First-year Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas said on Monday he had a “good conversation” with James Horton before the season’s perennial All-Star’s first training, but they did not discuss Horton’s desire to be traded.
“You can ask him about his commitment and all that kind of thing,” Silas, who has not been in constant contact with Horton, said he was given the “space” of ownership when he recently thought about his future. “But we had a good conversation. He was locked up. He was asking good questions. He came up with good things. We had a good discussion.”
Questions for Horton will have to wait because he did not want to speak to the media on Monday. Silas said he plans to play Horton in the season early Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs. Horton, who has asked Brooklyn to trade with Netsco or another competitor, reported late to training camp and was not allowed to train until Monday after being tested negative for the corona virus for six consecutive days.
Silas said the subject of his conversation with Horton was limited to basketball strategy.
“We talked basketball,” Silas said. “I’m a basketball coach, he’s a basketball player. We talked in the ring today. “
Forward / Center P.J. Tucker also took part in light training on Monday and then did not join the team on the weekend trip to Chicago for the first two early games of the Rockets. He said he was handling a distressed calf. Tucker, who had to pay $ 8 million in the final season of a four-year, $ 32 contract, has expressed disappointment at not receiving a contract extension from the Rockets.
“It’s not even about getting a contract extension,” said Tucker, 35, an unavoidable player who missed a game during his three – year Houston tenure. “That’s not the whole goal. The goal is to be where you want to be. You have to be with whoever wants you. I think this is what every player wants. No one wants to be somewhere they don’t want to be. There are some ways to show that, not just contract extensions.”
Asked how he would feel about the rest with the rockets if the contract extension was not available, Tucker said, “I’ll do my job.”