Houston Rockets Free Agency 2017: Let’s pickup Leandro Barbosa
It’s not so much of a secret that the Houston Rockets are in dire need of a backup point guard and I know exactly the man for the job.
Who is that you might ask? The Houston Rockets could go through a laundry list of individuals of who could fill one of the most important slots on this roster — the person who has been anointed as Chris Paul‘s backup. I’m sure that the team has someone in mind but they shouldn’t forget that Leandro Barbosa is now a free agent.
As usual, Adrian Wojnarowski had the scoop on that particular news yesterday:
The Phoenix Suns are waiving guard Leandro Barbosa, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2017
It had been solid run for Barbosa in his third — and likely last — tour of duty with the Phoenix Suns. If he still wants to play — I’m sure he does — he can now choose among the teams that have a need for his services. Will he go back to the Golden State Warriors? Out to the Eastern Conference? I can answer the question in regard to what he needs to do.
This guy needs to suit up in a Houston Rockets’ uniform. With his offensive capabilities still at where they need to be with his defense slightly not as good as it used to be, he’d be a match made in heaven for this team. I wrote about Barbosa at the trade deadline in regard to what it would take to swap for him but now that he’s a free agent, we could possibly get him for the veteran’s minimum. But that’s all contingent on if he wants to come here.
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With what we’re building right now, I’d imagine that he’d want to be a part of what we’re doing which is finding a way to beat the Warriors. That’s what every team with deep pockets is doing right now and I’d certainly put the Rox in that category. Barbosa was fresh off a two-year, $8 million deal that only included $500K guaranteed. The Suns cut him so that way they wouldn’t be on the hook for the $4 million in 2016-17 as well as the rest of the contract.
This leaves an interesting opportunity for the Rockets. As we know, the team is currently over the cap by $16 million. They cannot sign another player without releasing salary first. The team has a ton of non-guaranteed contracts in Ryan Kelly, Shawn Long, Tim Quarterman, Isaiah Taylor and Jarrod Uthoff that they could jettison to move Barbosa into the lineup.
With Barbosa’s 14 seasons under his belt, he’d qualify for the max veteran minimum payment of $2.3 million. Would Barbosa agree to this? I think he could be convinced if the guaranteed money was right for him. Plus he is already familiar with Mike D’Antoni‘s system as his most productive seasons were under his watch. You see, that’s why it’s a match made in heaven and that’s why Daryl Morey needs to make this signing happen.
Of course it won’t be a splash but I’ll be more comfortable knowing that CP3 has a reliable, competent backup in-waiting on the bench. We’ll have to see how this shakes out.
Next: How P.J. Tucker got a deal with no cap space
Barbosa, 34, averaged 6.3 points, 1.2 assists and 1.6 rebounds off 43.9 percent shooting from the field, 35.7 percent from three and 88.9 percent from the charity through 67 games off the bench for the Suns in 2016-17.
Go Rockets.