Wolves and Rockets to swap overpaid players

Sources: Rockets agree to trade Howard to Wolves for James

By Marc Stein
[url]ESPN.com[/url]

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets, who have been discussing a Mike James-for-Juwan Howard swap in one form or another since the February trade deadline, have agreed in principle to finally complete that deal this month, ESPN.com has learned.

An announcement of the trade's completion could be made as early as this week, according to NBA front-office sources.

The holdup stems from the possibility that another player or two could be added to the deal, sources say. The teams, though, have verbally agreed to a straight-up exchange of James for Howard at the very least.

"We expect for the deal to be officially consummated as early as tomorrow," James' agent, Bill Duffy told Houston television station KRIV.

James is hopeful the deal will happen.

"Even Houston thinking about me is a blessing but until I see it on the ticker I won't believe it. I'm so excited. It would give me that chance to retire in Houston," James told the television station.

"Maybe this will be good for both sides," James was quoted as telling the Star Tribune in a story posted Wednesday night on the newspaper's Web site. "You know, it's tough. Change is always tough. But, for me, it's like going back home."

The Timberwolves beat out Houston for James' free-agent signature last summer because of their willingness to include a trade kicker in the well-traveled point guard's four-year, $23.4 million contract, but the acquisition was questioned from the start after Minnesota landed Randy Foye in the 2006 draft.

James then struggled to make an impact with his new team, averaging just 10.1 points in 25.3 minutes per game and eventually losing his starting spot after enjoying a breakout season in Toronto in 2005-06.

A strong recruiting pitch from Wolves forward Kevin Garnett -- along with the trade bonus he held out for in negotiations -- convinced James to spurn similar financial offers from the Dallas Mavericks and the Rockets, even though he maintains an offseason home in Houston. But the intense Garnett and the chatty James clashed almost from the start, according to club sources, adding to the Wolves' remorse after it quickly became apparent that there wasn't rotation room for James and Foye.

So the Wolves decided by midseason that they would try to move their lone significant offseason acquisition and were on the verge of sending James to Houston for Howard when the deal fell through on Feb. 22, in part because the Rockets were reluctant to change the chemistry on a team that wound up overcoming numerous injuries to win 52 games.

But Houston's interest in James and adding depth to its backcourt under new coach Rick Adelman hasn't wavered, thanks to the 31-year-old's successful stint with the Rockets in the second half of the 2004-05 season.

"This has been difficult," James told ESPN.com in late March when asked to describe his debut season with the Wolves. "Physically, mentally, emotionally … all of the above."

Garnett, meanwhile, is expected to welcome the arrival of Howard, a 34-year-old former All-Star, after publicly calling -- repeatedly -- for more size in the Wolves' frontcourt and more of a veteran presence in the locker room.

Howard averaged 9.7 points and 5.9 rebounds in 26.6 minutes per game last season. His contract is one year shorter than James' deal, with just two seasons to run at $14.3 million.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2903593

I never understood why GM's panic and over payed players.

The Spurs did not panic and ended up with Elson and Butler for a lot cheaper and may not have been an upgrade but last I looked for a lot less than what Nazar got and he was benched after getting all that money and their deals are shorter which gives us more flexibility

Another example was Houston paying Stomile Swift 5million a year when all he did in Memphis was under perform with whisper of no work ethic so what do they do thy sign him to all this money and guess what he underperformed and was lazy and had no work ethic

Yep way to many GM's with money in their pocket seem to do desperate idiotic signings to make it over the hump that is why I am glad CIA Pop is patient they say we will pay this much if the player thinks that is to little and whats to play the market they move on and guess what we usually end up better off because the player is way over payed.

I know some fans get upset because we do not get some big name but Pop and crew seem to find guys all the time that develop under us even if they end contributing in the future. Some times for other teams like Raja Bell did for the 76ers and now Phoenix

So yay for Pop and crew for making us the Anti Timberwolves

Another example was Houston paying Stomile Swift 5million a year when all he did in Memphis was under perform with whisper of no work ethic so what do they do thy sign him to all this money and guess what he underperformed and was lazy and had no work ethic

At least Houston was able to trade him back to Memphis and get a great role player in Shane Battier, of course they had to give up Rudy Gay to do so. That was probably best for them not to have the Gay/Head backcourt anyways. Not that there is anything wrong with that.