Hated NBA rule costs Rockets the opportunity for most fun possible reunion

The Houston Rockets have clearly prioritized defense over the last few seasons. That explains why they've apparently had some interest in reuniting with Patrick Beverley.

Any fan who watched the team during Beverley's tenure knows what I'm talking about. There's effort, and then there's Patrick Beverley. You could have been watching the NBA for 30 years. If you count him as the most dogged perimeter defender you ever watched, that's reasonable. Now, Beverley is saying that he almost signed with his original NBA team this offseason.

Beverley didn't play in the NBA last season, but he did suit up for the Bucks and 76ers in 2023-24. Most fans of those teams would tell Rockets fans that they're not missing much:

Rockets fans will treat that as blasphemy.

Rockets would love to reunite with Beverley

Let's be clear: If Beverley were a Rocket in 2025-26, he wouldn't see much floor time. He would not usurp even Aaron Holiday at this point in their respective careers.

In 2023-24, Beverley averaged 6.2 points per game while shooting 33.7% from three-point range. His defense slipped as well. Beverley still gives 100% on that end of the floor, but at his age, that 100% doesn't go as far as it used to.

That's not the point. The Rockets would be signing Beverley for his veteran know-how. He'd push the young Rockets in practice. He's also likely still a reasonable third-sting point guard. If Holiday were to suffer an injury, Houston would have someone to put on the floor.

So why won't they reunite with Beverley?

Rockets strapped by salary cap

The dreaded first apron strikes again.

Beverley carries a minimum cap hit of $2.3 million. The Rockets have $1.3 million available. Like the author of this article trying to buy an Aston Martin Valhalla, the Rockets are about $1 million short.

This feels like an annoying example of the rigidity of the cap's mechanics. The Houston Rockets would scarcely change their title odds in either direction by signing Patrick Beverley. Perhaps there should be some kind of "fan favorite: Pretty please?" exception that teams can apply for.

Jokes aside, nobody (besides possibly Beverley) should be losing sleep over this. Signing Beverley would be more of a fan service than a meaningful organizational decision. It'd be fun to bring him back, but the Rockets are already built to contend in 2025-26:

Their defense already projects as one of the best in the NBA.