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2017 NBA free agency grades: Houston Rockets adding Tarik Black

By Eric Spyropoulos

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 11: Tarik Black (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 11: Tarik Black (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Houston Rockets continued to bolster their bench depth with the signing of Tarik Black. Black returns to Houston as a third string, fill-in center.

After making one of the several blockbuster moves this offseason in adding Chris Paul, the Houston Rockets have continued to bolster their bench depth. Houston’s latest addition to the bench? Former Rocket Tarik Black. The Vertical‘s Shams Charania has reported that the center will sign a one-year deal with his former team.

Black returns to Houston after playing the past two and a half seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. During this past season, Black averaged 5.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per game in 16.3 minutes per game.

Per 36 minutes, Black averaged 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, showing he can help Houston on the glass and by defending the rim. Black can also help by setting good screens for players such as Paul and James Harden, allowing them to get separation on drives to the rim, thus opening shots on the perimeter.

Black’s role with the Rockets will be one similar to Montrezl Harrell‘s role last season: a third-string center that is the primary backup on nights that Nene rests. At this point in his career, Nene doesn’t play both ends of back-to-backs and sits out other random games in order to be fresh for his 15-20 minute stretches during key games.

Last season Harrell played in 58 games, 14 of which he started. Of course, Clint Capela missed a month of last season due to injury, thereby forcing Harrell and Nene to start more than usual. However, Black shouldn’t expect to play in most games. Instead, he should prepare to play around 20 minutes per game in the games that Nene sits.

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    • Black began his NBA career in Houston during the 2014-15 season, playing in 25 games as a spot starter replacement for the oft-injured Dwight Howard. During those 25 games, Black played around 16 minutes per contest and averaged 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

    Perhaps more importantly, Black has chemistry playing alongside Harden and Trevor Ariza, and is known as a very good person and teammate around the league.

    This signing won’t make the headlines on SportsCenter, but it’s a very good value play for the Rockets (Black will make $3.29 million next season). The Rockets will continue to monitor Nene’s minutes and games played even more as he continues to get older, meaning Black could see an increased role for various stages throughout the season.

    For other teams, a third center making over $3 million wouldn’t make much sense. It also remains to be seen what other free agents the Rockets could have used this money on. However, in Houston’s case, a third center is forced into a larger role several times during the season, thus putting more importance on having a quality third-stringer.

    Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far

    Tarik Black is exactly that. Black will set good screens, clean up on the glass and be a supportive teammate — all three important qualities in the NBA.

    Grade: B+

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