9 Free Agents that could follow Ime Udoka to the Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have effectively been in the midst of a rebuild for three years. It started with the team blowing up their roster in 2020, most notably when they traded James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. But heading into the 2023 NBA offseason, it's become quite clear that the Rockets are tired of losing.

From all indications, the Rockets are a team entering the offseason with the hope of tangibly improving the roster to possibly make a significant move up the Western Conference standings next season. Coming off a 22-win season, the road to competing for a playoff spot in the West won't be easy. Looking at the standings this season, you'd imagine the Rockets would need a 20-win increase in order to be within shouting distance of the Play-In Tournament.

While that may seem unlikely, making a big move or two during the offseason (especially in free agency) could go a long way in bringing that unlikely scenario to fruition. The Rockets may be considered one of the worst teams in the league right now, but with new head coach Ime Udoka now at the helm, it's clear that the path to changing that narrative around the Rockets begins now.

If the Rockets do want to make a big splash in free agency, there will be potential options. And even a few that would make even more sense after the hiring of Udoka. Ahead of the official start of the offseason, we explore nine free agents with a previous connection to Udoka that the team could end up targeting (and perhaps prioritizing) in free agency.

Grant Williams, restricted

The connection: Ime Udoka was on the 2021-22 Boston Celtics coaching staff

If there's one position of priority that the Rockets will have heading into the offseason, it's going to be on the wing. The Rockets need to add more depth on the outside, and likely those that can also defend at a high level. The Rockets won't win many more games next season if they can't improve on the defensive end of the floor - they finished the regular season with the 29th-ranked defensive rating.

One free agent that would meet both of those team needs is Grant Williams. Even though he's a restricted free agent, I believe there's a strong chance that he could end up leaving Boston. There's no guarantee that they'll match any offer he gets in free agency and with as much talent as the Celtics have on the wing, his ultimate absence wouldn't be felt all that much in the long run. In fact, his role with the team has diminished greatly in the postseason.

A bit undersized at 6-foot-6, Williams is coming off a season in which he averaged eight points per game on 40 percent shooting from 3-point range. He's also one of the most versatile defenders in the league.

Josh Richardson, unrestricted

The connection: Ime Udoka was on the 2021-22 Boston Celtics coaching staff

Another free-agent wing that would make sense for the Rockets, especially if they're looking for one on the more veteran side is Josh Richardson. He's only 29-years-old but is quite experienced, dating back to his time with the Miami Heat. Coming off a season in which he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, Richardson is a player that could look for a new start.

Richardson averaged eight points on 38 percent shooting from 3-point range with the Pelicans. If Richardson doesn't get the free-agent interest that he believes he deserves, I wouldn't be surprised if he decided to sign a one-year prove-it deal with a team that he'll know he'll be able to play an expanded role with.

Perhaps that can be with the Rockets. Richardson would add depth to the team's backcourt and could be a calming force in the locker room. Considering that there's no guarantee that the Rockets will address the backcourt in the NBA Draft, finding a veteran guard in free agency would help the team heading into next season.

Richardson is the type of veteran two-way player, who isn't ball-dominant by any means, that the Rockets should be looking to add in free agency.

Alec Burks, team option

The connection: Ime Udoka was part of the 2019-20 Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff

Another possible veteran option for the Rockets is Alec Burks, who has quietly been one of the better 3-point shooters in the league over the past four seasons. This past season in Detroit, Burks averaged 13 points and three rebounds on 41 percent shooting from 3-point range. If the Rockets are hoping to add a few veterans this offseason in an attempt to make a run at the playoffs, Burks would be a great target.

He's a professional shooter at this point in his career and knows how to play his role to near perfection. More than anything, with as talented as the Rockets are, those are the type of free agents that the team should be targeting as well. The big question is whether or not he's going to hit the free-agent market.

Burks has a team option for next season and considering how good of a shooter he's been recently, there's probably a high chance that the Pistons end up keeping him for the final year of his contract. But in the event that Detroit is looking for more financial flexibility, maybe they do end up declining his option.

If they do, the Rockets should be one of the teams interested.

JaMychal Green, unrestricted

The connection: Ime Udoka was part of the 2014-14 San Antonio Spurs coaching staff

If the Rockets are looking for a veteran big to play alongside Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun, JaMychal Green could emerge as an option. He didn't get much run during the regular season with the Golden State Warriors this season and even less so once the rotation has been cut short in the playoffs. It's very likely that he's going to end up pursuing other opportunities in free agency this offseason.

At 32-years-old, he is a veteran option at the power forward position that could be useful for such a young team. He's a quality rebounder and can stretch the defense to the 3-point line - he averaged eight points and four rebounds on 38 percent shooting from 3-point range this past season in Golden State.

He may not play a priority position but he could be a player that Houston decides to take a flyer on, simply based on the experience he's had throughout his career in the league. If nothing else, he's a name to keep an eye on once the bigger moves of free agency are in the book.

Cory Joseph, unrestricted

The connection: Ime Udoka was part of the San Antonio Spurs coaching staff during 2012-15 seasons

With a need at the point guard position, even if they drafted one of the highly-touted lead guards in this year's NBA Draft class, it would be smart if the Rockets looked to add one veteran option in free agency. One player that would make sense for the team is Cory Joseph, who could be good as a spot starter or as a leader off the bench for the Rockets.

Joseph played with the Pistons this past season but played a minimal role due to the young players that the team was trying to develop down the stretch. Neverthless, even at this point in his career, Joseph could be viewed as a valuable asset. And as an unrestricted free agent, he could be in play as a cheaper veteran option for a team like the Rockets.

Again, Joseph is unlikely to be a priority for the Rockets but could emerge as a target as they look to fill out their roster later during the offseason. Joseph is coming off a season in which he averaged seven points and four assists on 39 percent shooting from 3-point range.

Bruce Brown, player option

The connection: Ime Udoka was on Brooklyn Nets coaching staff during 2020-21 season

Bruce Brown has been one of the most overlooked players in the success of the Denver Nuggets this season. He's been a key part of the team's bench unit, averaging 11 points and four rebounds per game on 36 percent shooting from 3-point range this season. And he's carried that over into the playoffs for the team.

Over the course of his young career, Brown has played an impactful role at every stop. Even though he was a second-round pick, Brown has carved out a nice role for himself in the NBA. Considering that he's in the midst of the best season of his career thus far, it's hard to imagine him not declining his player option for next season and rolling the dice on securing the first big payday of his career.

Brown is the type of do-it-all glue player that every team needs. And if the Rockets are going to be looking to make a jump next season, he's the exact type of winning player that would help the team accomplish what they want. Plus, Brown is still just 26-years-old and may not have even reached the ceiling of his potential.

As a non-bird rights player, the Nuggets may not be able to afford Brown this summer. If that does end up being the case, the Rockets are a team that should keep that option option.

Matisse Thybulle, restricted

The connection: Ime Udoka was part of the 2019-20 Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff

Keeping with the theme of the Rockets targeting young players with untapped potential, one free-agent target that could emerge for them is Matisse Thybulle. He's been an underwhelming player through the first few years of his career but does have the skill set to be a capable 3-and-D rotation player.

And after being traded from Philadelphia to Portland at the NBA Trade Deadline, Thybulle did show a little more promise. During his 22 games played in Portland, he averaged seven points and four rebounds on 39 percent shooting from 3-point range. The big question is, was that enough for the Blazers to want to invest in him further?

Considering that he's a restricted free agent, I'd have to imagine that the Blazers are going to let him scour the market and let him price himself out. He's not likely going to see a big payday but young, emerging teams such as the Rockets should be interested.

He would give the Rockets another versatile wing that would immediately help on the defensive end of the floor. And if he does get to a point where he grows into a more consistent offensive player, he could grow into a meaningful role for the rebuilding Rockets down the road.

Lonnie Walker IV, unrestricted

The connection: Ime Udoka was on the San Antonio Spurs coaching staff when Lonnie Walker IV was drafted

Heading into the offseason, it'll be interesting to see what the free-agent market for Lonnie Walker IV ends up looking like. He had a solid regular season for the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 12 points on 45 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent shooting from 3-point range. However, his role on the team has been massively reduced since the NBA Trade Deadline (in which the Lakers acquired basically an entirely new supporting cast).

He hasn't played much in the postseason and that's unlikely to change short of injury. Walker is still only 24-years-old and will be an unrestricted free agent with the freedom to sign with whatever team he wants. Considering how much his role has been reduced in recent months, I find it unlikely he's going to re-sign in LA.

That opens the door for a young team such as the Rockets. If Houston is looking for another young player that could play on the wing that has shown some promise through his young career, Walker could be a viable option.

He's young enough where he would grow alongside this team's young core and being on the coaching staff that drafted him, Ime Udoka should have all the information he needs about Walker.

James Harden, player option

The connection: Ime Udoka was on Brooklyn Nets coaching staff during 2020-21 season

Generally in the NBA, where there is smoke, there's a fire somewhere nearby. And I don't think it's a mere coincidence that James Harden has been linked to the Rockets multiple times in the past couple of months. At this point, I believe it would be surprising if Harden didn't play for the Rockets again at some point before the end of his career.

The question is, will that happen this summer? Harden has a player option for next season but either way, whether he wants to test free agency or not, I believe he's going to decline that option. He's going to get a new deal and possibly the last big contract of his career this offseason. And depending on how this postseason run ends for the Sixers, I believe that a decision on where he signs possibly his last long-term deal will come down to Philly or Houston.

The big question that the Rockets' front office needs to figure out is whether throwing a big-money deal at Harden this summer would be worth it. He'd immediately help with ticket sales, there's no question about that, but would he make this team 20 wins better? And, perhaps most importantly, would he help this team's young core develop quicker or would he stunt it?

Even if Harden is in play for the Rockets, I don't believe it's that easy of a decision.