The Houston Rockets are coming into the offseason ready to make moves and a trade for Rajon Rondo or a deal with Carmelo Anthony will be the focus for GM Daryl Morey after getting eliminated from the playoffs and names like Omer Asik, Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons could be on the move if the team opts to try and build a Big 3 for Dwight Howard and James Harden.
The Rockets played very well this season and were one of the best offensive teams in the league, but they couldn't get past the Blazers despite having home court and now Morey will have to deal with the offseason questions. The team is well constructed, but they likely need one more star to be a championship squad and Rondo or Anthony could be the answer for the franchise if they opt to go down that route this summer. According to ESPN.com, the Celtics and Rockets spoke during the season about a potential Rondo trade and it's something that Morey has long wanted, but things got hung up on the fact that Boston wanted Chandler Parsons in any deal and the Rockets were not willing to do that at the time.
Parsons has turned into a fine player and he is an interesting situation for the Rockets on his own, as he could end up being a restricted free agent this offseason or a unrestricted one next year. The Rockets have a big choice to make, as the Celtics will ask again about Parson's and the team now has to figure out what to do, as he has been an integral part to the team with Harden and Howard and has developed into a very solid player. The team has to decide by the end of June about picking up the option or not and he will be making $8.4 million on the cap next season.
Morey wants to sign Anthony or trade for Rondo and either way, he will have to move Omer Asik and/or Jeremy Lin, as they have contracts worth about $15 million and they need that cap space to make those moves. The Rockets will find it hard to find teams willing to take that without adding Parsons as well, but since the two contracts are expiring, it could be one way Morey convinces teams to deal.
Harden was great against the Blazers while averaging 26.0 points, 13.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocks, but in some ways he was not great enough and some of his poor shooting contributed to the losses and now the team has to try and find a way to compliment him and Howard better. The Rockets are going to make a push for Anthony as well and while the Knicks can offer him the most money, the team was terrible last season and he may want to leave. The salary cap is expected to rise and that could help the Rockets stay in the game with the Knicks and having Harden and Howard could sway Anthony to sign.
