Rockets' final roster spot leaves door open for one last offseason splash

The Houston Rockets have almost assembled their roster for next season. NBA teams are allowed to carry 15 players on standard contracts, along with three additional two-way contracts. Houston currently has 14 players signed to standard deals and two players on two-way contracts. So, have we seen all of the Rockets' major moves this offseason?

It has been a relatively quiet offseason for Houston. The Rockets signed veterans Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic, extended Tari Eason, and drafted Bruce Thornton.

Those under-the-radar moves, combined with a healthier roster, should help Houston build on last season's 52-win campaign. But is there another move Houston could make to take this team to another level?

Another veteran signing in free agency

There are still impact veterans that the Rockets could attempt to lure to Space City. Gabe Vincent or Jordan Clarkson could provide additional scoring in the backcourt if the team feels Bruce Thornton is not ready to contribute meaningful minutes. Nick Richards or Jonas Valanciunas could also fill backup center minutes.

Any of those players, or another low-cost veteran still on the market, could help Houston. These are not necessarily game-changing additions, but bringing in another veteran with playoff experience to this young locker room could prove valuable.

A trade on the horizon?

Many NBA fans have been wondering if this front office is ready to make a blockbuster deal. Houston is caught between two timelines. Its top eight players are either 25 or younger (Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., and Reed Sheppard) or 32 or older (Kevin Durant, Steven Adams, and Fred VanVleet).

Ideally, the front office should combine its draft assets with some of its veterans to acquire a young piece for the future. A sign-and-trade for someone like Peyton Watson or Bennedict Mathurin could be a realistic path to that outcome. Both players will be entering their age-24 seasons and would give Houston a young two-way contributor who fits its long-term timeline.

Alternatively, if Utah ever became willing to discuss Lauri Markkanen, that would be an extremely enticing option for Houston. Markkanen recently turned 29 and would give the Rockets an elite shooter and frontcourt scorer who could eventually take over Kevin Durant's role if Houston decides to move on from the future Hall of Famer.

The most likely outcome is that the front office stays quiet and fills its final roster spot with a standout player from NBA Summer League. But eventually, Houston will need to cash in some of its trade assets if it wants to become a true contender.

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