Even though they have an open roster spot, the Houston Rockets' roster is set for the 2025-26 season. They are essentially hard-capped at the first salary cap apron, and they don't have enough money left to sign any player, as Rockets insider Jackson Gatlin pointed out on X. This means that Houston will enter the season with 14 guaranteed contracts. While this may initially seem like a disadvantage, considering who the Rockets were allegedly interested in signing to that spot, it is a blessing in disguise.
Patrick Beverley Reveals He Was Very Close to Signing with Rockets
In a recent Twitch stream, former Rockets guard Patrick Beverley revealed that he was about to sign with the Rockets, per BasketNews' aggregation. The 37-year-old defensive stalwart said that he worked out in Houston for a few weeks during the summer, but the Rockets couldn't sign him because of the aforementioned cap space issue.
As a result, Pat Bev remains a free agent. The former All-Defensive First Team member finished last season overseas playing for Hapoel Tel Aviv. He is reportedly looking for an opportunity to return to the NBA, and it sounds like the Rockets were close to giving him that chance before the deal fell through.
Why the Rockets were interested in Beverley, however, is hard to understand. In his prime, Beverley was a great defender. He was an elite trash talker and a pest, thriving in his role in annoying opposing superstars. Based on this role, he enjoyed productive and successful seasons with the Rockets between 2012 and 2017 and the LA Clippers between 2017 and 2021. The prototypical off-ball three-and-D guard carved out an excellent role after being a second-round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft and bouncing around in Europe before returning to the NBA in 2013 with Houston.
Yet, he is no longer that player. The later years of his career saw him become a journeyman who wore out his welcome with the Lakers, Bulls, Sixers, and the Bucks before failing to land an NBA deal in the 2024 offseason. He made the headlines more with his incendiary comments and hot takes than with his on-court play over the last few years. That is not the energy this up-and-coming Rockets team, which is trying to win a championship this year, needs.
Plus, the Rockets really don't need another limited offensive player. They have plenty of elite perimeter defenders, led by Amen Thompson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Tari Eason, and Fred VanVleet, making Beverley extremely redundant. If the Rockets eventually make a move, it should be for a player who will bring more offensive juice and shooting than Beverley. For these reasons, Rockets fans should be grateful that the team didn't push for a Pat Bev reunion more than they already have.