The Houston Rockets are one of the big players in free agency in the NBA this summer, but it looks like they failed to get LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh.
The Rockets did reportedly snag Trevor Ariza, and are planning on matching the offer sheet for Chandler Parsons.
Ariza, a small forward, played for the Washington Wizards the last two seasons.
Parsons, the Rockets starting small forward last year, was given an offer sheet by the Dallas Mavericks. The Rockets have until Sunday night to match the offer.
Some reports are indicating that the Rockets intend to play Parsons and Ariza on the court at the same time at some points, with Parsons playing power forward. The lineup would help stretch the floor while Dwight Howard is underneath.
Ariza signed a four-year contract worth $32 million, reported the Washington Post. Ariza’s deal is worth $8.6 million in its first year and declines in annual value after that. He will make $7.4 million in the final year.
Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lin is still on his way to the Los Angeles Lakers, even after the Houston Rockets failed to land coveted forward Chris Bosh in free agency.
The Rockets still plan to execute the trade that will send the point guard to Los Angeles for cash, two people with knowledge of the deal said on Saturday. The people requested anonymity because the trade has not been officially announced.
The bold move left the Rockets on the outside looking in again, but GM Daryl Morey Morey had no second thoughts about dumping Lin, who didn’t mesh well playing in the same backcourt with the equally aggressive James Harden.
Lin earned his big contract with the Rockets thanks to a fantastic midseason run with the New York Knicks in 2012, when the “Linsanity” phenomenon was born. He’s the kind of dynamic, shoot-first point guard that has become more and more popular in the league over the last few seasons, which should help the Lakers, who have pass-first Kendall Marshall and the oft-injured Steve Nash on the roster as well.
Lin averaged 12.5 points and 4.1 assists last season, but he lost his starting job alongside the defensively deficient Harden because coach Kevin McHale preferred Patrick Beverley’s tenacity on that end of the floor.
But with Bryant likely needing some time to ease back into things after missing almost all of last season and gifted offensive big man Pau Gasol likely on his way out, Lin will provide some much-needed offensive punch to a rebuilding Lakers roster.
Troy Daniels
Daniels is well-known for coming off the bench during the playoffs and hitting the game-winning shot in game 3 of the Rockets first round series against the Portland Trailblazers.
Daniels, who was in the D-league earlier in the season, is close to signing an extension with the Rockets.
League sources told RealGM that there is a “strong dialogue,” though specifics for the contract haven’t been discovered yet.
Daniels has garnered interest from several other teams but the Rockets want to keep him.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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