As roster cuts loom in Atlanta and Charlotte, Houston could bolster its front court depth by targeting affordable young talents or seasoned veterans like Grant Williams.
The Houston Rockets have signed multiple non-guaranteed contracts, meaning they can still choose to go after different free agents if they want. There’s obviously players still on the market, but some teams need to make roster cuts too. Even more guys are expected to become available soon, so let’s look at some realistic possibilities.
Atlanta Hawks:
The Hawks were already going to have to make a roster cut, and it was looking like it would have to be Mohamed Gueye. He’s making $2.406 million next season, and just got foot surgery on July 14th, per CBS Sports. Even though he’ll likely miss the start of the year, it could be a solid snag for the Rockets front court depth.
In order to part ways with the top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Atlanta brought in two more players. They’ll now have to make two roster cuts, and Ryan Nembhard’s $2.151 million contract makes him a prime candidate to be waived. I’m clearly leaning towards the big man over another small guard.
Charlotte Hornets:
This is another team that’s made significant changes this offseason, and one of their minor moves has potential to be moved again. Dorian Finney-Smith is a familiar name to Houston fans, but don’t worry, he can’t come back any time soon. Unless he’s traded again and waived by another team, he can’t sign with the Rockets.
Pat Connaughton, on the other hand, seems like a more likely player for them to waive. While he stuck around for the good vibes more than his production on the court, his $3.815 million is expendable. Not my top pick, but could fit positionally and offer some shooting.
Moussa Diabate would be a stellar pickup, right in the same mold as Mo Gueye. Skinny and undersized, so maybe more suited as power forwards, but still tenacious on the glass. His $2.461 million makes him super valuable, but that’s also why it’s hard to imagine Charlotte letting him walk.
Grant Williams is making $14.265 million and would surely like to pocket every cent of that. Who wouldn’t? There’s a chance he could agree to a buyout, though, or at the very least be waived. I wouldn’t be surprised if Houston had an interest if that happened, given his prior relationships with Ime Udoka and Marcus Smart.
Conclusion:
It’s important to note that players from any given team could be waived and picked up for cheap in the coming weeks, or months. Some of the guys mentioned could even be thrown into trades to appease the roster mandates, as unlikely as it might seem in certain scenarios.
These are just some very likely candidates to hit the free agent marker soon, given the state that rosters are in at this time. Nobody stands out enough for Houston to get rid of one of the non-guaranteed contracts, but stay tuned in for more possible moves as the summer progresses.
