2016 NBA Free Agency: 1 move every team needs to make to be contenders

Houston Rockets

How do you fix a problem like the Houston Rockets? After making a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2015, their 2015-16 season (with almost the same roster) completely fell apart. Their head coach was fired just one month into the season and they finished in the eighth seed with a 5 game ousting from the Golden State Warriors in the opening round of the playoffs. Since then Dwight Howard declined his 30 million dollar player option for 2016, and the Rockets are reportedly sending a qualifying offer to Donatas Motiejunas, but not Terrence Jones. In the draft, they took two centers, including the seven-footer Zhou Chi, however, the rookies will be rough and not ready to contend anytime soon.

It’s hard to know how to move forward with Houston. They have a clear superstar with James Harden and some talented role players between Trevor Ariza and Patrick Beverley, but after the chemistry issues they had last season, the case could easily be made to separate the team and try another rebuild. Hopefully with the cap space allowed by Howard’s exit, however, they can try one more go at it with this core.

Still, with Superman gone, the Rockets should try and sign a Howard replacement like Pau Gasol. Pau is a few years too far from his Laker days but still was a double-double machine in Chicago. He’s the kind of veteran leader the team could use to bring everyone together and focus on a title run. Plus, with his value well below that of Howard’s 30 million, they’ll still have cap space to sign another piece like Bismack Biyombo. A second signing like that would send the Rockets well over the cap, but for a team like that, I think they’d be willing to give it one more go.

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