The Houston Rockets are heading into a pivotal offseason. With most of their core rotation pieces signed to long-term deals, the Rockets only have a few big decisions to make. Fred VanVleet has a $44.9 million team option, and Steven Adams is hitting free agency. If the Rockets can get VanVleet to sign a longer-term deal for less annual salary and retain Adams on a team-friendly deal, they will feel good about their offseason.
That doesn't mean, however, that the Rockets shouldn't try to be aggressive in free agency and the trade market to try to upgrade their roster. In fact, when June 30 arrives and it's time for teams to begin negotiating with free agents, the Rockets should give a call to one veteran free agent to see if they can lure him to Houston.
Al Horford Should Be at the Top of Rockets' Free Agent List
Al Horford is entering free agency at the age of 39. The veteran combo big is still playing at a high level and was a valuable core piece for the Celtics over the last four years. Jayson Tatum's injury and the looming cap crisis in Boston have complicated Horford's free agency. Considering that the Celtics likely can't offer him significantly more than the veteran's minimum, the Rockets may have a path to acquire the NBA champion center.
During the Rockets' playoff run, the Steven Adams-Alperen Sengun partnership proved to be a highly effective one. Houston dominated the paint against the Warriors, making it obvious that they need to invest in a quality center, whether it is Adams or not.
Horford potentially provides a different element as a versatile defender and a three-point shooter. He is still a highly effective defender who can guard multiple positions, and he can space the floor as a quality shooter. His ability to play power forward next to Sengun can unlock the Rockets' offense even more than Adams' minutes did last season.
Depending on how they handle the rest of their business, the Rockets may have the mid-level exception available to them. The ability to pay Horford more than the Celtics and offering a big role on a contender can lure the five-time All-Star. Plus, he will get a chance to reunite with his former head coach Ime Udoka.
Horford will almost certainly have multiple suitors, and it's not clear whether he will choose the Rockets over other landing spots. Yet, the Rockets can't waste too much time before giving him a call when free agency starts.