston, the options are plentiful.General Manager Daryl Morey could also have the option of going a bit unorthodox as far as his signings go. There are three specific free agents who would really shake things up if they went down to H-Town under new contract(s). For a team like Houston, an unorthodox signing could be the exact thing they need rejuvenate its spirits going into this new season. Monta EllisAfter recently declaring his decision to opt out of his Milwaukee contract, Monta Ellis has become a prime target for many teams seeking a talented combo guard with plenty of upside.Enter Houston, a team that already has a high scoring guard in James Harden. Sure the move seems silly on the surface, but Houston could feasibly create a super-small, super-quick team that could eviscerate opponents both on the break and from the perimeter.Jeremy Lin at point, Monta as a shooting guard, Harden as a swingman and possibly Chandler Parsons playing the stretch 4 position is a lineup that could work.It would be a very risky gamble to bring a shooter like Monta in, but there's no denying his ability to put up points. Ellis averaged 19.2 points per game for the 2012-13 regular season, and if he was expected to share the ball with a like-minded scorer a la James Harden, there's no question that average might dip a little. Better yet, Ellis could also do some work with the secondary unit, so using him as a sixth man of sorts is also possible. It might be an awkward fit, but Ellis would further enhance Houston's lethal offensive attack, and he would help bolster its bench.With around $38 million in available space for this season, Houston could feasibly afford him to give him the contract he might be seeking. Al JeffersonNo matter the time of year, Al Jefferson is probably being overlooked by everybody, and despite it being free-agency time, it's probably still happening to Big Al. Most fans are sleeping on a guy who is arguably the best post-up big man in the league, pouring in an efficient 17.8 points per game on nearly 50 percent shooting.He might seem "unexpected" because he isn't necessarily a big name, but Jefferson will undoubtedly have a huge impact wherever he ends up, especially if it's in a Houston Rockets uniform. Jefferson is the perfect fit—a consummate team player with a soft touch and plenty of mobility on both ends of the floor.Jefferson would help ease the transition for some of Houston's younger bigs, and he would also give the Rockets a lot more depth and size at either the power forward or center positions. He would also finally get a lot more publicity in a bigger media market, and perhaps, he can finally shed the reputation for being overlooked. David WestHere's another big whose signing would prove for a huge, M. Night Shyamalan-esque twist in the never ending NBA storyline—David West rocking a Rockets jersey this upcoming season.David West is an unrestricted agent, and the Rockets have the space and necessity for a fundamentally sound veteran like West to come aboard. He can play ball with the best of them, but he can also bark with the best of them, too.West is one of the few intimidating players who can also let his game do the talking.He has a smooth stroke from mid-range, a gentle touch in the paint and he hustles like a guy fighting for a roster the spot. Plain and simple, the guy wants to win, and he's willing to shed blood to do so—whether it be hi

Could the 2013-14 Houston Rockets be the 2010-11 Miami Heat redux?And could Jeremy Lin be collateral damage?Although it doesn't mention Houston, ESPN's Chris Broussard reports Dwight Howard and Chris Paul have been consistently communicating about being teammates. This is not the first time they've talked about the idea, either. During the 2011 lockout, their mutual target was the Dallas Mavericks—another Texas team.That would give Houston a Big Three that's superior to the Miami Heat's, with all three superstar players still in their prime (as long as Howard is fully recovered next season).Several Rockets players say they're selling D12 hard on Houston. And over a week ago, the Houston Chronicle reported that the Rockets consider Howard and CP3 "targets 1 and 1A."And finally, there is the recent and suddenly pervasive rumor (here in ESPN) that the Rockets will discuss something I suggested about a week ago: a sign-and-trade involving Howard for Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik.Lin, despite an uneven year, still has potential and marketing value; Asik had a superb first year as a starter. The only reason the Rockets would give both players up would be to create even more cap room—and the only reason the team would want to do that would be if they were intent on signing Paul (or another prime free agent).Now granted, right now it's all speculation, rumor and innuendo—all sourced and legitimate, but hearsay nonetheless.But I bring it all up to discuss once more what might be the inevitable: Will the Rockets have to jettison Jeremy Lin to sign Chris Paul?The first question is whether or not they should. Lin's ardent admirers, and there are many, have a well-grooved refrain about Lin's tenure in Houston that can be summed up in one word: unfair.The Lin faithful say the Rockets squandered Lin's talent by handing facilitating responsibilities to shooting guard James Harden, thereby robbing Lin of his ability to create. They contend Lin was still hurt from the previous season. They insist Lin was maligned by coach Kevin McHale. They claim Lin was great when Harden was sidelined.We all know the song. I could argue the merits of each argument, but they all miss the point. Whether or not they're true, or merely wishful conjecture by loyal fans, the most important consideration—if one is a Rockets fan and not merely a Jeremy Lin fan—is what's best for the Rockets.And even if all the arguments put forth by Lin's devotees are spot on, CP3 for JLin is still a no-brainer if winning is the goal.Lin is a remarkably likeable fellow with an impeccable attitude and work ethic, but an uncertain and even questionable talent level.Is Lin thrilling to watch at times? No question about it. Has he improved in certain areas? Yes. But would any of you bet their house that Lin ranks higher next year in player efficiency than 14.94, good for 35th place among point guards who averaged 17 minutes per game or more?If you said yes, you probably either live in a tent or with your parents. It's just not a safe bet, simply because since his debut, Lin has been inconsistent. There have been flashes of brilliance, periods of mediocrity and stretches of ineptitude, like Lin's appearance in this year's playoffs.The Rockets will miss Lin in the clubhouse, undoubtedly. And given the kid's incredible work ethic, they might well miss out on talent yet to develop.But it's worth the risk. Because Chris Paul is a massive upgrade.He's unquestionably the best of his generation at his position. Not since Steve Nash in his prime has a point guard been arguably the best player in the league. Not since Allen Iverson in his prime has a point guard been so breathtaking to watch.If you don't believe me, ask John Hollinger. The Memphis Grizzlies exec (and former ESPN stats guru) estimates that Jeremy Lin was 5.2 wins to the Rockets last season.Chris Paul was worth 17.9—over three times as many.The question is not what would happen to Paul. The Rockets woul

Taking place June 27 – August 2, Gagosian Gallery, in collaboration with Renzo Piano Foundation and generously supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, ‘Fragments’ is an exhibition of more than thirty years of architectural projects by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Equal parts library reading room, school classroom, and natural history gallery, the exhibition consists of twenty-four tabletop displays of scale models, drawings, photographs, and video. Each tells the involved, inspiring story of the design process of a single building, from museums, libraries, and airports to private residences. More information on the exhibition after the break. Among these projects are Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; The Menil Collection, Houston; Kansai International Airport, Osaka; Fondation Beyeler, Basel; Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Center, Nouméa, New Caledonia; The New York Times Building, New York; Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Athens; and the Whitney Museum’s new building in downtown Manhattan. A complete list and description of all exhibited projects will be available at the exhibition. Born into a family of builders, Piano connects his coastal upbringing in Genoa to the evolution of certain constants in his architecture: an obsession with light and its effect on the dynamic potential of built space. He formed the Piano & Rogers Atelier with Richard Rogers in 1971. The same year, the London-based studio won the commission for the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris—an audacious challenge that transformed the academic idea of the museum into a highly flexible toolbox building, with all technical functions fully exposed. Since then, Piano has become the most sought-after museum architect in the world for his ability to harmonize buildings with their surroundings and the artworks exhibited within them. Innovative technologies enhance these highly functional spaces, but succumb visually to the serene formal neutrality, guided by natural light, for which the Building Workshop is known—which Piano refers to as “the immaterial elements of space.” The exhibition is a window onto the daily studio practice at the core of Piano’s ongoing legacy, demonstrating the passion for innovative thinking and construction that fuels the Workshop’s ongoing success. Five gallery talks—free to the public—with Renzo Piano Building Workshop architects will take place at the gallery during June and July.  For more information, please visit here. 'Renzo Piano Building Workshop: Fragments' Exhibition originally appeared on ArchDaily, the most visited architecture website on 19 Jun 2013.send to Twitter | Share on Facebook | What do you think about this?

The Los Angeles Lakers have little room to operate in free agency this offseason, owing $66.8 million to a core four of Kobe Bryant ($30.5 million), Pau Gasol ($19.3 million), Steve Nash ($9.3 million) and Metta World Peace ($7.7 million). All that before presenting Dwight Howard with a five-year, $118 million offer. Signing Howard is a legal breach of the salary cap because the team received his Larry Bird veteran retention rights when he was traded from the Orlando Magic.The NBA salary cap will be set at $58.5 million next season, so we know the Lakers will once again exceed that limit. The luxury-tax bar will be set at a steeper price in 2013 and extend to include a repeat offenders tax. In total, the Lakers franchise is sure to exceed the $30 million payment it incurred last season when its roster also toppled $100 million. Luckily, the Lakers also just signed a franchise-defining contract with Time Warner that is supposed to earn the Purple and Gold up to $5 billion over 25 years, per Mark Ozanian of Forbes. The TV deal will bring in enough revenue to cover all basketball expenses, so expect that if the Lakers see talent they value, they'll go and get it. Under the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, the Lakers have themselves in position to do minimum spending outside of a big chunk for Howard. That's what we're here to talk about anyway, right? What moves can the Lakers make using the mid-level exception, and can they find value to sign at the veteran minimum?In my opinion, the Lakers need to add a point guard and a solid frontcourt player this offseason. Not only will the additions support the current strengths of the roster, but they will also serve as a durable foundation for the rebuild ahead. Here's my quick list of top options for each. Point GuardThe Lakers could offer free agent Will Bynum their mid-level exception, which would total in and around $3.1 million over a three-year period.Bynum is an optimistic get for L.A. because he earned $3.5 million last season with the Detroit Pistons and likely played well enough to earn a match in pay. If nobody else seeks Bynum's talent, the Pistons would likely make such an offer themselves, per Drew Garrison of SB Nation. Perhaps Aaron Brooks of the Houston Rockets is a more realistic bet for L.A. Brooks will be available if the Rockets decide not to pick up his $2.5 million option for next season.The buzz around Houston offering two max contracts, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, would likely see Brooks left out of the shuffle. I'd hardly be surprised if Los Angeles became an interested suitor. Brooks won the Most Improved Player award in 2009-10, but hasn't quite lived up to the potential he then created for himself. Still, he's energetic and can spell Nash.With Steve Nash requiring more rest than ever, the Lakers need a quality engine to make the reserve unit go. Brooks has the ball-handling and court vision to create offensive opportunities for his teammates.And can score in bunches! Even better is the fact that the Lakers could offer him a short-term offer to get a feel for his production. This year, he'd bolster the quickness of lagging point guards Nash and Steve Blake. Big ManI don't blame you for balking at the idea of the Lakers adding another big man. After all, they guaranteed Pau a bit too much money and are offering Dwight even more. Taking these things into consideration, I still believe the Lakers need a quality reserve forward to play behind Pau. Should they decide to lay really low, they could seek a meeting with former Sacramento King Cole Aldrich. He's an unrestricted free agent, hasn't gotten many minutes in his career but wouldn't really need to with L.A.That'd be a disappointing but semi-predictable vision of a Lakers backup big man. I say they go for DeJuan Blair from the San Antonio Spurs. Blair is not a part of the Spurs' current championship rotation, but could become a find for L.A. and for a reasonable price. Blair would

After all the hate that was spewed tonight all over my newsfeed, twitter, etc...I'd just like to say the following to an audience that will feel my pain:My cheering for the Spurs isn't about an irrational hate for LeBron and willingness to want to see him fail. He was my guy on the Cavs, win lose or draw, and he's still the #1 talent in the NBA, hands down. He had every right to leave Cleveland, and ever since Michael Redd and Joe Johnson declined teaming with LeBron many years ago (leaving us to our 3rd place Larry Hughes spoils), the writing has been on the walls that he was going to leave us. My only issue was and will always be he waited until every free agent under the sun had signed before he made his decision, leaving our immediate situation a disaster. Doing this to his hometown team was far worse than if he had just said "I'm done with this" after the Boston Series. But as that fan of a small market NBA team, if the Heat win another championship, against one of the best "teams" in the last decade (the Spurs being the epitome of relevance in a smaller market), it will prove that Free Agency Collusion and Buying Championships is in-fact, statistically, still the right strategy. It's bad enough that Boston, LA, Chicago, Houston, Miami and San Antonio have been a part of every finals (except '90 with the Bad Boys) since BEFORE I WAS BORN, it's simply worse to think that trend will do nothing but continue. That's right, one of 6 or 7 teams have represented their conference in the NBA finals every year for the last 30+ years. I root against the Heat because it's bad for the future of the NBA. If they win 2/3 straight finals, don't be surprised to see Cp3 and Howard team up, whether it be in Houston with Harden, or elsewhere to form another super team. And this will leave teams like Cleveland, Memphis, Toronto and others battling for the Table Scraps of the Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay or Andre Iguodala sweepstakes...irrationally outbidding one another for a chance to fill seats and stay financially relevant (while simultaneously handicapping future growth by being a .500 plus team). At the same time, a team like LA can "lose" for a year, and then trade a couple late round picks and Kwame Brown to get back Pau Gasol in his prime.#GoFigureAs a fan of the game, I know this has been the case since before I can remember, but it's even more of a reason to hope that the Spurs win on Thursday. That way a week from Thursday, the other 20 or so fan bases can approach the 2013 draft with some semblance of "that could be us" hope going into next season. After all the hate that was spewed tonight all over my newsfeed, twitter, etc...I'd just like to say the following to an audience that will feel my pain:My cheering for the Spurs isn't about an irrational hate for LeBron and willingness to want to see him fail. He was my guy on the Cavs, win lose or draw, and he's still the #1 talent in the NBA, hands down. He had every right to leave Cleveland, and ever since Michael Redd and Joe Johnson declined teaming with LeBron many years ago (leaving us to our 3rd place Larry Hughes spoils), the writing has been on the walls that he was going to leave us. My only issue was and will always be he waited until every free agent under the sun had signed before he made his decision, leaving our immediate situation a disaster. Doing this to his hometown team was far worse than if he had just said "I'm done with this" after the Boston Series. But as that fan of a small market NBA team, if the Heat win another championship, against one of the best "teams" in the last decade (the Spurs being the epitome of relevance in a smaller market), it will prove that Free Agency Collusion and Buying Championships is in-fact, statistically, still the right strategy. It's bad enough that Boston, LA, Chicago, Houston, Miami and San Antonio have been a part of every finals (except '90 with the Bad Boys) since BEFORE I WAS BORN, it's simply worse to think that trend will do n

Alfredo Figaro (1-0, 3.47) vs Jordan Lyles (3-1, 3.48) Ohmigosh offense! The Astros have had a few good offensive games this year, and a lot of great pitching performances, especially of late. But rarely have they put it all together in the same game like they did tonight. Jordan Lyles is still on a roll, Matt Dominguez is a beast, and the Astros kick off their series against Milwaukee with a resounding 10-1 win. Houston improves to 27-45 overall - just one game behind the Brewers in the win column. On the Mound: *I'm sure that Jordan Lyles enjoyed the offense in support of him tonight, but truth is he didn't need much. A leadoff triple in the 3rd resulted in the only run that the Brewers would get, as Jordan dominated with a 7 IP / 7 H / 1 R / 1 ER / 0 BB / 5 K line. *Paul Clemens allowed only a single with two outs in the 9th in two scoreless IP. At the Plate: *Matty D! He bookended Houston's offense tonight, driving in their first run on a sac fly in the 2nd, and blasting his first career grand slam in the 7th. It added up to a career night at the plate, going 2 for 3 with 5 RBI. *Carlos Pena had a big night himself, blasting a 3-run HR in the 5th to go 1 for 3 with 2 R, 3 RBI, and a K. *Chris Carter hit a double and went 2 for 5 with a RBI, 2 R, and 2 K. *Jason Castro (1 for 5), J.D. Martinez (1 for 3), and Trevor Crowe (1 for 1) each had a single and a run scored. *Marwin Gonzalez went 0 for 3, but drove in a run on a squeeze bunt in the 4th. *Justin Maxwell's Silver Hammer returned from the Meat Wagon tonight and went 0 for 2 with a K, but he also walked twice and scored a pair of runs. Turning Point: The score was 1-1 going to the bottom of the 4th, and Carlos Pena led off with a strikeout. Justin Maxwell walked and Matt Dominguez singled to move him over to third, bringing Marwin Gonzalez to the plate. On Alfredo Figaro's first pitch, Gonzalez laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to first, on which Figaro made a great play, but Maxwell's jump was too good and he got in ahead of the tag. That gave the Astros a 2-1 lead, and it only got better from there. Man of the Match: Matt Dominguez. In 22 games since May 26, he had been hitting .182/.188/.312, but none of that mattered tonight. Goat of the Game: Jose Altuve. Conspicuously absent from the offensive attack tonight, going 0 for 5 with a K.

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Jayson Stark, ESPNDoes anybody out there know the rules of baseball? Seriously. If ever there was a year that made you wonder about that, this would be the year. We've seen Jean Segura run the bases backward in Milwaukee -- and actually steal first base (sort of) -- only to learn five days later that it wasn't exactly legal. We've seen an entire umpiring crew in Houston forget a basic rule on when a manager can change pitchers and when he can't. We've seen Luke Hochevar save an 11-4 game for the Royals -- and admit afterward that he had no idea the save rule had just applied to...

Much like the rest of the world, money means everything in the NBA.Getting the numbers correct when it comes to signing players can make a world of difference for a given franchise moving forward. For the Milwaukee Bucks, it's no different.As the free-agency period rapidly approaches, the Bucks will not only need to sort out their backcourt issues, but they'll need to spend money wisely in order to avoid future disasters.For the upcoming season, the Bucks owe $29.5 million in guaranteed money.With Monta Ellis opting out of his contract and losing Brandon Jennings a real possibility, the team will likely have plenty of money to spend. But being thrifty is always better than overpaying, which is why the Bucks must be smart and target players that won't hurt them in the long haul. Devin HarrisWhen Jennings becomes a restricted free agent on July 1, it's tough to imagine some other team not offering him more than the $4.5 million qualifying offer he has from the Bucks for 2013-14. If he does receive an offer sheet from someone else and the Bucks decide not to match, they'll be in the market for a new point guard.One possibility is veteran—and Milwaukee native—Devin Harris.Harris is coming to the end of a five-year, $43 million deal, and due to his decline in play, he probably won't see anywhere near the $8.5 million he made with the Atlanta Hawks this past season.And while his numbers have dropped, he could still be a valuable piece if the price is right.With the Hawks, Harris averaged 9.9 points and 3.4 assists per game in 58 appearances—primarily coming off the bench.At 30 years old, Harris isn't a kid anymore. However, if he can remain healthy, he could provide his hometown team with the production it needs from the point guard position if Jennings does in fact end up elsewhere. He still has the explosiveness needed to get by defenders, and he's always had a knack for getting to the free-throw line.While he may never return to his 2008-09 form, Harris could come home and, if healthy and if given the reins, provide affordable value for the Bucks.Half of the salary he made last season—or maybe even less—would be reasonable for his services. Andray BlatcheDespite young talent like Larry Sanders and John Henson in the frontcourt, the Bucks could use some added depth, especially with the concern over Sanders' ability to stay out of foul trouble.One player who may provide a bit of intrigue is Andray Blatche.Blatche averaged 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this past season with the Brooklyn Nets and proved to be a solid option off the bench.But along with his skill set comes a fair amount of baggage that many teams might not have the patience to deal with.Entering the free-agent market after making a little over $854K this season, he'll almost certainly be looking for more money and deservedly so. A veteran presence who is willing to grind in the post is exactly what the Bucks need to go along with the length and athleticism of Henson and Sanders.For the right price, Blatche could be that guy. Chase BudingerWith Mike Dunleavy slated to become a free agent when July 1 rolls around, the Bucks could very well be looking for another option off the bench at small forward.And Chase Budinger may be a good one.A younger, more athletic version of Dunleavy, Budinger seemed to be slowly establishing himself as a legitimate contributor for the Minnesota Timberwolves before suffering an injury that forced him to miss 59 games.After making just over $885K last season, he'll like be seeking a raise and should get one. However, any salary hike likely won't be substantial, and the Bucks could easily get him for less than it'd cost them to re-sign Dunleavy.Not to mention, at age 24, Budinger still has plenty of years to grow as a player and could potentially become a big value at a low cost, much like Chandler Parsons has become with the Houston Rockets.Whether he does or not is yet to be seen, but Milwaukee general

Steve Sparks officially joined my eternal good graces tonight for his call on Matt Dominguez' grand slam. It was perfect. Silence as the ball was hit, then the jubilant shout of "Grand Slam!" followed by the perfectly descriptive, "a roof-scraper." I felt like I was there. For someone who doesn't get Astros games on TV, it was perfect and perfectly timed. That's sort of like tonight's victory. Lots of fitting timing in this one, from Jordan Lyles' timing to face the Brewers on a night when he didn't have his best stuff. Milwaukee has struggled to a 28-41 record this season, so it's not like that's surprising. But, if Lyles is truly making a jump to be the staff ace, he needs to win and to hold bad teams down like he did tonight, even when his pitches weren't breaking perfectly. Also, the timing of those two home runs. I mean, if Carlos Pena's three-run bomb wasn't great enough, Matt Dominguez was money once again with men on base. Two swings of the bat brought in seven runs for Houston. That's a hard hurdle for any team to overcome, and is usually something the Astros have happen to them rather than dish out. Cool sub-note on the Pena homer. Houston's analytics Twitter feed came out with the info shortly after that Pena's ball left his bat at 109 mph. Pena's HR was 109 mph at a launch angle of 28 degrees. That works. — Astros Analysis (@AstrosAnalysis) June 19, 2013 Chris Carter hit a homer at 111 mph earlier this season, but I doubt many have tied into one like that in a while. It's good to see Pena getting into a groove, isn't it? If he can provide some pop to the middle of the order for a while, Houston could enjoy some success with their pitching. And, again, Jordan Lyles was great. Maybe not, "I'm facing the Seattle Mariners and Mike Zunino is prominently involved" good, but he was good enough to shut down the Brew Crew. Lyles is on a great run right now, whether it's due to his fastball command or his increased changeup usage or just his maturation as a pitcher. Whatever the reason, he's growing up before our eyes. That's the real fun of seasons like this. Wins like this, where we see young players, like Matty D and Lyles perform well and the team wins the game. Amid all the losing, these games stand out.