Could the Rockets sign LeBron James this summer?

Maybe LeBron staying in Cleveland or going to Los Angeles aren’t the only options on the table.

This summer the best basketball player on the planet is going to be a free agent. The free agent class of 2018 is already loaded with names like Paul George, Chris Paul, and DeMarcus Cousins. All those guys are All-Star caliber players, but LeBron James trumps all.

James can opt out of his contract this summer, and a lot of people seem to thing that James going to L.A. is a foregone conclusion, and every time he buys more property there that assumption grows even stronger. Others believe that if Dan Gilbert were to get on the same page as James, and James believes they can win he’ll stay in Cleveland. Really we don’t know what he’ll do, but there’s one team that could find their way into the mix.

The Houston Rockets are reportedly trying to find their way into the mix of the LeBron James sweepstakes. The Lakers have the best pitch that doesn’t actually involve basketball. The Sixers have Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. But the Rockets have something neither of those teams have. They have James Harden. Not to mention a coach who if not for for Greg Popovich could have multiple titles.

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As it stands the Rockets currently have no cap space, but they only have eight guys signed past this season. Chris Paul’s contract expires after this season, but I’m sure he would either take a pay cut or sign one-year plus an option contract. Even if the Rockets weren’t able to bring back Paul the duo of James Harden and LeBron James with Mike D’Antoni is a nightmare for any team they face.

Regardless of who is in the running to sign James he ultimately controls everything. If he so chooses he could go to Philadelphia and shock everyone. The Western Conference is already loaded, but adding James would take things to another level.