Gerald Green: Out of the NBA

Fans of The Birthday Cake should maybe sit down: Houston waived Gerald Green today to make room for D-League forward Mike Harris. Gerald Green, third year guard, 22 years old ... without a job.

Didn't Green seem like a nice enough piece in the Kevin Garnett sweepstakes just eight or so months ago? Now three teams have given up on him: Boston after two seasons, Minnesota after three months, Houston after three weeks. Not a ringing endorsement on his future chances, is it?

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle says a lack of drive on the practice court got Green his pink slip from the Rockets.

If Green played, practiced and most of all competed as hard as Harris, he would not be unemployed today. He has a sweet shot and can jump out of the building. Another team will likely take another shot to teach him how to play. ... Teams are not giving him away because they can't see the potential. It's there. But he has not shown that he sees what it will take to bring it out of him.

Green could land with a team this week -- those who might want to sign him this summer could audition him, or get the upper hand. Reading what everyone says about Green, though ... I'm not sure he won't just slink off into the sunset, resolved as ever to watch his career flutter away. After blowing three opportunities in less than three years, why should we expect anything different?