Houston Rockets Interested In Euro Guard Malcolm Delaney

With the Houston Rockets edging toward draft day next month and open free agency thereafter, it’s never too early for the team to start working on finding the pieces that can help this team win.

This will certainly be an important off season for the Rockets as there are still a lot of question marks to be addressed.

What are they?

The head coach position is still vacant, we’re not sure if Dwight Howard will accept his $23.3 million option for 2016-17 and a good chunk of the roster’s viability may be in jeopardy.

Rightfully so, a shakeup needs to happen because it’s clearly obvious there were some characters that weren’t necessarily the best of fits and we need guys that are aligned with the most important mantra of all — that would be WINNING.

The Rockets do have an interest in a player not necessarily being the piece to the puzzle but someone that could provide some help on the roster.

According to the Nikos Valras of Eurohoops.net, the Rockets have regard for Euroleague guard Malcolm Delaney.

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The Rockets at least already have a working relationship with Delaney as they were interested in is services late in the 2013-14 season.

But it may be a dogfight as the Brooklyn Nets are the front runner in terms of landing the prospect.

They’ve got the cash and they definitely have the roster room to give him a spot.

Delaney, who went undrafted out of Virginia Tech in 2011 has spent his entire professional career so far overseas.

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He most recently played for Lokomotiv Kuban, a Russian-member of the Euroleague and was an important contributor during their playoff run despite being injured falling just short of the championship to CSKA Moscow.

Delaney has longed for returning back home to the States to continue his career in the Association and he may actually have a chance in doing so, especially if the Rockets sign him.

Here’s what Delaney told Varlas about the opportunity while fielding several offers including one from FC Barcelona:

"“It’s true that I’ve already had good offers from European clubs. Regarding Olympiacos and Panathinaikos that you mention, I know that it’s very likely they want to sign me. The NBA is the big priority and I’m not going to respond to any of the offers until the NBA matter clears up. If something happens and this prospect doesn’t work, then I’ll look at all the options and make a decision. I want to be closer to my family and enjoy basketball even more,” Delaney said."

He also commented on his chances of returning back to his home country as well as other options:

"“Last summer I was very close to signing with an NBA team. At the last second, something happened with the team’s salary cap and the deal wasn’t finalized,” the guard continued. “This year, I think my prospects are better… I’m going to wait for the NBA even if I have to risk losing offers from Europe. There is also China, a market that I view seriously, because it gives me the option to play a few months with a very good contract and then be available either for the Euroleague or the NBA.”"

Although it depends who will be coaching this team, I’m sure he’d be a nice fit to the Rockets’ likely continuation of the “three-and-D” scheme as he is a prolific scorer and a decent defender that can get the steal or pluck the passing lanes.

The biggest reason why he’s not in the NBA now is because of his size.

Standing at a mere 6’3,” he is quite under-sized to play his natural position at the “2” guard.

But he wouldn’t have to worry about that here as I’m sure the Rockets would use him in variety of ways.

We’ll have to see how this plays out as we edge closer to the mid-summer.

Delaney, 27, averaged 14.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 30.9 minutes per game in 58 combined games this past season.

Delaney also shot 40.9 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from behind-the-arc and 87.1 percent at the charity stripe.

Next: Rockets Are Interested In Al Horford

He has been quite accomplished winning several Euroleague championships of which most recently with German Bundesliga of the BBL back in 2014.

Go Rockets.

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