In Houston, Evan Drellich wrote the Astros "have acted like small-market paupers" since Owner Jim Crane took over in '11, but the market size "dictates they have a latent capability beyond that." Houston's population size "is misleading." Astros GM Jeff Luhnow: "We're the fourth largest city in the country, but we're not the fourth largest market in the country, not even close. … We're not ever going to be a small market necessarily, but our revenues are not proportionate with our city size relative to other big metropolitan areas" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/16).
WAITING GAME: In L.A., Lisa Dillman notes NHL Kings D Slava Voynov "remains suspended" by the league for his alleged domestic violence incident, but is still getting paid, and his $4.1M salary "counts against the cap." Kings GM Dean Lombardi has been "mostly angered" by the situation, feeling that the team "is being punished by not getting salary-cap relief" (L.A. TIMES, 11/18). NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said of the suspension, "The CBA expressly provides for what we're doing." NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly added, "We've had discussions with the players' association over the last several weeks to see whether maybe some kind of one-off relief might be available. We haven't been able to reach an agreement." The AP noted Voynov is "due in court Dec. 1," and the L.A. County district attorney "has until then to file charges" (AP, 11/17).
ROCKY ROAD: ESPN.com's Kevin Arnovitz cited sources as saying that the Nuggets organization "is 'rudderless' under the controls of a young front office" -- led by GM & Exec VP/Basketball Operations Tim Connelly -- that "has neither the experience nor the savvy to survive in a league whose executive ranks are teeming with predators." After years of "being patronized at times by a procession of older, strong, whip-smart personalities in Denver," Nuggets President Josh Kroenke "loved that Connelly was a calming force to have around, a thirtysomething contemporary of Kroenke who seemed devoid of ego, was trustworthy and was somebody he might actually want to spend time with in casual company." Even if there had been time in June '13 to "make a splashy hire to replace" former GM Masai Ujiri, it "simply isn't in the Nuggets' nature to pay top dollar for managerial talent" (ESPN.com, 11/17).
