The Houston Rockets understand they might lose Dwight Howard to free agency this summer, but soothe such thoughts with the idea of chasing a major name on the open market with the free cap space.
Howard never fit right with James Harden and the Rockets disappointed so much last season that the team chewed through a head coach early on and never made much of a dent in the Western Conference. Now Howard looks ready to opt out, and if he does, Houston could chase the biggest names available.
Such seems to be the plan for Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, as he told SiriusXM NBA Radio:
If [Dwight Howard] chooses to come back, I think we’ve already shown that combination can win 56 and make the Western Conference Finals. If he chooses to opt out and we can’t get him back in free agency, then we’re ready-made to add a star level player. We have the cap room.
It’s a nice quote, but it’s hard to imagine the Rockets want Howard back. If they did, they probably wouldn’t have hired Mike D’Antoni as the new head coach, the guy who Howard detested publicly and encouraged him to ditch the Los Angeles Lakers.
So Howard leaves and the Rockets have cash and a pretty good argument to help woo free agents. But who? Would Kevin Durant come to town to pair with Harden again? What about strong points such as Rajon Rondo or Mike Conley?
One has to wonder how last season’s turmoil hurts Houston’s chances at a major free agent. The market is big and the roster looks good, but did the chemistry problems fall on Harden or Howard? It’s probably not so black and white, but for free agents who can get max deals anywhere, it’s something to consider if the goal is winning a title.
Over the years, Houston has surprised the most on a consistent basis. This quote from Morey isn’t getting crazy attention, but it sure sounds like the front office is ready to make another gigantic move. Don’t sleep on the Rockets once the market opens this summer.
