The Houston Rockets have already done most of their expected moves this offseason. Kevin Durant is still in town, Tari Eason was re-signed on a team-friendly deal, Marcus Smart brings another defensive-minded veteran to Ime Udoka‘s rotation, and Bogdan Bogdanovic gives the second unit some shooting.
The decision to move Dorian Finney-Smith for cap relief via cash considerations created flexibility for another meaningful addition before training camp.
Houston’s payroll now sits at approximately $200.5 million, meaning the front office isn’t shopping for another superstar. That ship has sailed.
Instead, GM Rafael Stone should be looking for the final complementary piece: someone who can strengthen the bench and be ready when playoff basketball demands eight or nine players.
The Rockets have an exciting young foundation built around Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, and Tari Eason, but championship teams need more than that.
They add veterans who know exactly how to impact winning without demanding touches. Thanks to the flexibility created by moving Finney-Smith’s $13 million salary slot, Houston has an opportunity to pursue another quality free agent who fits Ime Udoka’s demanding style of basketball.
Here are six free agents who make plenty of sense.
6. Gabe Vincent
Expected Contract Offer: 2 years, $10 million
Houston can never have too many reliable guards, and Gabe Vincent fits that identity perfectly. We saw how much the Rockets struggled without a point guard to run the show in Fred VanVleet‘s absence.
Vincent isn’t going to average 15 points per night, but he doesn’t have to. Last season, he averaged 4.4 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game on 34.1% from three, and he is a role player who understands playoff basketball. He’s comfortable playing either guard spot and has proven he can handle pressure moments without trying to do too much.
The Rockets already have plenty of offensive creators between Durant, Sengun, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard. What they need is another guard who can organize the offense and play both ends.
Vincent would fit naturally into Udoka’s defensive system while giving Houston another trustworthy veteran off the bench. A $10 million deal isn’t the worst to hit the Rockets’ books either.
5. Gary Trent Jr.
Expected Contract Offer: 2 years, $14 million
Every contender needs shooting. Houston could always use more. The 27-year-old Gary Trent Jr. averaged 8.1 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 36.0% from beyond the arc last season. He is averaging 13.0 points per game on 38.7% from three over his career, so perhaps he can hit those marks again.
Defenses simply cannot afford to leave him open, and that becomes especially valuable when playing next to Durant and Sengun, who naturally command double teams.
Trent immediately stretches the floor, creates more driving lanes for Amen Thompson, and gives Reed Sheppard another dangerous perimeter partner.
He’s also only 27 years old, making him young enough to grow alongside Houston’s core rather than simply serving as a short-term rental. At 2 years and $14 million, Trent Jr might decide to take a chance to resurrect his career with a team that needs shooting.
4. Ziaire Williams
Expected Contract Offer: 3 years, $24 million
Sometimes the smartest free-agent signing isn’t the biggest name. Ziaire Williams still has intriguing upside as a long, athletic wing who has flashed defensive versatility throughout his young career.
Last season, he averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 42.5% from the field, 34.3% from deep, and 85.0% from the stripe. The former No. 10 overall pick stands 6’9″ and is only 24 years old.
Houston has done an outstanding job developing young talent, and Williams feels like exactly the type of player Udoka could maximize. All he needs to do is develop into another reliable two-way forward behind Durant, Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr.
It’s a low-risk signing with meaningful long-term potential. At 3 years and $24 million, Williams could be a sneaky good pickup to replace the departed Dorian Finney-Smith.
3. Jonas Valanciunas
Expected Contract Offer: 2 years, $18 million
Jonas Valanciunas offers plenty of presence inside, even when getting cut by the Denver Nuggets. Steven Adams ($13M) is often injured, and the Rockets need security behind Alperen Sengun since Clint Capela is 32 years old and is on a $7M salary.
Valanciunas averaged 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 58.2% from the field, continuing to be one of the NBA’s strongest interior rebounders. He isn’t the defender he once was, but he can be a very impactful backup big man.
Without question, Valanciunas (assuming he takes an $18 million salary over two years) would keep the team competitive when Alperen Sengun sits. Over an 82-game season, having a proven veteran behind Sengun could make an enormous difference, especially if Houston enters the playoffs with championship aspirations.
2. DeMar DeRozan
Expected Contract Offer: 2 years, $30 million
Adding DeMar DeRozan wouldn’t be about building the offense around him. It would be about giving Houston another elite half-court scorer when games slow down in the postseason.
Sure, there are plenty of teams probably looking to acquire DeRozan right now. But the Rockets could use his talents more than anyone.
DeRozan is still one of the league’s most polished offensive players after averaging 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game on 49.7% from the field, 32.0% from three, and 86.8% from the free-throw line. His mid-range game is still elite, even if his three isn’t, and he can create his own shots.
Would there be some defensive concerns? Absolutely. But Durant wouldn’t have to carry every late-game scoring possession anymore. The Rockets don’t want to stunt the growth of Reed Sheppard or Amen Thompson, but they need DeRozan to help teach the young guys the ropes.
Would DeRozan accept a deal worth 30 million over two seasons? He is almost 37, so this is his time to play on a team that could use his sixth-man services as much as possible.
1. Bruce Brown
Expected Contract Offer: 4 years, $40 million
Bruce Brown is one of the NBA’s best glue guys, which is why he is one of the hottest prospects on the market right now. After averaging 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game on 38.5% from three last season, Brown is the perfect 3-and-D player. He doesn’t care who gets the headlines either, so he is a star in his role.
That’s exactly why he’d fit Houston so well. Brown could play alongside Amen Thompson, Smart, or Sheppard without disrupting the offense.
Udoka has always valued tough, switchable defenders, and Brown checks every one of those boxes while bringing championship experience to one of the league’s youngest contenders. On a deal for $10 million per season, the 29-year-old Brown could be a player the Rockets could use moving forward as the youngsters develop.
