The Houston Rockets missed out on big name free agents this summer, but they are aiming high for 2016, as Kevin Durant will be the main target and the team feels it has an edge, as former teammate James Harden may take the lead role in recruiting Durant to join Dwight Howard and him to form a Big 3 after the two previously played in Oklahoma City with the Thunder.
Durant is injured right now, but he is expected to be back to full strength in a couple of months and that will be big for the Thunder if he can come back quickly. According to Pro Basketball Talk, once Durant hits free agency in 2016 he will have plenty of suitors and one team that thinks they have an inside edge is the Houston Rockets. Many think that Durant realistically could leave if OKC doesn't win a title in the next couple years and the reports says that the Rockets may look at adding major free agents in the next two summers, including Durant.
The inside edge for the Rockets would reportedly be James Harden, as the team thinks that he could be used as the "lead recruiter" in getting Durant to come to Houston. Durant and Harden played together in Oklahoma City before Harden was traded to the Rockets and now the team is hoping for a reunion. Some reports have said that Durant will also consider the Knicks and the Washington Wizards as options, while others have argued that he won't leave Oklahoma City. The Rockets feel they have a chance because of Harden, while the Knicks feel having Derek Fisher will help after he played with Durant in OKC.
The Rockets come into the season after losing in the playoffs to the Portland Trail Blazers and they were upset despite having home court advantage in the first round series. The Rockets have missed out on free agents over the past few seasons, with Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony all opting not to sign there. Durant would be the next big name that the team could go after and that may come after the team targets Rajon Rondo and Greg Monroe this summer. The Rockets have James Harden and Howard and they would like to add a third star as well.
The Rockets are hoping that losing Chandler Parsons doesn't hurt too much and over the next two seasons they plan on adding more in free agency. Durant is the ultimate prize and the team also will be going hard after Rajon Rondo. Daryl Morey has long liked Rondo and with Jeremy Lin gone, the team is ready for a new point guard and Rondo could be the target.
