The Houston Rockets were one of a number of teams that missed out on LeBron James this summer when the best player on the planet ultimately decided to return home to Cleveland. Now that LeBron is likely to remain with the Cavaliers for the rest of his career, the Rockets could be turning their attention to the guy many feel is the second-best player in the league — Kevin Durant.
After missing out on LeBron and Chris Bosh, the Rockets decided to sign Trevor Ariza in hopes that his defense would give the team a boost. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, Houston GM Daryl Morey is still looking to add a third superstar to pair with Dwight Howard and James Harden. Given the history between Harden and Durant, might the Rockets have a shot?
The Rockets are widely expected to take a step back this season, thanks to all the depth they squandered on the Bosh dice roll, but they expect to have significant salary-cap room next summer — when they can chase point guards as accomplished as Goran Dragic and Rajon Rondo if they choose — as well as in the summer of 2016.
Which is when, sources say, they’d like to give Harden an opportunity to serve as Houston’s lead recruiter in the pursuit of a free agent named Kevin Wayne Durant.
The NBA announced a new television deal this week that is reportedly worth $2.66 billion annually. That is going to lead to an increase in the league’s salary cap and may even result in the extinction of the max contract. Should that happen, the Rockets will have all kinds of money to spend when Durant becomes a free agent in 2016. Assuming the Oklahoma City Thunder still haven’t won a championship by then, KD may feel that Houston gives him the best chance to win a title.
