1.6 million left, it is said that the Rockets can only sign rookie players? If the 26-year-old guard is cut, Stone can get a bargain with a basic salary

Judging from the Rockets' traditional practice, they are not willing to pay luxury tax. After all, whether it is the Rockets' former boss Alexander or the current boss Fertita, they are relatively stingy. They will not spend a lot of money like other giant teams and are willing to pay luxury tax. The Rockets generally operate small money, spending every penny in the most reasonable place to create a lineup that looks pretty good.

For example, if the Rockets of Harden and Paul could pay a little extra tax and introduce a third star, the Rockets might have passed the four-star Warriors and won the final NBA championship, but at that time Fertitta did not want to pay the luxury tax. So at that time, the Rockets had two super top-paid players, Paul and Harden, and many players with basic salary, such as Barmott, Gerald Green, Joe Johnson, etc., which is also the reason for the Rockets' final failure.

The Rockets are now trapped in such a vicious circle again, and the Rockets are now $1.6 million left to the first hard salary cap. In other words, if the Rockets don't want to be punished by luxury tax, they can only use this 1.6 million salary space to introduce new players. Considering that the Rockets have many new players joining this summer, such as Durant, Finney Smith, Capela, Kevin Harris holding a two-way contract and Cam Matthews holding a training camp contract, so the Rockets' lineup is basically relatively complete, but the problem is that the Rockets' two positions in the back line, and there are only 4 players left to use: Van Vreet and Holiday in the No. 1 position, Shepard and Williams in the No. 2 position. After sending Whitmore away, the Rockets' backcourt was even more stretched.

What's more troublesome is that the Rockets' remaining 1.6 million salary space can only be signed with a two-way contract player. The salary of a two-way contract player is only half of the basic salary, or signing a player who has never played in the NBA, which would only cost $1.27 million in salary space. However, if the Rockets want to sign a player with a minimum salary of at least one year in the NBA, it will cost 2.05 million yuan, which will exceed the first hard salary cap and the Rockets will not be able to complete such a signing.

So, the Rockets only have 1.6 million, and can only sign a rookie player. Whether they are undrafted or have never played in the NBA in the free agent market, they can be signed by the Rockets, but the ability of such a player is definitely not guaranteed.

The Rockets also have another way, which is to sack 26-year-old guard Nate Williams. In this way, the Rockets not only have 1.6 million space, but also free up 2.27 million salary space after sacking Williams. Because Nate Williams' contract is non-guaranteed, if the Rockets cut him, the freed salary space can be signed with a basic salary guard. Therefore, whether the Rockets are willing to cut Williams and sign new players depends on Manager Stone's considerations. Manager Raphael Stone, who is good at picking up bargains at the basic salary, can completely give up Williams. After all, Williams' performance in his two years with the Rockets has been quite average. He did have many opportunities, but he didn't seize it. If you give up on him and free up salary space, Manager Stone can get a bargain for basic salary and then go to the free agent market to find a basic salary guard to strengthen the depth of the Rockets' lineup. Otherwise, the Rockets can only sign a rookie player to strengthen the lineup.