7 players the Rockets could add on the veterans minimum

2. Alex Len

The Houston Rockets parted ways with 2014 first-round draft pick Clint Capela during the 2019-20 season and were unable to replace him, from a size standpoint. The Rockets tried to replace Capela with Bruno Caboclo, but the experiment ultimately didn’t work.

At 7-foot-1, Alex Len presents more size than Capela and his 7-foot-4 wingspan is encouraging. Len was a lottery pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and has become a bit of a journeyman, and has played for three teams in seven seasons in the NBA.

Len has career averages of eight points and 6.3 rebounds, and had a solid 2019-20 campaign, as he averaged eight points and 5.9 rebounds on 17.6 minutes, which translated into 16.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per 36 minutes. Len posted a Player Efficiency Rating of 17.7, which is above average, and would give newly hired Rockets coach Stephen Silas the flexibility to operate with a big in the rotation when necessary.

Len is an unrestricted free agent and will surely be signed on the veterans minimum, after a 2019-20 season that didn’t net him many opportunities to contribute. The Rockets would be wise to add the 27-year-old, and especially at a low cost.

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