The recent Christian Wood has trade opened up the starting center spot for Alperen Sengun, but the Rockets still want to add more depth behind him, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
“The Rockets have begun assessing options from a deep class of free agent centers to determine plans for the position and free agency next month,” Feigen writes, citing a source who knows the team’s plans.
While showing considerable promise on offense, Sengun averaged 5.2 fouls per 36 minutes as a rookie. That may make center depth more important than some realize, since Houston may not feel confident in his ability to regularly absorb 30+ minutes per game at such a young age.
Feigen notes that veteran big man Boban Marjanovic, acquired from Dallas as part of the Wood trade, could factor into the equation.
Potential free agent names to watch, according to Feigen, include Nic Claxton, Isaiah Hartenstein, Andre Drummond, Mason Plumlee, Mo Bamba, Hassan Whiteside, JaVale McGee, and Dewayne Dedmon.
Feigen adds that Houston is not expected to target a rookie center in next week’s draft, though that could change if a player unexpectedly slips to No. 17 or No. 26. One example might be Duke’s Mark Williams.
New from Houston Chronicle — Rockets turn attention to centers in free agency https://t.co/49yKona4AS
— Texas Sports Nation (@ChronTXSN) June 18, 2022
The Rockets will be over the NBA salary cap this offseason but can offer free agents the full mid-level exception (MLE), which is expected to start at approximately $10.5 million annually. However, general manager Rafael Stone will have to balance short-term roster considerations with longer-term financial flexibility, since the Rockets are currently positioned to have significant salary cap room in the 2023 offseason.
The ideal scenario for Houston likely involves either a one-year contract or a longer-term signing at a lower-than-expected salary rate. In the latter scenario, even if Stone and the Rockets need to reopen that salary number a year from now, it would be relatively simple for them to do so — since the player would presumably have positive trade value.
The Rockets do have some smaller frontcourt options on their current depth chart, led by Usman Garuba and Jae’Sean Tate. Thus, it appears they are looking for more size as part of this search.
Free agency negotiations are expected to begin on Thursday, June 30.
