Houston GM Daryl Morey has yet to hit a home run in this summer’s free agency, with initial target LaMarcus Aldridge spurning the Rockets to sign with the rival San Antonio Spurs. But as Houston enters 2015-16 coming off its first conference finals appearance in 18 years, was a roster overhaul truly essential?
Josh Reese of CBS Radio in Houston (Sports Radio 610) and the Red & Orange Report podcast joins me to discuss that and other takeaways from Houston’s busy first week of free agency, which included failed negotiations with Aldridge and Spanish guard Sergio Llull while successfully retaining swingman Corey Brewer (3 years, $24 million) and point guard Pat Beverley (4 years, $23 million).
Beverley, of course, was one of two injured starters (the other was power forward Donatas Motiejunas) absent for the entirety of Houston’s extended playoff run. Josh helps me break down whether the additions of Beverley and Motiejunas, assuming health, could be enough to compete with other elite Western teams like the Spurs and defending champion Warriors.
OTHER TOPICS EXPLORED:
- Why cap flexibility, rather than cap space, is becoming the new NBA model
- Could Beverley’s deal be one of the steals of free agency thus far?
- Does Aldridge landing with San Antonio put more pressure on the Rockets to upgrade?
- Examining the West’s hierarchy after Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan’s departures
- Why didn’t Spanish guard Sergio Llull make the leap from Real Madrid to the NBA?
- Now that Llull is off the board, Morey appears more intrigued with the PG trade market than those left in free agency. Who are the targets, and what players might he offer to land one?
- Is Josh Smith coming back? Should he? If not, what alternatives are out there?
- Among their FAs, Houston seems to prioritize K.J. McDaniels ahead of Smith. Right call?
Ben DuBose is a veteran sports reporter who has followed the Houston Rockets and the NBA since Hakeem Olajuwon was Akeem Olajuwon. He writes for both SheridanHoops and ClutchFans, and his podcasts with Josh Reese can be found on the Red & Orange Report. You can follow him on Twitter.
Why does DuBose sound absolutely horrible while the other guy that’s being interviewed sounds like he’s in a studio.