The elusive ingredients of culture and character

Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. were suspended by the Rockets for inappropriate conduct. Now what?

The Rockets suspended Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood for separate incidents of various inappropriate conduct during their recent game against the Denver Nuggets. Here's the summary via The Athletic:

Sources said Lucas called out multiple players, including Porter and Christian Wood — who was benched after missing a mandatory COVID-19 testing window — during halftime, focusing on Porter’s play and Wood's effort level. As things escalated, Porter threw an object, needed to be separated from Lucas and then got in his car and left the arena. Wood refused to sub into the game in the second half, sources added.

Wood has had previous issues with punctuality and commitment, leading many teams — including one in China — to decide that he simply wasn't worth the headache. Porter Jr. has had his own well-documented anger/behavior issues. He was once accused of throwing a drink in a ladies face, ripping off her weave, and punching her in the face. During his time in Cleveland he once got so mad that they moved his locker that he reportedly started yelling and throwing food. But given that he's not the only Cav to start tossing food when he's upset, maybe the food in Cleveland is so bad that you naturally want to throw it somewhere.

So let's get back to Houston, an organization who has previously empowered (enabled?) James Harden's frisky and wild ways who have a sketchy controlling partner who gives off mob vibes and who also to pretends he is willing to pay the luxury tax — but he really does not want to pay that tax. The Rockets decided to pay John Wall not to play basketball, in part because they don't want to stunt the growth of their younger players. Now you've got one guy driving away during a game after a tense moment and another guy who sticks around but decides that he doesn't play — it's not a good look.

What sort of effect does this have on the youngsters on the Rockets? According to the story from the worldwide leader, at least one of the youngsters told Wood to act like a proper vet. There's a reason that "good locker room guys" like Tyson Chandler and David West and Udonis Haslem can stick around a long time in the NBA. The ability to mentor and guide the younger generation in the intricacies of NBA life — which extends far beyond the borders of the game itself — has tremendous value.

Every team has squabbles and off-days and lulls and tiffs — all the other stuff that will always and forever happen when people join together and try to accomplish something. But great organizations have enough internal stability and leadership to absorb their share of bumps in the road while also setting and upholding high standards of performance and accountability. It is very difficult to create and sustain cohesive organizational buy-in at each level of participation, but that is the target.

It's too soon to write the obituary for this Rafael Stone-led Rockets regime, and they have time to further develop and implement the culture of their team. But, again, a great deal of that culture is set from the top on down, and you can count me a skeptic of any Tilman Fertitta-led organization. Even if he is the bull in the room.

Christian Wood is 26 year old, and while that is still very young, it's hard to see him being a part of the Rockets long-term plan. He has a relatively cap-friendly contract (about $14 million a year) and if he doesn't entirely tank his value with additional misbehavior, I would bet that the Rockets deal him for assets sometime next season (he's set to hit free agency in the summer of 2023).

Porter Jr. is only 21 year old and still on his rookie deal. He's extension-eligible, but his multiple issues are likely to make Houston wary of a long-term commitment. It's hard not to pull for a kid who's father was killed during a bar dispute when he was four years old. Personal trauma undoubtably casts a dark shadow on your path, at some point you need to break the cycle and step into the light. Here's to hoping that the Rockets can provide Porter Jr. the handholds he needs to grow and mature, and that Porter Jr. has the ability to grab on.