An ideal Rockets target is suddenly available

The Houston Rockets do not need major changes to their roster.

At 17-8, they could justify maintaining the status quo. This team is exceeding expectations. A blockbuster trade is likely off the table. Even a more marginal move will have to be clearly advantageous for Rafael Stone to pull the trigger.

Free agency is a different story. Adding an available player doesn't cost any assets. Moreover, anyone currently on the market is likely to accept a minimum. They'll be content with a "prove it" deal to re-establish themselves as NBA players if nothing else.

Granted, most guys on the waiver wire are not needle movers. Still, there could be players available who could give the Rockets' rotation a boost.

One of them just hit the open market.

Rockets should look at newly available player

The Pistons just unceremoniously waived Paul Reed.

B-Ball Paul? Really? Well, the Pistons have a lot of young talent in the frontcourt. They need to continue to develop Jalen Duren, and Isaiah Stewart is a more impactful player than Reed. The Pistons were only finding 10.4 minutes per game for Reed.

Perhaps the Rockets won't find much more. That shouldn't keep them from adding Reed. At full strength, the Rockets may not have much room for him.

How often does an NBA team remain at full strength throughout an entire season?

Here's looking at you, Steven Adams. It's not the veteran big man's help that he's been regularly unavailable in 2024-25, but it's a concern. Meanwhile, Reed would likely be a more effective backup 5 than Jock Landale.

He also fits snugly into Ime Udoka's culture. Reed is a consistently effortful defender. He's never had a negative Defensive Box Plus/Minus (DBPM) in his career, and he's hit a highwater mark of 2.9 twice.

Sure, he's a flawed player. That isn't breaking news - he's just been waived.

(By the Detroit Pistons no less).

At 6'9", Reed is a "tweener". He's a functional small ball 5, but only against certain matchups. Reed also has an issue with committing fouls, and he's not a widely respected floor spacer.

Those all feel like inconsequential problems. Reed doesn't need heavy minutes - that covers both the size and foul reservations. As for his shooting, he is hitting a respectable 36.4% of his 0.9 threes per game in 2024-25. Reed isn't an elite shooter, but he's servicable enough. The Rockets don't need him:

But they could certainly find a use for him.