Who should get the last roster spot on the Rockets?

Fourteen out of 15 roster spots figure to be secured, leaving just one up for grabs.

The Houston Rockets aren’t a finished product by any means, but as the dawn of free agency has arrived, we pretty much know what the 15-man roster will look like come the start of the 2024-25 season.

After exercising a team option on the last year of Jae’Sean Tate’s contract, Houston is up to 12 players secured and that number will likely be 14 once they do the same with Jeff Green and Jock Landale. The summer has swirled with many trade rumors, but for now, it looks like Houston will be running it back for the most part.

Tate and Landale may not be longterm fixtures for Houston, but for the present, Houston plans to retain their contracts as they will give the Rockets more flexibility down the road should a significant trade become viable.

As it stands, here is the Rockets’ roster:

Center: Alperen Sengun, Steven Adams and Landale.

Forward: Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Dillon Brooks, Cam Whitmore, Green and Tate.

Guards: Jalen Green, Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, AJ Griffin and Amen Thompson.

It can be argued whether Thompson is truly a guard at this point, but that role figures to be what he will slide into down the road.

Houston has a couple of options when it comes to the 15th roster spot. One option is that they can always leave it open and maintain some wiggle room. However, we’ll look at some options should they choose to fill that spot.

The Rockets won’t go on a spending spree this summer and while they may be over the cap, they’re still under the luxury tax meaning they can offer a nearly $13 million mid-level exception.

One familiar face that could fit into that exception is Aaron Holiday, who exceeded expectations for us last year. It may be the easiest solution, but then again, he could have a more lucrative offer elsewhere after his performance in ‘23-24.

Another option is someone vaulting from the Rockets’ Summer League roster, but without the team finalized yet, and with no games played to evaluate, I don’t think that’s a realistic option to explore at this moment.

Some external pieces that I wouldn’t mind adding are Haywood Highsmith, Mo Bamba, and Delon Wright.

Highsmith has proved himself to be a rangy defender, capable of making an open shot for the Miami Heat over the past few seasons, and I think he could find himself a role in the Rockets rotation through sheer grit and determination. He seems like an Ime guy.

Bamba never lived up to the expectations of being a sixth overall pick, but I’d be happy with a guy that shoots 39 percent from three and pitches in a block per game as far as third/fourth centers on the depth chart go.

I also wouldn’t mind carrying another vet like Wright that can run an offense every now and then. Outside of VanVleet, Sheppard and Thompson, Houston doesn’t have another guy that I’d be comfortable bringing the ball up court for large stretches. Jalen Green is capable, but Wright is more refined as a point guard than him.

I have one last “why not” suggestion and it’s James Wiseman. Why not? I know he’s uncoordinated and any hope that he will blossom into what he was once prophesied as is an aberration, but I’d be willing to take a chance on high-pedigree guys whenever I could as long as the price wasn’t too high. Just some food for thought?

How about y’all? Are there any other low-key players in free agency that have come onto your radar?

UPDATE:

Well, that’s that.