Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet are rumored to be on the free agent wishlist of the Houston Rockets. What is the upside and downside?
NBA rumors have hinted for a while that the Rockets were interested in Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. It was not known whether VanVleet or Brooks had an interest in actually signing with the team but, according to Jake Fisher, the whispers about these two players joining the team are increasing.
For VanVleet, It would require a max contract from Houston that would not be long-term. For Brooks, it would most likely require an offer that would be more than a veteran mid-level exception.
This would be beneficial for both parties due to the fact that Houston would be able to take advantage of team-friendly contracts with so many young players on the team. VanVleet would be able to be the face of the franchise for the Rockets. This is something he has never had during his career.
Dillon Brooks is also a player who could help the Rockets. This is a more likely situation due to the fact that he will not have as many suitors as VanVleet will have. Brooks created a ton of problems for the Grizzlies last season. Still, he is a very solid defensive player who can help on the wing.
What are the pros and cons of the Rockets signing Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks?
Cons: These moves do not have a lot of cons for the Rockets. The only real negative here is the fact that the team might be losing out on giving minutes to younger players. If VanVleet were to sign with the Rockets, he would most likely be a player who does not stay with the team after the two years on his contract are up.
The cons of adding Brooks would be the fact that this team could be adding a combustible presence to the locker room going forward. This would be highly determinantal for a team that has so many young players.
Pros:
Brooks could be viewed as a player who stays with the roster for the next couple of years if he is able to rehabilitate his career. The main positive is the fact that this team will be able to get a talent upgrade in VanVleet which would help the team get out of its rebuild.
Whether or not, they have the pieces ready to get onto the next stage of their rebuild or not, this is a team that wants to win now. With that in mind, these could both be very good targets for this team.
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