Bullock adds veteran depth to young squad
The Rockets on Monday added depth on the wing, reaching agreement with guard/forward Reggie Bullock on a one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal said.
The San Antonio Spurs last week agreed to a buyout with Bullock, 32, and placed him on waivers, keeping their priority on developing young players, much as the Rockets had in recent seasons. That made Bullock a free agent after spending the previous two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks.
The move, however, is further confirmation about the change in the Rockets’ priorities and of their plans to move on from Kevin Porter Jr.
Rather than keep a clear path to playing time for young players, the Rockets added another established veteran to fill a void. And with Porter facing assault and strangulation charges in New York, the Rockets added a player to fill a need. Porter was expected to move to a wing position, with his departure creating an opportunity for a free agent shooter at those positions.
Bullock, a reliable defensive player, has made 38.4% of his 3-pointers in a 10-year career with six teams.
The Rockets opened an additional roster spot on Friday when they released guard Josh Obiesie. The Athletic was first to report Bullock’s free agency decision.
Green already a hot free agent, of a sort
Long before Rockets guard Jalen Green would consider NBA free agency, he is a coveted free agent of a different kind that has generated intense interest from a segment of the NBA community.
Green is weighing dropping CAA as his representatives and is considering several options, with a decision expected in the coming weeks, two individuals with knowledge of the situation said.
Green confirmed he is considering his options. He could return to CAA, where he has been represented by Aaron Mintz.
Green has considered Lift Sports, and to be represented by former NBA player Mike Miller and veteran agent Kevin Bradbury; and Klutch Sports Group, to be represented
by Rich Paul, according to individuals with knowledge of the process. Another individual said he is also considering WME.
Green’s decision could come at a particularly important time as he heads into his third NBA season. An All-NBA selection as a rookie in the 2021-22 season and the Rockets’ leading scorer last season, Green, 21, would be eligible for a contract extension that would begin after his fourth season, assuming the Rockets pick up their option on the 2024-25 season.
Miller and Bradbury do not represent any current Rockets players, though Bradbury represents former Rockets guards Patrick Beverley and TyTy Washington Jr.
Miller represents last season’s rookie of the year Paolo Banchero, who was expected to be the Rockets’ selection in the 2022 NBA draft but ended up the first pick of the Orlando Magic.
Miller recruited Green when Miller was a University of Memphis assistant under Penny Hardaway, but Green opted to play for the G League Ignite NBA development team for elite prospects.
Paul represents Rockets guard Fred VanVleet and former Rockets guard John Wall, among the second-most NBA players represented by any agent led by Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony
Davis.