4 Players the Houston Rockets should target in free agency

The Houston Rockets are up against the cap and in desperate need of reinforcements. These are four players they need to target in free agency.

The Houston Rockets are in a salary cap pickle. The salary cap, per Adrian Wojnarowski, is projected to be at $115 million for the 2020-21 season. Barring any trades to shed salary, the Rockets already have $128,310,164 in salary commitments for the upcoming season. They will see that number rise if Austin Rivers exercises his $2.369 million player option.

The number that’s most important to the Rockets is the luxury tax threshold. Projected to be at $139 million, a figure that the Rockets are currently beneath, they need to desperately stay under that threshold if they want to add any free agents.

Per NBA rules, staying beneath the luxury tax increases the amount a team can offer free agents through their mid-level exception. The Rockets have two All-Stars on the back half of their primes, but after an early playoff exit, they still need to add firepower to their roster.

If the Rockets want to contend, they’ll need to find reinforcements in free agency. They only have 10 players under contract and no draft picks this year. However, any free agents they pursue will have to come at a relatively low cost. As great a fit as Serge Ibaka would be, he is definitely going to be outside of the Rockets’ price range. Here are four players the Rockets can realistically target in free agency.

Next: Number 4