4 Free agents the Houston Rockets should avoid at all costs this summer

1. Nicolas Claxton

There's a temptation to try to steal Claxton away from the Nets. The Rockets own their picks through to 2027, so any move that makes them weaker makes the Rockets' assets stronger.

Moreover, Claxton is a prototypical modern defensive big. His ability to defend in space while also protecting the rim is rare. We'll ask the same question that we asked about Russell - why not, exactly?

We'll also give the same answer - money. Claxton is going to be one of the most expensive free agents on the market. He doesn't match the direction that the Rockets are heading in, either.

Alperen Sengun was the team's best player in 2023-24. Why sign a high-end player at his position? If the Rockets want a defensive big, they should draft one at a fraction of the cost.

Otherwise, Sengun could be the next star to request a trade.