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NBA: The Best 2016 Free Agent For Every Team

By Ryan Blackburn

May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre prior to Indiana Pacers playing Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre prior to Indiana Pacers playing Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 20, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) drives on Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the fourth quarter in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 107-90. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) drives on Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the fourth quarter in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 107-90. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Houston Rockets – Matthew Dellavedova

Many will assume that the Rockets should go after a big name player to pair with James Harden, but I believe a strong role player or two (or three) would be much more useful.

With the season ending as poorly as it did, the Rockets need to continue to make their star player happy. There were reports of Harden traveling separately from the team, and that’s going too far, but the best way to make the engine run is to put the ball in Harden’s hands as much as possible and surround him with players that play to his strengths.

Matthew Dellavedova is the perfect complement to Harden. Mainly an off-ball point guard, Delly makes his living by playing strong defense and being a shooter on offense. He can facilitate when called upon, but it’s not his first skill. It doesn’t need to be in Houston though. Harden is one of the best facilitators of offense in the world, and while he struggles on the other end, Delly does not, and would likely check the opponent’s best offensive guard.

Patrick Beverley is best served as the first guard off the bench because he has a bit more playmaking skill than Delly, so he can run the second unit for short periods of time. Both guys are better than Jason Terry, and eliminating him from the rotation would be beneficial long term.

With K.J. McDaniels, Sam Dekker and Clint Capela, the Rockets have some young pieces that they can build around, but only Capela looks to have a legitimate case to start at the moment. Adding Dellavedova to play the off guard next to James Harden would help maintain the spacing that is so prevalent in Daryl Morey’s eyes.

Next: Indiana Pacers