Which players do you think the Rockets pursue in free agency this summer?

Melo, Bosh, Dirk, Lowry, Marion, Hawes, Allen, Battier, Jimmer, Marshon Brooks.

 

Sefalosha would be awesome to have. A lockdown shooting guard that can stroke the three to back up Harden. I don't think Thunder will let him go, he's very valuable but with the rise of Jeremy Lamb there's a chance we can snatch him up for the mle, then depending on Arizas price we should pick him up too cause Parsons will be gone in the tba Rondo trade

 

If I could look into a crystal ball and see Morey's big board of priorities come June, I think this is what it would look like:

Priority #1: Find potential "homes" for Lin & Asik

Priority #2: Gain traction on acquiring these players:

Tier 1 - Superstars & All-stars - Trades and Free agency

#1 -Kevin Love - will make trade proposal most likely (but unlikely)
#2- Melo - S&T preferable, but will try and line up trades for Lin/Asik to be able to sign as free agent
#3 & #4 - Bosh or LMA - S&T or trade but low likelihood. Most likely stay with current teams.
#5- Dirk - Free agency or S&T- Dont be that shocked if Morey lines up Lin/Asik deals to pitch Dirk with that 16 mil in cap space. The Mavs think they are getting Dirk back at a discount under 10 mil a year.... ahahahhaha... yeah right.
#6- E. Bledsoe- Pipedream I know- Even if the Rockets clear out Lin/Asik, Phoenix will match. Still wouldn't be surprised if the Rockets were interested. Would be the perfect 3rd wheel to Howard/Harden... oh and he's GREAT at defense.

Tier 2- Discount top level Free agents - *Note- these players will only be signed on contracts that are easily movable if they need to package for Love/LMA/Other later on.

#1 Z-Randolph- Will have to clear out one or both of Asik or Lin to create cap space, but I think the Rockets will have their eye on making space to acquire ZBo if they strike out on tier 1.

#2. Lowry- Fits like a glove. I absolutely think that Morey will make a run at Lowry to be their missing piece at PG on a favorable contract given that the market for starting PG's is so low he could be had on a good contract that is worth taking a gamble on.

#3. Deng- Surprised they didn't go after him at the trade deadline, but more or less, If they make a run at Luol, I dont know how confident that makes Chandler Parsons about his future with the Rockets. Still, if they can get him on the cheap, i think they consider it.

Tier 3: Mid-level and below signees-

#1. Spencer Hawes- perfect backup center for this group. Spreads the floor nicely. mid-level type of player.

#2. Rodney Stuckey- very underrated scoring PG with a nice build for a guard. Dont sleep on Stuckey.

#3- Patrick Patterson- Good ol 2Pat. I think the Rockets make a run at him for the mid-level, but ultimately some other team will over-pay for him. Make no mistake about it, Pat is a very good BACKUP on most teams, but with the Rockets, maybe they feel like next to Dwight, he's the right kind of mix of player they want and Carl Herrera does cart wheels. I think Morey likes sticking with Jones but if Pat costs too much, but I think they will be interested.

#4- Jason Smith - Injuries are a concern, and there have been rumblings about his knees being shot, but the guy can flat out shoot lights out from the PF spot up to 18 feet. I see him only as a low-mid level guy if they can get him just cause of the injury risk.

Vet min targets-

#1 Danny Granger
#2- Kaman
#3- Battier
#4 - Okafor
#5 - CJ Miles
#6 - Ridnour
#7 - Jerebko
#8 - S. Brown


* Highlighted the names of who I think are the most likely to get close to wearing a Rockets uniform.

 

I think it's crazy to think that Morey won't go balls out to get the best player he values this offseason because of some mythical chance a star the year after.

Morey has always said once you get foundational pieces in place you have to try to win. He will have players he thinks can help the team win this offseason and he will pursue them. I will be absolutely floored if he says something like "Carmelo or Bosh or we go bargain hunting for another year."

 

David Andersen, Brian Cook, Joey Dorsey, #Squid

 

I just don't think we're positioned to do it right now unless someone helps us out. It's not that he wont try, it's that there are constraints right now.

 

Lowry, Deng, and Dirk would be the perfect fit with us.

 

If we get Melo (or another star player).. get Frye, Blake, Morrow, and Lavoy Allen.

 

No joke. I think if somehow a player like Zach Randolph or Kyle Lowry is open and available to coming to Houston for what they deem a good contract & either Morey can S&T Lin and/or Asik for them than he's going to take them and not think twice.

I do however think that Morey will still value flexibility still just in case, but to think he wont take a player that's not Durant, Love, or Melo now is crazy.

Honestly, whats better value, Z-Bo on a 3 year 30 mil deal, or Lin and Asik making 30 million dollars NEXT YEAR. If Morey can move those two players, and get a player on that level at the right price he's going to be open to doing it.

 

Well not being able to do it is 1 thing. That may well end up being the case (though I doubt he passes on using the MLE) but most on this board seem to think that Morey is of the mind that he's only going after someone like Love, Aldridge, Lebron, Melo, Bosh, etc. you know, top tier players in the league and that in order to keep those pursuits alive the Rockets will only bargain hunt until they can get one of those.

A team with Dwight and Harden should not just pass on an offseason to improve. The chances are incredibly high that we can NEVER get another star player while those two are together. Punting on healthy prime years where you will be good but not good enough because you are crossing your fingers for a superstar would be silly in my opinion.

 

This. I don't think Morey will make a STUPID move or just use the MLE just to use it, but I can definitely see him going after Lowry, Randolph, Ariza, Diaw, etc. even if it costs flexibility because those guys can help you win now.

The Rockets problem right now isn't that they need a 3rd star, it's that they need a better roster around their stars. They need a better PG (even over Beverly) they need a better wing player either over Parsons or behind Parsons/Harden and they need a better PF.

 

I also think the whole we need a "star" mantra isn't exactly what folks here think it is.

If I'm in Morey's shoes, I'm thinking I need another player that I can "Play Through". That's most likely a star in the eyes of most NBA fans, but someone like Zach Randolph, Kyle Lowry, and Maybe even a Millsap etc. absolutely counts IMO.

The problem the Rockets and other teams with major weaknesses is that they often don't have that many options for offensive attack in the half court against a set defense, and if one of their featured players go down in injury, they dont have the offensive talent outside of those one or two players to sustain those periods of heavy injury.

What makes Harden unstoppable right now is either going to be bad defense, or having another threat (like a healthy & on-target Dwight) to give him enough space to dominate in the half court. If Dwight declines, is injured, or is really off target in a playoff series due to a bad match-up, it allows the other team to really key in on stopping Harden, and then the Rockets are stuck going super small to manipulate the offense to force feed offense, and that's a risky move.

However.... If you throw in a Z-Bo, or Lowry, there is another guy on the floor that can score in the half court, and that threat, again... will make Harden deadly again, and potentially make life a dream for Dwight.

So when Morey or someone else say that the Rockets need that 3rd "star"... I hate that they use that term cause its not that they need someone who can sell tickets, and drop 60 points... they need a "Play through option".... but most of those "Play through options" just so happen to be either All-Stars or borderline All-stars.

 

I don't think he'll "punt" anything, but I do think he'll look to remain "flexible" unless he lands what he's comfortable is the 3rd piece of the puzzle. I'm sure he'd much rather pull it off this year so he can go keep Beverley and/or Parsons around with no worries. But if he can't, I don't think he'll forfeit the flexibility he's been so keen on maintaining.

I imagine the MLE will be used, with a 1-year deal attached. Unless we can land a 3rd piece before free agency. I still think you can trade the moment you're eliminated from the playoffs (Webber for Richmond).

 

His Duke game was making seem on par with Grant Hill coming out.... In the NBA he was a corner 3 man and defensive glue...

 

what about Jordan Farmar? He's making 1.1 million this year and I don't see much of a drop off from Lin.

Farmar/Bev/Canaan could be our pgs at a combined 2-3 million a year.

 

What would you do with Lin, then?

 

If we can't hit on a big free agent/star, we need to rebuild our bench. No more Casspi, Garcia, Hamilton and even Lin or Asik if we can find buyers.

We need to find some production from our bench. Would love to add:
Marion - Still a good defender and veteran
Pierce - Old but still reliable and Harden could really learn from him.
Carter - Old but still productive and can shoot the 3
Robinson - Spark plug off the bench. He and Beverley can make a hell of a duo
McRoberts - Very reliable big man who knows how to move the ball and shoot
Jason Smith - big body with a reliable jumper

 

It's gonna be an interesting summer. I expect A LOT of changes!

 

we can't really do anything prominent unless we get rid of Lin's contract right?

 

I'd take Bledsoe over lowry. Suns may not match. They proved they can win with just goran. Hayward would be an upgrade over parsons. Stronger. More athletic. But pretty sure he goes to boston. But Morey probably goes for the home run with melo.