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Houston Rockets: Will We See A Coup D’Etat Of Sergio Llull?

By Brian K. Patterson

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Here we go again Houston Rockets’ fans.  As we inch closer to the start of the regular season, tough decisions will have to be made in terms of shaping this roster.  Luckily at the moment, a team is allowed to carry more than 15 players that will eventually make the cut.

Here we go again Houston Rockets‘ fans.  As we inch closer to the start of the regular season, tough decisions will have to be made in terms of shaping this roster.  Luckily at the moment, a team is allowed to carry more than 15 players that will eventually make the cut.

Who will make it?  Who won’t?

We’re all going to witnesses to this within the next couple of weeks but it has been a hell of a ride so far.

This offense is exciting to watch — the ball movement has improved to a tee to where I actually have to wonder who’s going to shoot the “J” other than James Harden.

Although I still have my concerns about the defense, I think we’ll be able to compete with the NBA’s best just fine.

Now to contend for a championship would be a different story but Rome wasn’t built in day and it’s going to take this time on this partial rebuild that they’re doing.

You know, life without Dwight Howard is actually going to be fun.

But here’s another development…

Just what am I talking about?

The Sergio Llull talks are starting to heat up again but are they going anywhere?

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It depends on who you ask…

According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Rockets have made it clear that they’d still like to sign the talented but aging guard to a deal and have him in place for the 2017-18 season.

But here’s the sticking point….

Llull, who was under contract with Real Madrid through the 2019 season, recently signed yet another extension through 2021 with a contract provision that increases the buyout from a paltry $5.6 million to a colossal $13.3 million.

Jose Luis Martinez of Marca — a popular Spanish hoops information outlet — has been all over the coverage of these developments over the years.

Damn!

I know the Rockets have a heart out for such a talent but I seriously doubt they’d fork over that much cash to bring him here.

And besides, when I last wrote about this topic during free agency last season, he seems complacent and hasn’t expressed much desire to transition to the NBA.

But the fact that Pablo Prigioni — a good friend of Llull’s and former teammate — is now a Rocket once again it may help somewhat factor into his decision.

But likely very little though.

It has been seven years since the Rockets acquired the former second-rounder rights from the Denver Nuggets.

Each off season has, quite frankly, ended with disappointment as well as the continuance of tabling the issue to to the following season.

Next: Is This Houston Rockets Roster Already Set?

But Rockets general manager Daryl Morey will just have to come to grips with the fact that the window to sign Llull in his prime years is starting to close and the likelihood of it actually happening will be a pipe dream.

With the NBA now in the golden age of escalating salaries and an endless flow of cash from just about every source, I’m sure Morey can just eat that $2.25 million he invested nearly a decade ago.

The Rockets have made that money a million times over anyway.

We’ll have to see how it goes and hope for the best.

Llull, 28, averaged 12.8 points and 4.6 assists in 24 games in Euroleague play with Real Madrid in 2015-16.

Go Rockets.

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