The Houston Rockets will likely get the chance to add another large wing who can fill in at the center position.
Forward DeMarre Carroll and the San Antonio Spurs have agreed to a buyout, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Woj added that Houston will be the “frontrunner” to sign him after he clears waivers.
Now 33 years old, Carroll has only appeared in 15 games for the Spurs this season, averaging just nine minutes per game. It was the fewest number of minutes in several years for the 11-year NBA veteran; Carroll exceeded 25 minutes per game in each of the previous six seasons.
San Antonio and forward DeMarre Carroll have agreed to a contract buyout, agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. Houston is a frontrunner to sign Carroll once he clears waivers, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 17, 2020
Over those prior six years, Carroll averaged 11.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 36.4% from behind the 3-point line. The University of Missouri alum shot above 38% on corner 3-pointers in four of those six seasons, eclipsing 40% in two of them.
The financial terms of Carroll’s new deal with the Rockets had yet to be reported, as of early Monday evening.
Curious to see if the Rockets will need to use most/all of their remaining MLE to help offset some of whatever Carroll gives up in a buyout with the Spurs, or if this will instead be a (more typical) prorated vet minimum signing. https://t.co/fQW5ZpUR9G
— David Weiner (@BimaThug) February 17, 2020
On the DeMarre Carroll contract in San Antonio.
Is owed:
🏀$2.3M as of Feb. 17
🏀$6.65M for 2020/21
🏀 $1.35M for 2021/22San Antonio will incur a cap hit for all 3 seasons even with a buyout.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 17, 2020
In some ways, Carroll is a similar player to P.J. Tucker. The two played a similar role when they were on the Toronto Raptors together following the 2017 trade deadline.
Listed at 6-foot-6, Carroll should be able to play the big man role in the small lineups the Rockets have been putting onto the floor. He also has the versatility, however, to potentially line up alongside other big wings — such as Tucker and Robert Covington.
As the Rockets continue to experiment with ultra-small lineups, Carroll would be ideal addition as a larger wing who can defend and make catch-and-shoot 3-pointers.
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