The Houston Rockets are expected to be active in free agency this offseason and players like Rajon Rondo, LaMarcus Aldridge, Jeremy Lin and Greg Monroe are potential targets and this comes as the team would like to bring back Patrick Beverley as a free agent but if he doesn't return, a Ricky Rubio trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves is also an option.
The Rockets had a very good season last year and made it deep into the playoffs with James Harden leading the way, but they have a number of issues on the roster. Daryl Morey said at the end of the season that the point guard position would be a concern and that the team was interested in bringing back Beverley. According to Marc Stein at ESPN.com, Beverley said that he is a "loyal guy" and that the Rockets are the "ideal situation" for hi moving forward.
Beverley is a restricted free agent after extending him a qualifying offer and according to Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times, the team is "determined" to keep Beverley in free agency. Beverley averaged 10.1 points and three assists last season and he missed part of the end of the year with an injury. Beverley is reportedly a target for the Knicks and he could be a fit for the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings, according to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News.
Deveney writes that the Knicks have "major interest" in Beverley and that Beverley could be a target for the Mavericks with the team likely letting Rajon Rondo walk after a bad run in Dallas following his trade. Marc Stein at ESPN reported that on the first night of free agency, Beverley had calls from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks. According to the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets are "probably likely" to try and keep their own free agents over making major deals with players on the market.
The Rockets are reportedly working on trying to keep Beverley and they also have concerns with unrestricted free agents Josh Smith, Corey Brewer and Jason Terry. The team could look very different next season depending on how those deals work out and if Beverley is out, Ricky Rubio could be a trade target. Chris Mannix at SI.com reports that Rockets could be interested in Rajon Rondo or Jeremy Lin Beverley is signed by another team and they don't match. The Kings also are interested in the trio of players and could sign one of them to take over as their starting point guard.
Darren Wolfson of KSTP Minneapolis reported last week that the Rockets "are interested in acquiring" Rubio in a deal with the Timberwolves. The Rockets have been interested in adding a point guard if they lose Beverley and after the Wolves took Tyus Jones and Zach LaVine in the draft the past two years, Rubio could be gone. Rubio has had interest in the past in trades and RealGM reports that the team would be willing to make a deal "for the right price." Rubio played in 22 games last season and averaged 10 points and eight assists per game.
