With each passing week, the Rockets are making it clear that salary cap flexibility in the 2023 offseason is a priority. Based on the team’s current books, the Rockets could theoretically have room to sign or trade for two maximum salaried players in 2023 free agency.
The Rockets traded veteran center Christian Wood without accepting any long-term money in the deal, and they opted to buy out veteran guard John Wall — who was entering the final year of his contract — rather than accept a trade that could have multi-year salaries in the deal. Houston general manager Rafael Stone appears similarly reluctant to accept longer-term salaries in trade talks involving Eric Gordon.
With that in mind, here’s where the roster stands, financially, after the 2022 NBA draft and the initial wave of free agency. Salaries are sorted by each player’s 2022-23 figure, in descending order.
(Note: This roster is larger than it will be in the regular season, since teams can roster up to 20 players in the offseason — as opposed to the usual limit of 15 standard contracts and two two-way contracts during the season. Thus, more roster moves are a certainty by mid-October.)
Keith's cap room figure for the #Rockets looks pretty accurate, based on (1) HOU waiving everyone but the FRPs (2021-23), Tate & KPJ's cap hold; and (2) its 2023 picks being in the 4-5 & 24-28 ranges. Figure is impacted a little if you want to keep Martin, Garry Bird or Nix. https://t.co/BWUgt9jwSJ
— David Weiner (@BimaThug) July 22, 2022