The Houston Rockets’ lost season of 2015-16 has been characterized by the uncertainty surrounding its locker room. The roster as presently constructed may not stand a chance against Golden State or San Antonio, but they’re talented enough to be a damn sight better than they are right now. What was a top-10 defense last year has sunk to fifth-worst in the NBA with a similar roster to a year ago and clearly-talented players struggling to play as a unit.
The whole operation has been listless, which is why GM Daryl Morey reportedly looked to trade Dwight Howard in an attempt to seriously shake things up and try to find a roster that works better alongside the enigmatic James Harden. The closest they reportedly came (before denying everything) was a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, which fell through because Howard was rumored to refuse to opt in to another year of his contract.
Well, that rumor appears to have gained some real legs, because Bucks announcer Gus Johnson (yes, that Gus Johnson) claimed on air that Dwight confirmed it himself:
https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/704502732976103424
Dwight is signed to a four-year, $87 million contract with an opt-out clause after this, his third season. He’s rumored to want a maximum contract in this coming offseason, when the salary cap jumps to previously unheard-of levels. He’s 30 with a serious and well-publicized injury history, so waiting another year to hit free agency would be a major risk. That said, whether he’ll get the max even this year remains to be seen. But it’s curious that he would make a point to say, “I love Milwaukee,” as if he was sowing the seeds for a potential free agent destination.
If Dwight indeed gets the max from somebody this offseason, chances are it won’t be from Houston. They’ll almost certainly do their damnedest to reunite Harden and Kevin Durant, as unlikely as it may seem now. If Dwight’s price tag comes down, they may give it another shot, but 21-year-old Clint Capela looks like a potential building block, and he’s on his rookie deal. The Rockets will almost certainly try to spend their free agent money on the perimeter, or anyone who can shoot from the outside. Capela’s rim protection and surprising pick-and-roll competence makes him the perfect low-maintenance center for the outside-in team the Rockets want to be. Dwight still demands a certain amount of low-post touches to keep him happy.
As the Rockets head towards either a lottery appearance or a quick exit from the playoffs, their Western Conference Finals appearance from last year looks more like a fluke than ever — not because they overachieved, but because they finally fit together, like a volatile rock band who could only stay together for one beautiful album. And they might want to break it up sooner rather than later — if they miss the playoffs, they get to keep their first-round pick. Otherwise, it goes to the Nuggets thanks to the now-infamous Ty Lawson trade.
