Team eyes upgrades to roster, pursuing Pacers star George
While the Rockets worked through Thursday’s NBA draft and made a run at a move into the first round, their eye — and many of Thursday’s calls — remained on larger deals, including the ongoing talks with the Indiana Pacers about forward Paul George.
The Rockets were among teams pursuing George, 27, a person with knowledge of those talks said, though nothing was considered close for the Rockets on Thursday.
The Rockets had conversations designed to make cap room available by moving some of their contracts if they need to for a free-agent addition.
“We were very focused on two things, to get someone who can help us now and in the future,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. “The second, we did a lot of potential discussions with teams that advanced a little bit today.
“Obviously, we’re focused on the team now, focused on chasing Golden State. Anything we can push in the future to help us upgrade the team, potentially through trade, we’re ready to do.”
Although the Rockets protected their cap room by not drafting in the first round and with second-round pick center/ forward Isaiah Hartenstein to stay overseas for a season, Morey said he did try to pick up a first-round pick.
“We had some deals to move into the first round that were quite close that would have affected our cap space,” Morey said. “We’re mostly focused on, given the bigger type of trades we’re talking (about) right now, having the type of things that could entice teams down the road. That’s why we traded the second into the future.”
The Rockets traded their second secondround pick — forward Dillon Brooks — to the Memphis Grizzlies for a second-round pick next season.
Morey said no deal is imminent.
“It’s more clear,” he said. “Nothing’s final.
“You’re always trying to improve your roster. Opportunities come when they come. Whenever you have a chance at a very, very high-level player through trade or free agency we have to explore it no matter what.”