The Houston Rockets have a major decision to make this offseason and it isn't regarding a Kevin Love trade or signing Carmelo Anthony, as Chandler Parsons can become a restricted free agent this year if Houston doesn't pick up his contract option or an unrestricted free agent in 2015 and this choice is huge and could affect if the team trades Omer Asik or Jeremy Lin, as teams like the Miami Heat, LA Lakers, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and NY Knicks could be interested in signing Parsons.
Parsons has developed quietly into one of the best young players in the NBA and as a second round pick that doesn't always happen, which is one reason why the Rockets want to hold onto Parsons. The team likes Parsons and his value so much that they balked at a trade with the Boston Celtics last season that would have given the team Rajon Rondo and sent Asik up north because they did not want to put Parsons in the deal. The situation is a tough one for the Rockets, as they want to keep Parsons, but know they need to trade Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik to have any chance at getting Kevin Love or Anthony.
According to SI.com, if the team wants to get one of those players, they have to trade either Lin or Asik because of their high salaries. Teams could be more willing to take Asik or Lin since their contracts are expiring, but no one wants to take that money without getting a player like Parsons too and if it's for Love or Rondo, there's no way Parsons won't be asked for. The Rockets can get Parsons for great value next season with a $964,750 salary, but that means he will be a free agent in 2015 and that could lead to his departure since he will be unrestricted.
The Rockets have the power to match any offer if Parsons is made a restricted free agent, but the tough part is that the team needs to make the choice by June 29 and that is before the free agency period begins. Parsons likely will command $9 million on the market when he is a free agent and the Rockets now need to plan around what they do with his contract. The team will have more money if Lin and Asik are off the books in 2015, but if the team wants to go after a big name free agent, they could risk losing Parsons.
The players are close to $15 million next season and that should lead to trades of either Lin or Asik and heading into the offseason the Rockets feel they are just one or two moves away from being a championship contender. The team played well this season and then faltered in the playoffs against the Blazers and now Dwight Howard and James Harden come back next season looking to get even better. The Rockets have major moves to make and they all stem from Parsons, including any chances of getting LeBron James, Carmelo or Kevin Love and that should make for an interesting summer for Daryl Morey.