The Dream Shake - 2016 NBA Free Agency: Following the Rockets during the free agency silly seasonThe best footwork on the Internethttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/34031/32x32.png2016-07-06T14:13:59-05:00http://www.thedreamshake.com/rss/stream/118411512016-07-06T14:13:59-05:002016-07-06T14:13:59-05:00Rockets sign Nene to bolster big man depth
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<p>Opponents will find the rim a little harder to get to against Houston. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Rockets</a> landed another talented but fragile player today, signing unrestricted free agent center Nene to 1- year, $2.9 million deal.</p>
<p>The Brazilian big man averaged 9.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and half a block per game last season with a 16.36 player efficiency rating in 19 minutes, but only played 57 games. Nene can no longer be counted on to give starter's minutes night in and night out, but he will add rim protection and a solid body to team with center <span>Clint Capela</span> in the rotation. Picking him up for $2.9 million is essentially getting him for free in this cap environment.</p>
<p>Houston landing the 14-year veteran continues the 2016 offseason trend of picking up oft-injured players. The Rockets recently added <span>Eric Gordon</span> and <span>Ryan Anderson</span> as well. That said, you have to applaud GM Daryl Morey for not standing pat after bigger fish like <span>Kevin Durant</span> wouldn't let the Rockets through the door to talk.</p>
<p>At this point, all you can ask for Morey and the Rockets to do is attempt to improve, and it certainly looks like they're trying. Hopefully they can also use some of the money left over from this free agency period to hire the best training staff in the NBA.</p>
<p>This isn't the first time Nene has been wooed in free agency. Four years ago, the Rockets nearly signed him after their deal for <span>Pau Gasol</span> fell through, but he elected to remain with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Nuggets</a>, who thereafter traded him for JaVale McGee. Of course, Nene slighting the Rockets then paved the way for them to add <span>James Harden</span>, so it's water under the bridge.</p>
<p>The signing brings the Rockets' under-contract roster to 13 players. They are:</p>
<p>PG: <span>Patrick Beverley</span>, <span>Andrew Goudelock</span><br>SG: James Harden, Eric Gordon, <span>K.J. McDaniels</span><br>SF: <span>Trevor Ariza</span>, <span>Corey Brewer</span>, <span>Sam Dekker</span><br>PF: Ryan Anderson, <span>Michael Beasley</span>, <span>Montrezl Harrell</span><br>C: Clint Capela, Nene</p>
<p>That leaves one roster spot for second-round pick <span>Chinanu Onuaku</span> and one roster spot for <span>Donatas Motiejunas</span>, who's a restricted free agent. That doesn't leave a roster spot for undrafted free agents Gary Payton II or Isaiah Taylor, either of whom could provide valuable depth at the point. Chances are, another deal — hopefully a trade of a wing for a point guard — will go down before the summer is out.</p>
<p>Welcome to H-Town, Nene. You're part of the family now.</p>
https://www.thedreamshake.com/2016/7/6/12109340/rockets-nba-free-agency-2016-neneAdamSweeney2016-07-06T08:00:03-05:002016-07-06T08:00:03-05:00Free agents the Rockets can still sign
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<p>If the Rockets keep striking out in free agency these are the guys to keep an eye on. </p> <p>Let's be honest fam, free agency so far is not exactly going the way people have expected. For years, the <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rockets</a> have seemingly been waiting for this offseason in order to pitch <span>Kevin Durant</span> to come to Houston and play with his former teammate <span>James Harden</span>.</p>
<p><span>Instead, Durant kicked the Rockets, Harden and the city of Houston in the nuts and didn't even give them a meeting. Teams like the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Thunder</a>, <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Warriors</a>, <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Spurs</a>, <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a>, <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Celtics</a>, and <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Heat</a> were on his wish list and not the Rockets. Fine, whatever Durant, we didn't like you anyway.</span></p>
<p><span>The Rockets then turned their attention to <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hawks</a> <span>Kent Bazemore</span>, and despite rolling out the red carpet and meeting him in Atalanta at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, he left the meeting without a deal and is now staying put with in Atlanta.</span></p>
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<p><span>I thought free agents wanted to play in Houston, isn't that why Mike D'Antoni was hired in the first place? Instead, they are signing all over the place for fat stacks of money. Luckily, the Rockets were able to find a few <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebirdwrites.com/">New Orleans Pelicans</a> wandering the streets of Houston and signed them to a combined $133 million over the next four years.</span></p>
<p>So free agency isn't a total bust anymore! Now depending on moves, the Rockets still have about $9-10 million left to spend if they so choose. When looking at what's left in free agency, Daryl Morey can no longer shop at Target or Whole Foods for ingredients; he has to do so at Dollar General or the $3 bin at Walmart. But just because the Rockets are now shopping on a budget doesn't mean there aren't values to be had.</p>
<p>So you know who the best free agents are... Here are the rest.</p>
<h3><span><b>Smalls</b></span></h3>
<p><span><span>Leandro Barbosa</span> - A combo guard, can run the point but was more of a shooting guard with the Warriors. Reunite him with D'Antoni, 'nuff said.</span></p>
<p><span><span>Isaiah Canaan</span> - Exiled from the Rockets, but it's time to bring him home. He would fit great in the brand new, up-and-down speedball that they want to play. Need someone to jack up shots and run the second unit? Why not Canaan?</span></p>
<p><span><span>Greivis Vasquez</span> - I feel like the Rockets have tried to get him in the past a few times. You won't find a better, cheaper floor general then Vasquez. Had a down year last year and was injured; he's coming off ankle surgery. He's 6-foot-5, but wasn't athletic when he was a healthy college student. Now that he's an NBA veteran with a litany of lower body injuries, his savvy and outside shooting are the only benefits he brings to a team, but the Rockets could use both.</span></p>
<p><span><span>Mario Chalmers</span> - An Achilles injury ended his year last year, but he was a big factor in the <span>LeBron James</span> title runs with the Heat. Very scrappy defender, not sure you need another one if you already have <span>Patrick Beverley</span> on the team. He is a better outside shooter than the Wolverine over the course of their careers, however.</span></p>
<h4><b style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25em;">Bigs</b></h4>
<p><span><span>Amar'e Stoudemire</span> - Why the hell not! He may move like he's stuck in quicksand, but he does know the system and had his best years in it. Vastly differently player now, but D'Antoni could find a use for him. Plus with <span>Dwight Howard</span> now gone, the Rockets have no real muscle at center.</span></p>
<p><span><span>Luis Scola</span> - Scola has completely remade himself playing with the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Raptors</a> and the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pacers</a>. The ice cream man can now shoot from three and he is a very crafty player. Since adding the three to his game he's gotten better every year, last year shooting 40% from deep.</span></p>
<p><span>Marreese Speights</span> - He was instant offense off the bench for the Warriors, able to hit mid-range jumpers and three-pointers and not being terrible on defense guarding backup centers. Sounds exactly like the type of guy the Rockets could use, doesn't it?</p>
https://www.thedreamshake.com/2016/7/6/12086274/the-best-of-the-rest-free-agents-rocketsJosh Reese2016-07-02T20:26:57-05:002016-07-02T20:26:57-05:00Eric Gordon to sign with Rockets
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<p>The Rockets will be Pelicans West. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Rockets</a> went with plan B in free agency. <span>Kevin Durant</span>, <span>Kent Bazemore</span>, and <span>Al Horford</span> off the table the Rockets went all in on shooting to help fill out the roster. The Rockets picked up two <a href="https://www.thebirdwrites.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Orleans Pelicans</a> free agents stretch four <span>Ryan Anderson</span> (his picture literally comes up when you google stretch four) and shooting guard Eric Gordon.</p>
<p>The Rockets brass meet with Gordon the west coast on Saturday to give him their pitch. The Rockets got their man and Gordon will sign a four-year, $53 million dollar contract with the Rockets, per The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski and the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sources: <span>Eric Gordon's</span> deal with the Rockets: Four years, $53M</p>
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/749403112797077505">July 3, 2016</a>
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<p>Feigen notes that both Anderson and Gordon's deal do not have option years, both are straight four-year deals.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">As with Rockets' Anderson deal, its straight four years with Gordon, no options for either.</p>
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/749403904807284737">July 3, 2016</a>
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<p>The Rockets finished fourth in the NBA last season in points per game with 106.5 points per game. The team will lose <span>Dwight Howard</span> and <span>Terrence Jones</span>, who were both inconsistent on offense and most times messed up the flow of the offense.</p>
<p>Houston has now added two quality shooters and offensive minded head coach Mike D'Antoni. It appears the Rockets will attempt to out gun every opponent the team faces on offense while punting defense. That is basically when they did at time during last season with little success.</p>
<p>Anderson fills a nice roll as spot up shooter for the Rockets and Gordon is a nice bounce-back candidate if he can stay on the floor. This also appears that the Rockets made the best of the free agency with the assets left on the table.</p>
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https://www.thedreamshake.com/2016/7/2/12089102/nba-free-agency-eric-gordon-to-sign-four-year-53-million-deal-with-houston-rocketsRyan Dunsmore2016-07-02T18:11:11-05:002016-07-02T18:11:11-05:00Rockets talking with guard Eric Gordon
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<p>The Rockets appears to be attempting to reunite former Pelicans Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson. </p> <p>The gameplan for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a> is to go all out on offense this offseason. Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski and Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen are reporting following the signing of <span>Ryan Anderson</span>, the Rockets are looking at another Pelican freeagent -- <span>Eric Gordon</span>.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rockets meeting with Eric Gordon today, <a href="https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA">@WojVerticalNBA</a> reports. Rockets hope to load up on shooting, guys that know way around New Orleans.</p>
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/749349934797688832">July 2, 2016</a>
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<p><span><span>Gordon, 27, will be entering his ninth season in the NBA. He was the seventh pick in the 2008 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA Draft</a> by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a> and was the major piece sent to New Orleans for Chris Paul. Gordon averaged 15.2 points, 41.8 field goal percentage, 38.4 three-point percentage, 2.7 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 45 games last year.</span></span></p>
<p>Gordon's career average is 16.6 points, 3.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game in 33.9 minutes. Gordon has been a solid player throughout his NBA career but the main thing that has affected him is the injury bug. Gordon has had plethora of injuries most notably right-knee surgery that made him miss much of the 2011-12 season. He has averaged just 44 games per season over his five-year career with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebirdwrites.com/">Pelicans</a>.</p>
<p>Reports are coming in that <span>Al Horford</span> is working to resign with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Hawks</a>, removing him from the table for the Rockets. But the edition of Gordon would basically mean that the Rockets will be pushing all their chips in on the offense. The additions of Gordon and Anderson solidifies the offense, but creates even bigger holes in an already porous defense.</p>
https://www.thedreamshake.com/2016/7/2/12088780/rockets-talking-with-guard-eric-gordonRyan Dunsmore2016-07-02T16:21:04-05:002016-07-02T16:21:04-05:00Ryan Anderson to sign with Rockets
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<p>After missing out on Kent Bazemore, the Rockets sign Ryan Anderson. </p> <p>There hasn't been a long running thought of <span>Ryan Anderson</span> being a perfect for the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Rockets</a> as a stretch four. That idea is no longer a thought but a reality as Adrian Wojnarowski and the Vertical are reporting that Anderson will join the Rockets on a four-year, $80 million dollar contract.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Free agent Ryan Anderson plans to sign a four-year, $80M deal with the Houston Rockets, league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVertical">@TheVertical</a>.</p>
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/749342509948690432">July 2, 2016</a>
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<p>Anderson, 28, is eight year veteran out of the University of California, Berkeley. He averaged 17.0 points, 36.6 three-point percentage, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 66 games last season with the <a href="https://www.thebirdwrites.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Orleans Pelicans</a>. Anderson averaged 13.1 points, 37.7 three-point percentage and 5.6 rebounds per game in his career (484 games).</p>
<p>Injuries have been a question for Anderson he has averaged 64 games over his past two seasons with the Pelicans. He played just 22 games in the 2013-14 season after neck surgery.</p>
<p>Anderson is the classic stretch-four player that will fit well into new head coach Mike D'Antoni's system. Anderson will be improvement over <span>Trevor Ariza</span> and <span>Patrick Beverley</span> for the corner three-point shot. Anderson won't be a net positive on the defensive end, but he's he'll pick up a rebound when ended.</p>
<p>The Rockets have added another offensive weapon for the seven seconds or less offense. <span>James Harden</span> has target for his skip passes across the court.</p>
<p>The question now become where do the Rockets go next? AL Horford is still target No.1. A starting lineup of Beverly, Harden, Anderson, Horford, and Capela looks like a lot of fun to watch. At the moment, Woj is reporting that Boston and Washington are the frontrunners for <span>Horford's</span> services. I don't think a signing of Ryan Anderson sways Horford to change his mind but it can't hurt.</p>
https://www.thedreamshake.com/2016/7/2/12088528/nba-free-agency-ryan-anderson-to-sign-deal-with-houston-rocketsRyan Dunsmore2016-07-02T11:06:05-05:002016-07-02T11:06:05-05:00Rockets meeting with Ryan Anderson
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<p>With their first options not materializing, the Rockets turn their attention elsewhere.</p> <p>It's been a bit of a slow start to the free agency period for the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rockets</a>. First, they missed out on day one target <span>Kent Bazemore</span>, and now it's being reported that after meeting with <span>Al Horford</span>, the big man has instead whittled down his options to Boston and Washington.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sources on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVertical">@TheVertical</a>: Boston and Washington have emerged as frontrunners to sign All-Star forward Al Horford. <a href="https://t.co/uS1t0sTDl6">https://t.co/uS1t0sTDl6</a></p>
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/749257573761777664">July 2, 2016</a>
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<p>So now the Rockets turn their attention to another big man, one they've been long rumored to be interested in, <span>Ryan Anderson</span>. In fact, it's actually being reported that Anderson is meeting with the team literally as I type this.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rockets are meeting with Ryan Anderson now.</p>
— Rockets Social (@Rockets_Social) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rockets_Social/status/749255531533987841">July 2, 2016</a>
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<p>Anderson is far from a perfect player -- he's been a negative defender his entire career, and his career rebounding average of 5.6 certainly leaves something to be desired -- but there's no doubting that the Rockets need better shooters around <span>James Harden</span>, and that's one thing Anderson does exceptionally well.</p>
<p>He's a career 37.7 percent shooter from beyond the arc and averages 2.0 threes per game. He would also be a nice fit in a high-scoring Mike D'Antoni offense.</p>
<p>The 28-year-old is also still in his prime -- his 17.0 points per game last season was the second highest of his career --- and would be able to give the Rockets several seasons at the top of his game.</p>
<p>Anderson no doubt has his faults, but with many of the league's top players heading elsewhere, his premiere shooting would at least give the Rockets some extra offensive punch.</p>
https://www.thedreamshake.com/2016/7/2/12087734/the-rockets-are-meeting-with-ryan-anderson-todayDarren Yuvan2016-07-02T03:56:26-05:002016-07-02T03:56:26-05:00Kent Bazemore snubs Rockets, returned to Hawks
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<p>The Rockets were close but no cigar with Kent Bazemore. </p> <p>While other teams were hunting big fish like Kevin Durant, the Houston Rockets' No. 1 target was the Hawks shooting guard/small forward Kent Bazemore. The team went all in on the defensive specialist, including bringing Hakeem Olajuwon and Cycle Drexler on the trip to recruit Bazemore. Houston also offered top monetary value contract. But in the end, Bazemore decided to return to the Hawks with newly acquired Dwight Howard in tow.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Kent Bazemore agrees to a 4-year, $70 million agreement with the Atlanta Hawks. Player option on the last year, per league source.</p>
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeAScotto/status/749071318260322304">July 2, 2016</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rockets also offered Bazemore four years, $70 million, a person close to Bazemore said. He said Rockets were "really, really close."</p>
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/749078839846793216">July 2, 2016</a>
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<p>Bazemore, 27, went undrafted out of Old Dominion but worked his way to being a fixture with the Hawks. During the 2015-16 season, he averaged 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in 27.8 minutes.</p>
<p>The loss of Bazemore is a major black eye to the Rockets' offseason gameplan. If Houston's full court press for what basically amounts to a secondary player couldn't bring home the goods, what does that mean for Al Horford?</p>
<p>The Hawks don't have space to keep Bazemore, Horford, and Howard. Thus, Horford will be signing with another team. All of the other suitors for Horford will be a level playing field and offer him the max. How exactly are the Rockets tempting if they couldn't even convince Horford's team to come to Houston?</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/status/748985535553605632">The Rockets are taking</a> to Ryan Anderson per Jonathan Feigen, that appears to be plan B for the Rockets. As of right now, the Rockets and fans will have to set their sights much lower in this free agency class.</p>
https://www.thedreamshake.com/2016/7/2/12086980/kent-bazemore-snubs-rockets-returned-to-hawks-on-4-year-70-millionRyan Dunsmore2016-07-01T09:26:03-05:002016-07-01T09:26:03-05:00Lin and Batum are off the table for the Rockets
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<p>The pool of players the Rockets can sign gets thinner by the hour</p> <p id="EEI0Of">Nicolas Batum was <a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2016/6/30/12072560/mike-conley-nicolas-batum-not-meeting-with-rockets">always a long shot</a> for Daryl Morey and the Rockets — if they even ever really wanted him — and his agreeing to a a five-year, $120 million contract with the Hornets just hours after free agency began sealed the deal.</p>
<p id="6GJmxA">But Jeremy Lin was thought to be a simple solution to the Rockets’ point guard depth problem. <a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2016/6/8/11885624/rockets-have-the-inside-track-for-jeremy-lin">Both sides seemed open to a reunion</a>, and Mike Conley’s expected return to Memphis left Lin as arguably the best point guard on the board.</p>
<p id="kqlYdE">Except he’s no longer on the board. Just 10 hours after free agency began, Lin and the Brooklyn Nets have come to terms. Linsanity is back in New York, not in Houston, and the Rockets’ options for adding depth behind, or in front of, Patrick Beverley have thinned.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hearing Jeremy Lin landed a three-year deal worth $36 million from Brooklyn</p>
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/748880208229314561">July 1, 2016</a>
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<p id="ylmIxG">$12 million a year for Jeremy Lin, who turned 28 in August, is an incredibly reasonable contract in this offseason where Batum is signing for $22.5 million a year and Timofey Mozgov, a 30-year-old career-long scrub, is signing four year deals for $16 million per.</p>
<p id="H3FGz5">Good for Lin, whose insane fans made his tenure in Houston insufferable for Rockets fans (on this site in particular) and gave us a bad taste in our mouth by association. It makes sense that he didn’t want to wait out a period of everyone else getting paid, seeing who the Rockets, or other teams that could have vied for his services, would add.</p>
<p id="KFFMs0">But now the Rockets have very few options. Mike Conley remains available, but last word is the Rockets haven’t been able to secure a meeting with him. After that, the options are something like Brandon Jennings, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo and flotsam. Pure flotsam.</p>
<p id="lCJ1z2">At the wing, after Batum and (the obviously-not-coming-to-Houston Kevin Durant), the options are not quite as thin, but still thin. At least there, the Rockets appear to have a plan. They met with Kent Bazemore <a href="http://www.thedreamshake.com/2016/6/30/12076850/kent-bazemore-rockets-meeting-nba-free-agent-rumors">last night</a>, one of the best options on the market — seriously, you guys — and hopefully Morey can close that deal and bring Baze to the Rockets’ meeting with Al Horford today.</p>
https://www.thedreamshake.com/2016/7/1/12078596/jeremy-lin-nicolas-batum-nba-free-agency-rumorsEthan Rothstein