NBA-National Basketball Association roundup

Dec 24 (The Sports Xchange) - The NBA was idle on Christmas Eve, but the Houston Rockets' front office stayed busy. Veteran free agent forward Josh Smith agreed to sign a contract with the Rockets, he told a Houston television station, and the team agreed to a three-year contract extension with coach Kevin McHale. The Rockets did not immediately confirm Smith's deal. Smith was waived by the Detroit Pistons on Monday, even though he still had two years and at least $26 million remaining on his contract after this season. He was less than halfway into his four-year, $54 million contract. Smith cleared waivers Wednesday. Smith cited the chance to play with Rockets center Dwight Howard, his former AAU teammate in Atlanta, as a key reason for his decision to join Houston. ESPN.com reported that McHale's deal is fully guaranteed and valued in excess of $12 million. McHale, 57, is in his fourth season with the Rockets, who are off to a 20-7 start despite Howard missing extended time with a knee injury. McHale has been working under the final year of his current contract. He is 153-104 in three-plus seasons with the Rockets and 192-159 overall as an NBA coach, including two years with the Minnesota Timberwolves. - - - Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao tore his left Achilles tendon, and he likely will miss the rest of the season. The team confirmed the news Wednesday that Varejao sustained the left ankle/foot injury when he landed awkwardly in the third quarter Tuesday night during the Cavaliers' 125-104 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. While it is anticipated that Varejao will miss the remainder of the 2014-15 season, a timetable for his return to basketball activity will be developed after he has surgery in the near future and his rehabilitation process is established. Varejao has missed 166 games with various injuries over the past four seasons. The Cavs signed him to a three-year, $30 million extension in October. He is shooting 55 percent from the field and averaging 10 points and 6.6 rebounds. - - - The Phoenix Suns traded forward Anthony Tolliver to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for forward Tony Mitchell. Tolliver, 29, played in 24 games for the Suns this season, averaging 3.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 11.3 minutes. Mitchell, who was drafted 37th overall by the Pistons in 2013 out of the University of North Texas, averaged 8.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in six games with the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA Development League this season. (Editing by Steve Keating.)