Houston Rockets: 5 small-ball players to target in free agency

Houston Rockets small-ball target – Danilo Gallinari

This is where things could get interesting. Typically, a player of Danilo Gallinari’s stature would be out of the Houston Rockets’ price range by a mile, given the phenomenal season he just had. However, during the Festival Dello Sport in Italy, the 32-year-old said that he would prioritize winning a title over a hefty paycheck at this stage in his career.

That comment will have a plethora of suitors trying to sign Gallinari to their respective teams, and the Rockets should be one of them. At 6’10”, the 11-year veteran would be able to provide some size at Houston’s center position while still sticking to their small-ball identity.

Spending his season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Gallinari averaged 18.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game with .438/.405/.893 shooting splits. With numbers like that, the big man could undoubtedly tip the needle for a contending team, and he would be a perfect fit with the Houston Rockets as a stretch big.

As contradictory as it sounds to small-ball, Houston needs to add some size to their roster this offseason. Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis, standing at 6’10”, had a field day against the Rockets in their second-round series these past playoffs. The 6’5″ P.J. Tucker could not contain Davis over seven games, and bringing in a lofty piece like Gallinari could be of use for future matchups against sizeable opponents.

If Danilo Gallinari prioritizes winning over a contract this offseason, perhaps the idea of playing alongside two former league MVPs could be persuasive.