October 24, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Houston Rockets power forward Royce White (30) against the New Orleans Hornets during the first half of a preseason game at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Royce White’s NBA career is in jeopardy due to his anxiety disorder. It’s something that was known early on before going into the season, but the problem has perpetuated itself and White is doing little to alleviate the situation.

He’s been the subject of heavy criticism and at this point says he is willing to simply walk away from the game of basketball—if it comes down to it.

Needless to say, that would be a pity. White was projected to be one of the steals of the draft, but his vaunted collegiate career hasn’t translated to success. It hasn’t translated to anything because White has yet to play an NBA game. His lack of cooperation with the Houston Rockets thus far has only caused him to fall under further criticism.

Let’s take a look at five elements that could prove crucial if White is to salvage his career and make the most of his talents.

1) Attend Therapy Sessions

The Houston Rockets have paid for therapy sessions for White to deal with his anxiety disorder that prevents him from being able to fly. White has skipped out on these sessions and is now using his disorder as an excuse, rather than a reason.

It would be one thing if White couldn’t overcome the issue after therapy. If he tried and failed, it would simply be a sad case. Instead, it is a frustrating case because White isn’t going through the sessions that are being provided to him.

2) Work Hard While Inactive

White needs to remain active and work out while he is unable to play. The NBA is rigorous and months of inactivity will only further exacerbate this situation. White must play basketball during this down time, and he’s not even giving the Rockets that much.

He has remained absent from the team, which again, is using this condition as an excuse rather than a reason. There’s no valid reason for White not to participate in practices.

3) Continue to Communicate Progress with Rockets

White says “the communication is still there.”

Good. It must be.

White cannot become despondent in this period of trauma, because he is being paid to play basketball. Instead, White is now racking up fines for not attending practices.

He must continue to communicate and work with the Rockets organization as they try to help him with his disorder. He says he is unwilling to “compromise (his) health in the interest of business.” Fine, don’t.

But don’t expect to be paid to complain about something you’re not willing to fix. In no other line of business is that acceptable, and the NBA is no exception.

4) Play Home and Local Games Only

Unable to fly, there is absolutely no reason White could not participate in practices held at the Rockets’ facility and play in the home games. Moreover, he could travel by bus to the games in Dallas and San Antonio.

That gives White 45 games a year in which he could play. So far, the grand total is zero.

5) Take Medication

White, like many with mental illnesses, can be helped by medication. As someone closely associated with mental illness, I know these medications help immensely. Yes, there is a stigma attached to having to take pharmaceuticals to help the brain, but White must be wiling to take whatever the psychiatrist prescribes.

There are a number of drugs that help with anxiety disorders and White must be wiling to try each and every one until he finds one that works. That, in addition to the therapy he is not attending, are the only ways this situation is going to be rectified.

Instead, White is simply saying he is willing to quit. Being in the spotlight, White doesn’t give those afflicted with mental illnesses a lot of hope nor set a good example for them.

Apr 07, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Magic defeated the Sixers 88-82. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Rob Hennigan has been given the unenviable task of having to trade the best center in the NBA.  Ideally, one would like to figure the Magic could obtain a ton, net a franchise player in return, or many picks to use to rebuild the team, but that hasn’t been the case.

Teams aren’t willing to over pay for a guy that hasn’t even promised he will sign an extension.  Even the one team that he has promised such to, the Brooklyn Nets, aren’t ready to give up all that much.

Why?

Because they know they don’t have to.

Hennigan and the Magic are sitting ducks, forced to trade away their biggest asset because he just won’t be loyal, won’t be patient, and because he can’t just even play out his contract.

He’s complained that he felt “blackmailed” into declining his option to opt out of the contract, but later reneged those statements and said he was misquoted.  He wasn’t.  Dwight Howard has been acting very childish through this, and hasn’t leveled with anyone.  I suspect the only member of the media he has leveled with has been Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM.com, a confidant for the troubled big man.  He likely knows exactly what Howard has thought throughout this entire process, throughout a time in which he has repeatedly told media “All that matters is that I’m in Orlando right now.”

The line became so stale, that anyone with half a brain knew to no longer inquire as to his thought process regarding his upcoming free agency.

But we don’t know what Howard’s thinking.  He is discontent, but he has no reason to be.  He reached the Finals in 2009, and the team has had success.  Ultimately, he needs to accept blame that he is the reason it hasn’t reached higher level.  He’s gotten better every season in the league but has yet to make the leap to being a truly elite player.  His offense has gotten a lot better, but he still can’t shoot the ball too well further than 10 or 12 feet out, and his free throw shooting is getting worse, as he shot a career low from the line last season.

But the Magic are going to have to make a decision, now that they’ve had a few offers to weigh out.

The best offer, in my opinion, has been that of the Houston Rockets.  In the proposed trade with the Rockets, the Magic would obtain all three of Houston’s 2012 first round picks, Royce White, Jeremy Lamb, and Terrence Jones.  They would also obtain Kevin Martin, Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris, and Chandler Parsons.  Out would go the horrible contracts of Glen Big Baby Davis, Quentin Richardson, Chris Duhon, and Jason Richardson.  Hedo Turkoglu may even be disposed of.  The Magic would obtain a host of valuable young players, and could even look to move Martin after obtaining him.

It would clear the cupboard and replace aging vets with  no future with talented young forwards like Parsons, Morris, and Patterson, all of whom have yet to cash in on their potential as pros.  And I like all 3 of the Rockets’ selections in the NBA Draft, as some have compared Royce White to a young Anthony Mason; Jeremy Lamb a poor man’s Ray Allen, and Jones a athletic big body ,who is comparable to 90s forward Derrick McKey.  It would give the Magic a core they could build around.

The Nets, Hawks, and Lakers have been active as well.

The New Jersey offer wasn’t so bad:  Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, three first round picks, and the offer to take back bad contracts.  For some reason, the possible best part of the trade, Brooks, was not desired by the Magic, who were seeking another first in exchange for Brooks, by involving a third team (likely the Clippers).

The Magic didn’t want Humphries either, who had been mentioned as a possible piece to involve the Cleveland Cavaliers and a pick.  Then, the Magic decided they didn’t want Lopez either, after he inked a huge contract extension, nearly a max contract for a center who averages under seven rebound a game.  That final straw put an end to the Howard to Brooklyn trade — but only for the moment.  The time may come when a trade similar to this one goes down.

The Lakers offer has been less clear, but it supposedly would ship out Andrew Bynum to Houston in a three team scenario, that would net the Magic a similar package to the Houston trade, in the sense that the Rockets would be shipping a lot out to take on a franchise big like Bynum.

But that’s the perplexing thing:  Why does Houston realize that Bynum is a franchise player, but Hennigan can’t?  Taking Bynum back, the second best center in the NBA, would be a way to ensure the franchise stays relevant.

Is Hennigan unconvinced that Bynum really is that man?  Does he not think that Bynum could be a 20 point, 10 rebound, 3 block kind of player?  It would seem that when you’re giving up the best, you should attempt to obtain the next best thing, and Hennigan has relented in doing so.  I don’t understand it.

The Hawks, meanwhile, have not put together any package that has even made Hennigan think.  They have Al Horford and Josh Smith as valuable chips, but just rid themselves of Joe Johnson, whom Hennigan may have had interest in.  Horford is a great and solid All Star, but can’t anchor an offense like Howard did, and Smith is at best a third fiddle type of player, offensively, while his defensive skills have made him a premier small forward, yet one who still has somehow not made an All Star team.

The best scenario, of course, would have been to bring Smith into Orlando to play with Howard, his AAU childhood friend.   Smith and Howard both wanted that to happen, but it was never able to officially go down, and the result has been that Atlanta has fallen to irrelevance after losing Johnson, while Johnson himself ended up the place that Howard has been wanting to go all along.  Funny how that works.

But when it comes right down to it, Hennigan is eventually just going to have to pull the trigger.  Both the New Jersey and Houston offers have been attractive enough to entice action, yet they haven’t.  I think the longer he waits, the worse the offers will get, as the Magic are forced into desperation and a last minute act for a trade that has been in the works for months now.

But you can’t expect teams to run banging down the door to rent Howard for half a season without a commitment on his part to re-sign with the team that acquires him.  Until that happens, Hennigan won’t get any good offers, and he just wants some picks and cap relief to rebuild the team.  It’s very rare that a team can trade a franchise talent and get a true equivalent return on the trade, but the Magic just simply have to do the best they can, and right now, that would seem to be pulling the trigger on the Houston deal.

Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated tweeted:

“Source says Iowa State F Royce White does not have a promise from Boston.”

Either way, the Celtics obviously seem interested. So lets take a look at Royce White and see what he could possibly bring to the Boston Celtics.

Who is Royce White?

White is a 6’8″, 261 lb small forward/power forward from Iowa State. In his sophomore year, White lead his team in points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks.

To do that playing at a big school like Iowa State, he must be really good.

Like Jared Sullinger, White has been red flagged, but for different reasons. White suffers from anxiety when having to fly, and he’s had a few off the court issues. His anxiety can always be dealt with, and if he can stay out of trouble, he may be a very good draft choice.

Offense

Offensively, White is a jack of all trades. He can play in the post, drive to the basket, take an outside shot, can set up the offense, and can dish the ball. In these days, he’d be known as a point-forward in the NBA.

He can run the fast break, and surprisingly for some his size, he can start and finish in transition. From what I see he has all the tools to become a good offensive player. Like I said earlier, he’s just got to stay in line, and improve on his anxiety problems.

Defense

On defense, White can matchup against most power forwards. While he did lead his team in blocks, its unlikely he’ll get as many at the next level considering most of the other power forwards in the league are bigger.

He’s an exceptional defensive rebounder, and for someone who’s going up against players 2 to 3 inches taller down in the paint, its quite impressive that he grabs so many boards.

Overall

I think Royce White could become a really good ball player. He won’t much of a project on the court since he’s developed enough to play right away. His off the court issues are my only concern, but if he can stay out of trouble and doesn’t let his anxiety of flying hinder him, then he’d be worth drafting.