Rockets' absence from new list is painful reminder of team's free agency history

The Houston Rockets don't have a great track record in free agency. According to a new article, they haven't made one of the 25 best free agent signings since 2000.

That sounds insane. Surely, Houston made just one of those 25 moves. It must be that the article has some bias.

Take a look for yourself. It's hard to name a single Rockets signing that trumps any of the moves named in this article. CBS Sports' Robby Kalland isn't overlooking the Rockets:

They've faltered in free agency.

Rockets have poor history with free agents

The Rockets' best free agency signing since 2000 is unequivocally Dwight Howard. So, that's the mark to beat.

Per CBS Sports, the 25th-best free agent signing since 2000 was the Wizards' signing of Michael Jordan. Shouldn't the Howard signing usurp that move from this list?

It depends on your perspective. The Jordan era in Washington was strange, but it was one of the most memorable periods in the organization's (unfortunate) history. Meanwhile, the Rockets did advance to one Western Conference Finals with Howard, but the team got more dangerous when they parted with the star big man.

Otherwise, the list is unimpeachable. The Clippers' signing of Kawhi Leonard ties the Nets' signing of current Rockets superstar Kevin Durant at 24. Nobody would rank the Howard signing over either of those moves.

Should the Rockets have the 25th-best signing since 2000? Perhaps. That feels like a pedantic point to hang one's hat on. The broader point is that the Rockets' lack of representation on this list says something troubling about their history.

Doesn't it?

Rockets have a proud history despite free agency woes

Part of why this feels unusual is the way the Rockets acquired Chris Paul.

It feels like a free agency acquisition. Paul chose the Rockets, and that matters. Yet, he forced a sign-and-trade to the Rockets. Paul was not a free agency acquisition.

Neither was Kevin Durant, though it surely feels like he wanted to land in Space City. Dorian Finney-Smith was a huge free agent acquisition this summer. He wouldn't crack this list, but his choosing Houston remains encouraging.

So, it's worth noting that the Rockets can't claim one of the top 25 free agent signings of the last 25 years. It's not a death knell to their future title hopes either. Houston is an appealing destination for NBA players, and the fact that they're absent from this list is largely incidental.

Even if it hurts a little bit.