Houston Rockets: Kenneth Faried is a great, cheap signing

The Houston Rockets have been in need of some energy and rebounding help with the absence of their starting center. Can they get just that with the recent signing?

The Houston Rockets have been injury-riddled all year and are feeling that most right now. Clint Capela is going to be out for more than a month and there is a strong lack of big men that play like him on the roster.

That has the potential to change, now. The Rockets are clearing a roster spot to sign veteran energy guy Kenneth Faried. While the team won’t be getting the prime Team USA and Denver Nuggets Faried, he can still help this team out greatly with Capela out for a while. He can also be a solid backup when he returns.

Brooklyn's Kenneth Faried has agreed to a contract buyout with the Brooklyn Nets, clearing the way for him to sign a free agent deal with the Houston Rockets, league sources tell ESPN. Faried expected to be waived on Saturday and clear on Monday.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 19, 2019

This minimum contract is a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Rockets that can really be a great deal. He hasn’t played with a great playmaker since prime Ty Lawson (emphasis on the prime) and now he’ll have two with Chris Paul and James Harden. He’ll be able to catch alley-oops all game long.

Faried wasn’t getting much of an opportunity with the Nets as he didn’t really fit their style of play. Instead, he will come to the Rockets and be a good center that can fill a much-needed void. Hopefully, he can be in uniform Monday against the Sixers.

Clearing the roster spot

There are a few options to get that open roster spot soon before signing Kenneth Faried. One is the most popular, trading Carmelo Anthony. Melo has been taking up a roster spot for quite some time now as the team has been looking to move him somewhere.

I wrote yesterday about the potential of trading him like the Rockets did Michael Carter-Williams, a move for a heavily protected second-round pick and cap relief from Melo’s minimum deal.

Another option that the Rockets don’t want to do is straight up cutting Carmelo. They would prefer to trade him, though, as was said today.

The Rockets will continue to probe for Carmelo Anthony trades to clear roster spot for Kenneth Faried, but have no intention of waiving ‘Melo, league sources tell ESPN. More likely scenario is releasing James Nunnally, who is on 10-day contract.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 19, 2019

That leads to another option presented by Woj: cutting the newly-signed James Nunnally. He was pretty good in his first game with the team, but could find himself once again a free agent soon. Let’s hope that a deal can be made for Melo, especially if he plays well once again tonight against the Lakers.

Faried can be great for the team if he plays to his best ability. He’s hardly had a chance over the past couple of years, but did have a solid 20-10 game against the Bucks this season. Can we see more of the same in Houston?