NBA

"If things aren't addressed coaching-wise, I guess I have to be moved," said Lowry, who is recovering from surgery for a sports hernia and torn abductor muscles. The Rockets fully intend to re-sign Dragic, who is an unrestricted FA, in which case Lowry becomes a very valuable trade piece. He will earn $5.8 million next year, and is only guaranteed $1 million in 2013-14.

It's a stiff penalty that probably stings the Rockets even more since they failed to land any of their high-profile free agent targets. No other sanctions against the team have been announced, so this isn't likely to have a tangible impact in 2012-13.

Motiejunas averaged 12.5 points and 7.9 rebounds in the EuroLeague this season, playing for Poland, and is ready to make the leap to the NBA. It's good news for the center-starved Rockets, who will likely sign another veteran to hold things down while Donatas adjusts.

He's expected to resume offseason workouts in 6-8 weeks. As long as impending unrestricted free agent Goran Dragic walks, Lowry's arrow is pointing back up.

Budinger will play out next season for $942,000 and then become an unrestricted free agent. His stock took a hit this season as he fell behind Courtney Lee and Chandler Parsons on the depth chart for long stretches. Budinger ended up averaging 9.6 points while playing a meager 22.4 minutes per game.

Houston wants to find a star who is capable of being the "foundation" of the rebuilding process, and after striking out on Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard, the team will continue to look for a player of that caliber. It won't be easy, but Daryl Morey has shown a very real willingness to execute trades previously and we wouldn't put anything by him.

Budinger was supposed to be on a minute-count, but after watching his D-League lineup fall all over themselves Kevin McHale couldn't take it anymore and he put some key guys back in. Overall, the results were mixed for the Rockets. Goran Dragic scored eight points with five rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and one block, Courtney Lee scored 10 points with two threes and a full line, Samuel Dalembert went for 11 and 11, and Luis Scola disappeared with zero points on 0-for-7 shooting, three rebounds, and a block in the win.