Rockets quickly switch into reunion mode
Rivers joins roster of returnees as strategy shifts after Butler deal
The Rockets’ plan to take a home run swing ended without their ever getting to the plate. But the benefits of making solid contact, the revised goal, began to become more apparent on Monday.
The second day of free agency brought that reminder, with guard Austin Rivers choosing to return on a two-year minimum contact, ostensibly to chase the championship the Rockets have considered within reach.
He gave the Rockets that discount — with a player option in the second year of the deal — a day after they locked up fellow reserves Danuel House Jr. and Gerald Green.
With the pursuit of Jimmy Butler over before the Rockets could make their pitch — and the drastic roster overhaul that would have come in the sign-and-trade arrangement needed to get him no longer necessary — they have their starting five and three key
regulars back from a team general manager Daryl Morey had declared a week earlier to be the Western Conference favorite.
That could change with the free agency haul in Utah, the growth in Denver, or possibly the decision to come from NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. But Morey will proceed with this in mind: The Rockets had the NBA’s best record after the All-Star break.
The Rockets went into free agency with parallel plans, preparing not only to pursue Butler but to try to snag a “significant” mid-level exception addition.
They still hope to accomplish something along those lines, seeking one substantial addition regardless of position and another big man off the bench.
Armed with mid-level exception money left after the deal with House, the Rockets are willing to use a nontaxpayer exception if needed to get a more expensive player, though using that or their bi-annual exception would hard-cap them and severely limit their flexibility in making their customary in-season moves. Otherwise, they can work with a taxpayer mid-level.
The Rockets have enough left in their non-taxpayer exception to offer slightly more than teams with the smaller exception. But the Rockets’ pursuits would need a variety of developments out of their control to fall into place.
They went into free agency interested in Raptors guard Danny Green, if unable to land Butler. Green is willing to ease into free agency to see how things go with Leonard but has received considerable interest from the Mavericks, Lakers and Clippers, teams with cap room exceeding what the Rockets can offer.
The Rockets had interest in Warriors center Kevon Looney, though it was unclear if that was in case they dealt center Clint Capela in a sign-and-trade deal no longer needed. Looney opted to return to the Warriors, but he is not the only member of Golden State’s dynasty who could be in play.
With the Warriors sending Andre Iguodala to Memphis to facilitate their sign-and-trade deal for D’Angelo Russell, the veteran forward could be bought out by a rebuilding Grizzlies team. The Rockets pushed hard for Iguodala as a free agent in 2017 and would try to land him again if he returns to the open market.
As with Green, Iguodala could be the target of teams with cap room, particularly the Lakers. That would be a reason for the Rockets to be cautious with their mid-level exception spending money.
Rivers helped that greatly, along with joining House and Gerald Green in providing the depth the Rockets will need if they can pull off adding the 35-year-old Iguodala.
Rivers was considered a key free-agent retainee, having proved a vital reserve after he was signed in December following Chris Paul’s hamstring injury. Rivers averaged 8.7 points and 2.3 assists in 28.6 minutes per game with the Rockets, had a strong postseason, and is a reliably effective perimeter defender.
Rivers’ decision gives the Rockets 12 players under contract, including three members of their summer league team: Isaiah Hartenstein, Gary Clark and Chris Chiozza. Guard Michael Frazier is under contract but is sitting out summer league with a sore knee.
With most of last season’s rotation players, save centers Kenneth Faried and Nene, in place but with no outside additions yet, the Rockets’ focus moves to their secondary free agency goal. This time, however, after the whirlwind of deal-making around them, they are forced to accept the need to proceed more deliberately.