Houston Rockets Rumors: Why the team wants to acquire Brandan Wright

The Houston Rockets are now two days past the trade deadline, they’ve done absolutely nothing and I’m actually thankful that they did. I had a feeling that they’d be active on the buyout market and rumors are swirling in regard to the signing of veteran power forward/center Brandan Wright? What’s the latest?

The Houston Rockets are a complete team from top to bottom but there’s always room for improvement. Although the core group of guys in relatively set for the rest of the season as well as the stretch run into the playoffs, there are a plethora of ways that the team can bolster their roster from the corners.

The team still lacks a viable fourth option in terms of a big man to block shots and nab rebounds as well as rim-protect. At this moment, Clint Capela, Nene Hilario, P.J. Tucker and Tarik Black are holding it down but another add would help make this roster even more competitive than it already is.

According to the latest rumor reported by Yahoo Sports scribe Shams Charania, the Houston Rockets have their eyes set on Brandan Wright once he’s bought out from his contract:

Sources: After he completes Memphis buyout, Brandan Wright plans on deal with the Houston Rockets for the remainder of the season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 10, 2018

Wright is a viable option in the paint. The 6’10,” 210-pound, 13-year veteran will be turning his compass toward H-Town after spending the last three seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are looking like they are wanting to go into full-tank mode so it makes no sense to carry additional salary that they don’t need.

Wright is on the final year of a three-year, $17.1 million deal he signed with Grizz ahead of the 2015-16 season. He was set to make about $6 million this season which should be a relatively meager buyout for the team to execute.

The Grizzlies had $111 million committed to salaries this season, which is definitely over the cap

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of $99 million but just slightly below the luxury-tax line of $119 million. Wright was the fifth-highest paid player behind JaMychal Green, Marc Gasol, Chandler Parsons and Mike Conley.

Coincidentally, this is why the buyout market is so fruitful for teams looking to add that impact player for their stretch run as well as those clubs who want to shed salary. If this report turns out to actually happen, it will be nothing but a boon for the Houston Rockets.

He can still defend around the rim well, as well as command a rebounding presence with some shot-blocking being an important trait of his repertoire.

There’s not a lot of minutes to share but I think Mike D’Antoni can squeeze at least 10 minutes out him per game to help our guys get a rest when most needed. He had been averaging 13.6 minutes per game with the Grizz so I’d expect a similar role with the Houston Rockets.

Next: Another possible move the team will make post-deadline

Wright, 30, is averaging 5.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 57.6 percent from the field through 27 games — one start — this season.

Go Rockets.

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