The Rockets blundered by letting key free agent slip to conference rival

The Houston Rockets have a lot going for them.

They've got an excess of young talent - an embarrassment of riches. The Rockets have so many young players with high upside that it's impossible to imagine how their future will look.

They've got a hardnosed head coach who is instilling a defensive culture. Ime Udoka is a born leader. He will not accept anything less than complete effort from his squad, and those talented young players are growing as a result.

That's not to say this team isn't lacking anything. The Rockets need to improve their shooting. In the three-point era, last season's 35.2% three-point shooting (23rd in the NBA) on 36.0 attempts per game (12th) won't cut it. The volume was solid, but without accuracy, the result was a fairly anemic offense.

So, if one of the best shooters in the NBA was available at a (presumably) low cost, you'd think the Rockets would pounce. Yet, Doug McDermott is officially a member of the Kings.

Why?

Did Rockets pass on McDermott?

Could it have to do with Udoka's defensive principles?

McDermott is undeniably weak in that area. There's no denying it. It's possible that Udoka vetoed adding him to the squad.

It's also worth noting that the terms of McDermott's agreement with the Kings have not been released. It is conceivable that he's making more than the veteran's minimum - but it's unlikely. If there was a market for McDermott on a larger deal, it wouldn't have taken him this long to sign a one-year deal.

It also takes two to tango. It could be that the Rockets contacted McDermott, and he wasn't interested in joining the team. With so many talented young players on the squad, he may not have seen the same rotational role for himself that he sees in Sacramento.

Yet, that logic also feels shaky. The Kings just added DeMar DeRozan. They roster Keegan Murray, Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter. Even Trey Lyles may see more time on the floor than McDermott.

So, McDermott's defensive limitations seem to be the most likely culprit. Should that have been enough to keep him out of Space City?

Rockets let a key free agent slip away

No.

McDermott didn't need to see heavy minutes for the Rockets. He needed situational minutes. The luxury of being able to plug an elite shooter into lineups on a per-need basis could have elevated the games of several Rockets players.

Now, he'll be elevating the Kings instead. They're one of the Western Conference teams who should be in the Rockets' tier in 2024-25. Now, they've got a slight leg up on them. The Rockets didn't only miss out on McDermott - they let a key rival get stronger.

Full transparency - I am not privy to the logistics of NBA free agency. It's possible that the Rockets tried and failed to sign McDermott, or that he doesn't factor into a more complex long-term plan. Still, unless McDermott explicitly turned the Rockets down, it's hard to imagine why the Rockets wouldn't make a run at him. This team doesn't need much:

But they sure do need shooting.