Day: June 11, 2023

The Houston Rockets are well known to be looking at bringing James Harden back home in free agency. Failing that, the Rockets could possibly pursue Kyrie Irving.

If Houston doesn’t land either of their potential star targets, they’ve got several other veteran free agents in their sights. The Rockets have been linked to Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors, Cam Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets, Dillon Brooks of the Memphis Grizzlies, and Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, both of the Milwaukee Bucks.

VanVleet and Middleton are both expected to decline player options for next season to become unrestricted free agents. Brooks and Lopez are both scheduled for unrestricted free agency, barring late extensions. That’s more likely for Lopez than Brooks, who the Grizzlies publicly said they would be moving on from.

Johnson is the lone restricted free agent of that bunch. With nearly $60 million projected cap space, Houston could put together a large offer sheet to try and pry Johnson away from the Nets.

The Houston Rockets project to have nearly $60 million in cap space this summer. That’s the most in the NBA. It’s been widely reported that the Rockets will use a chunk of that space to pursue a reunion with James Harden.

If the Rockets don’t sign Harden, they’ve been linked to a number of other free agents. One prominent player that Houston is considering making a run at is Kyrie Irving.

Irving will be an unrestricted free agent in July, when his contract expires with the Dallas Mavericks. Irving and Dallas are known to have interest in inking a new deal, but Houston could get involved if they miss out on Harden.