What is the NBA in-season tournament? Format, schedule, groups

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.