Why the Houston Rockets should target Danilo Gallinari in free agency

Danilo Gallinari would be a key addition to the Houston Rockets if they plan on continuing to play small-ball during the 2020-2021 NBA season. Here’s why.

At the beginning of February, the Houston Rockets made it clear that they were going to stick to small-ball for the rest of the season when they traded center Clint Capela to the Atlanta Hawks and received Robert Covington from the Minnesota Timberwolves as a part of a four-team deal.

The Rockets first tried small-ball out when Clint Capela was out of the lineup due to a heel injury and found immediate success, putting together a three-game win streak without Capela in the lineup beginning on January 31 against the Dallas Mavericks. After the early success with small-ball, Houston decided that they would roll with the small-ball lineup for the remainder of the season which led to the Rockets parting ways with Capela and bringing in Covington on February 4th.

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After acquiring Covington, the Rockets’ success with small-ball continued as Houston went 7-2 over their next 10 games. After a 10-2 record with their small-ball lineup, Houston finally hit a rough patch, losing four of their next five games before the NBA season was put on pause due to COVID-19.

While no one knows if the current NBA season will resume, I think it is safe to say that the Rockets will continue to use a small-ball lineup next season for one simple reason: it is the best and most efficient way to utilize the James Harden and Russell Westbrook duo.

Without a center, the Rockets are able to space the floor and give Harden and Westbrook more room to work. This makes it easier for both Harden and Westbrook to attack and get to the rim and also surrounds them with shooters who they can dish the ball out to if they draw a double-team.

Their stats are the evidence: Over the 13 games Westbrook has played in where the Houston Rockets have used their small-ball lineup he has averaged 31 points on 54.2 percent shooting from the field, 6.1 assists, and 8.1 rebounds per game. Harden, who has played 17 games with Houston’s small-ball lineup, averaged 31 points, 7.8 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per game.

While Harden and Westbrook have put up big numbers with the Rockets small-ball lineup there is also a major downside to the small-ball lineup: defense. Without a true center, Houston does not have a rim protector which has forced the 6’5″ P.J. Tucker to guard the opposing team’s center.

Tucker is an excellent defender and did well during his short stint guarding the opposing team’s big man, but it is too much to ask Tucker to do this all season and then expect him to do the same thing in the playoffs. It will simply wear Tucker out come playoff time and expose the flaws in the Rockets’ small-ball lineup.

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This is where signing Danilo Gallinari in the offseason can make a huge difference.

Gallinari is 6’10” and can effectively play the shooting guard, small forward, or power forward position. Offensively, Gallinari would feet right in the with Houston’s system, which relies heavily on 3-pointers and attacking the basket. Gallinari is an excellent shooter, shooting 38.1 percent from 3-point range in his career and 40.9 percent from deep this season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and also has the ability to get to the rim and create his own shot.

Defensively, Gallinari is a reasonable defender who is vocal when he’s on the floor and can defend one-on-one. Gallinari would fill a huge need for the Rockets as he could split time guarding the opponents’ big man with P.J. Tucker and possibly Robert Covington which would allow for the Rockets to be more rested for the playoffs.

The difficulty with signing Gallinari is working out the contract. The Rockets currently more than  $18 million over the cap which will make it hard to sign Gallinari, who has made over $20 million each of the past three seasons. But if there’s anybody who can make this work it is general manager Daryl Morey, who has proven his ability to creatively structure deals that bring key players to Houston.

Bringing in Gallinari, although it will be very difficult, would add versatility to the Houston Rockets roster and give them the best shot to continue their success with small-ball next season.