Does Dillon Brooks And Fred VanVleet Make Sense As Free Agent Targets For Rockets?

HOUSTON — General manager Rafael Stone wasn't shy about showcasing his desire to add veterans to the Houston Rockets' young corps this off-season.

The Rockets are feeling the urge to improve their inadequate play over the previous three seasons due to the Oklahoma City Thunder owning Houston's first-round pick in 2024 — one of the primary reasons behind the franchise quickly moving into phase II of their rebuilding project.

The Rockets will have nearly $60 million in salary cap space entering free agency in July. And scouts, per The Athletic, believe Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet makes sense for Houston.

"This summer has always been important to us for a lot of reasons," Stone said. “We’re obviously going to have another couple picks. But we’re also going to have the ability for the first time to really bring in veteran players and see if we can mesh the thing together."

Scouts believe Brooks would make for a great addition due to his defensive versatility. He is one of the top wing defenders in the league, and Brooks' signing would help enhance the Rockets' appalling defense, which has finished near the bottom of the league for the third consecutive year.

The signing of VanVleet would give the Rockets an additional floor general. Kevin Porter Jr. thrived as Houston's starting point guard throughout the 2022-23 campaign. But during his 20-game absence due to a toe contusion, the Rockets' offense struggled without Porter.

Brooks and VanVleet would help the Rockets improve their play on both ends while enabling Stone to put together a competitive roster for the first time in his tenure as general manager.

Brooks is coming off a season where he averaged 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists. VanVleet, who is a one-time All-Star, averaged 19.3 points and 7.1 points across 69 games this season.

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