The Houston Rockets missed out on the big names in free agency this summer, but the team still could make a splash with a Rajon Rondo trade or a Goran Dragic deal later in the season and this comes as the team is considering adding Francisco Garcia on a free agent deal after missing out on top names like Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the team is talking with Francisco Garcia about coming back and he could be a very solid addition to the bench. ESPN.com writer Marc Stein wrote that the team may look at a big move after missing out on Melo and Bosh and Rajon Rondo could be a target. Daryl Morey has long coveted Rondo and he would be a massive upgrade and could make a big three for Dwight Howard and James Harden.
The Rockets had a very good season last year and while they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, the team still won over 50 games and ranked in the top two of the league in offense. The team has Dwight Howard and James Harden and that will keep them in the mix, but they lost Chandler Parsons and that could be a big hit for the team even if they won't admit it. Daryl Morey allowed Parsons to leave without matching his offer sheet with the Mavericks and now the Rockets are hoping new signing Trevor Ariza can help make up some of that production.
The team signed Ariza to a four year deal and that came after the team missed out on all the bigger names, including Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh on the free agent market. Ariza comes in after having a solid season with the Wizards and he averaged 14 points and six rebounds and now he is in on a four-year, $32 million contract. The Rockets also signed European forward Kostas Papanikolaou after acquiring his draft rights last year and he could be another player that helps replace Parsons.
Last season the Rockets were one of the best offensive teams in the league, but their defense was lacking and that is one area they need to pick up this year. The team lost Omer Asik by trading him to the Pelicans and while Howard played where he played for the most part, Asik still is a great shot blocker and rebounder. The team was ranked second in the league in scoring last season while winning 54 games, but they were just 23rd in points allowed and now they need to shore that up.
Howard was the top rebounder and Harden led the team in scoring and assists and one area they could improve at is point guard. Patrick Beverley is a fine player, but he is no Rajon Rondo and now that Jeremy Lin is gone, Morey could look at making one of those big moves. Dragic has a team friendly contract and he was on the Rockets previously and if the Suns have trouble signing Eric Bledsoe, he could end up in the mix after they signed Isaiah Thomas.