Houston Rockets: Top 3 buyout targets to consider signing

Despite putting together a lackluster offseason last summer, the Houston Rockets have worked to right the ship by acquiring several pieces off the buyout market. Can the team that once challenged the Golden State Warriors find additional help there once again?

Despite not making a move of epic magnitude at the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline, the Houston Rockets are certainly not finished making alterations to their current roster.

Houston — which came into the year with a $136 million payroll — worked to get under the luxury tax line over the last week, shipping away James Ennis III, Marquese Chriss, Brandon Knight and several others for draft picks, en route to acquiring Iman Shumpert in a three-team trade with the Sacramento Kings.

The team currently has three open roster spots and intends to aggressively pursue players on the buyout market, regardless of potential tax hits.

"“We’re having multiple conversations,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told reporters when asked about potential buyout candidates last week. “We have a couple of players at the top of the list….we think it’s going to be good for us…our goal all year is to be a better team going into the playoffs.”"

Now, the analytics guru and his front office staff are working to pry talent off the open market, as the 2018 Executive of the Year seeks to uncover the missing pieces that could play a vital role in Clutch City’s upcoming playoff run.

Can the squad that successfully acquired Austin Rivers and Kenneth Faried off the buyout market within the last two months find a way to add yet another key contributor this time around?

Here are the top three buyout candidates that the Rockets should consider targeting in the coming weeks.