4 Reasons the Rockets should sign Luc Mbah a Moute

3. Familiar face

The Rockets previously had LMAM during the 2017-18 season, and he had a significant impact on the team. Luc instantly thrived in Mike D’Antoni’s style of play, which was before the Houston Rockets fully embraced the small ball strategy they currently employ.

LMAM played 25.6 minutes per game in Houston and was invaluable for the team. In fact, this was the eighth-most minutes on the Rockets, which is a big deal considering how rare it is for MDA to even play eight players significant minutes.

This was the fourth-highest number of minutes in LMAM’s career and was the most amount of minutes he played in a season in which he wasn’t a starter. It’s proven to be very difficult for a rotational player to earn the trust of Mike D’Antoni and it’s impressive that LMAM was able to do that in his first season in Houston.

Luc isn’t just a familiar face for the Houston Rockets, he’s known around the league as a solid glue guy, with 3-and-D abilities. LMAM has been in the league for 11 years and is a seasoned veteran. Not only that, but LMAM has also been a part of five playoff teams, including the 2017-18 season in which he was a member of the Houston Rockets.

Because of this, LMAM was instantly scooped up during free agency of 2018, when the Rockets decided not to pay him, which had a greater impact than many would have imagined at the time. The LA Clippers ultimately signed him, which reunited him with the franchise for his third season.

The benefit LMAM has in Houston is that the Rockets obviously have the same coach they had when he was here the first time, and he’s already proven that he can fit in with MDA’s style of play.

LMAM’s familiarity with MDA can’t be overstated, considering how many current Rockets players are playing for MDA for the first time in their career, such as Russell Westbrook, Robert Covington, DeMarre Carroll, Bruno Caboclo, and Jeff Green.

Russell Westbrook is an example of how it can be important to have prior chemistry with a coach like D’Antoni, as the Rockets were essentially forced to switch their strategy and style of play midseason in order to maximize his strengths.

Next: No. 2