Houston Rockets Rumors: Team in talks with Cavs for Iman Shumpert
The Houston Rockets continue to tear through the nuances of the NBA free agency which started today and they’ve wasted no time in regard to their concern of going all-in for 2017-18.
The latest target by the Houston Rockets is guard Iman Shumpert according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:
Cleveland's in talks with Houston on a deal to move Iman Shumpert to Rockets, league sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/Uym4ZfSwMz
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2017
Is this deja vu all over again from this past February’s trade deadline? Lest we not forget that the Cleveland Cavaliers wanted Patrick Beverley badly and they wanted to include Iman Shumpert to ensure that they were serious about making the deal. The deal ended up falling apart because, at the time, the Houston Rockets were committed to having Bev in uniform, in Houston. It’s quickly how things have changed in the off season as Bev is now with the Los Angeles Clippers in a blockbuster seven-player trade that brought Chris Paul to H-Town.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst goes into detail as far as what Cleveland is looking for if Shumpert is dealt:
Cavs in market to get draft pick & trade exception for Iman Shumpert, which would free $ to sign Kyle Korver and set up future deals.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 1, 2017
As we’ve heard previously, the Rockets are working on trying to secure the services of Andre Iguodala and I honestly think that Eric Gordon could be ponied up for his services to make the money work in a sign-and-trade.
But with Shumpert involved in the talks, this could mean they could be looking for a piece to replace Gordon making this a three-way trade.
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You know Morey does what I like to call “domino” deals where each piece that falls is congruent to the ultimate goal of getting the players he wants. CP3 was the first one to fall and there will be several others, I’m positive of it.
The Cavs also have two trade exceptions worth $6.1 million that will all be expiring by July 15 as well as few a that are up in January. Is it possible that they just want to use them before they expire? Yes because they do hold some value, especially with teams like Cleveland and Houston, who are over the cap.
The advantage of those exceptions is that they don’t count toward the $119 million luxury tax spend for teams who are aggressive buyers in a given market. So are draft picks being discussed in the package as well? I’m sure that they are and it’s quite possible that a deal may be done as if it’s just between the Rox and Cavs, it wouldn’t be that tough to do.
Next: Rockets have met with Andre Iguodala
But if it involves a three-way trade as I proposed previously, it gets more complicated but it’s quite feasible. We’ll have to see how this shakes out. Although not the most talented out there, he’d provide solid offense and defense off the bench while snagging some boards along the way. He could spot start if needed.
Shumpert, 27, averaged 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists off 41.1 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent from behind-the-arc through 76 games (31 starts) in 2016-17.
Go Rockets.