Why the Houston Rockets should go all in on LeBron James in free agency

Throughout the regular season, LeBron James’ name has been linked to the Houston Rockets in a multitude of free agency rumors, as several reports have recently indicated that Clutch City is currently one of four franchises that the 33-year-old small forward will consider this coming summer. Here’s why Houston should relentlessly pursue the 14-time All-Star.

In an offseason that marked the five-year anniversary of the Houston Rockets acquiring James Harden via trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder, general manager Daryl Morey managed to help Clutch City’s front office construct one of its most finest summers in recent memory by locking up the face of the franchise to one of the richest contract extensions in league history.

He added several other key pieces in his quest to help Houston capture its first championship in over two decades, as the Rockets picked up two valuable wing defenders in P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute by virtue of free agency, just days after Harden signed a four-year, $228 million extension to remain with the franchise through the 2022-23 regular season.

However, that’s not all the Rockets did.

Houston also provided The Beard with some additional help in the backcourt by landing Chris Paul in a surprising sign-and-trade deal with the Los Angeles Clippers prior to the start of free agency. As the two players who initially came into the regular season with reputations as ball-dominant guards, have helped guide the Rockets off to their best start ever in franchise history in their first season together as teammates, en route to national prominence in the process.

Over the last month and a half, the Rockets have won 17 out of their last 18 games by an average margin of 12.3 points per contest, and currently boast the highest winning percentage with the help of their dynamic duo. The team with the best record in basketball appears to now have the undivided attention of arguably the best basketball player in the world.

https://twitter.com/cavs/status/971637241255620608

His name? LeBron James

According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, Houston is one of four teams that the 33-year-old forward is expected to consider as a landing spot this upcoming summer in free agency. This comes nearly three months after USA Today’s Sam Amick reported that some directly “in Rockets circles” believe that the franchise has a serious chance to sign him following the end of this season.

While the Rockets have not made their official hunt for James publicly known, Morey and his staff should seek to do so this upcoming offseason by putting together the perfect free agency pitch to snag the 14-time All-Star at all costs. The man known as The King in his home state of Ohio, could help Houston form one of the most fearsome trios that the league has ever seen, and give the Rockets the ultimate chance to take down a common rival that the two parties vehemently share for once and for all.

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With James in the fold, the Rockets would feature three of the game’s finest playmakers of the decade, and provide head coach Mike D’Antoni with an unlimited amount of possibilities that many around the league would yearn to have. Putting the four-time MVP alongside Harden and Paul could prove to be a fatal weapon against opposing teams in the pick-and-roll, and make one of the game’s most historically dominant offenses become even better.

Through the first four months of the season, the three All-Stars are shooting nearly 40 percent from 3-point range on the 2017-18 campaign. Each ranks within the top five in assists per game, and D’Antoni could place two out of the three on the court throughout an entire outing — alongside a supporting cast that would provide LeBron with way more depth than he has ever played.

Clint Capela is currently averaging more rebounds per 48 minutes than Tristan Thompson or Chris Bosh in his prime down in South Beach, and has improved almost every facet of his game. While Eric Gordon is capable of serving as a complementary scorer, alongside primetime stars who would help him to generate a bevy of clean looks from beyond the arc on a Rockets team with James.

Freeing up cap space to sign James, re-sign Chris Paul and match any sizable offers for restricted free agent Clint Capela would be difficult, and would almost certainly require Houston to move some contracts and shed some depth, but it’d be worth it to land the King.

His presence on any roster across the league virtually guarantees an appearance on the championship stage, as James has played in seven consecutive Finals dating back to 2011.

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The presence of his good friend Paul would help to make the transition easier for him, and while there are a series of financial logistics that Morey must work out, all parties involved would have all of the motivation to make it happen. The addition of James, would help place the Rockets one step closer toward the one prize that Morey and owner Tilman Fertitta so desperately covet: an NBA title.