The Houston Rockets could be looking for a new backup center in free agency after versatile veteran Jeff Green chose to sign with Brooklyn.
Green will make the veteran’s minimum salary with the Nets, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, which means that Houston was presumably not outbid after speaking with the 6-foot-8 big man on Friday night. All indications were that the Rockets wanted to retain his services after Green’s successful stint with the team at the end of the 2019-20 season.
Instead, Green — an East Coast native — simply preferred the fit with the Nets, it appears. There also seems to be a personal connection, since Green and Brooklyn superstar Kevin Durant were teammates in Seattle and Oklahoma City early in their NBA careers.
Green averaged 12.2 points (56.4% FG) and 2.9 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game with the Rockets last season, largely as the team’s backup center. While newcomer Christian Wood will likely start at that position in the 2020-21 season, Houston is still looking for a potential backup there.
Because the Rockets are taking in Wood as part of a sign-and-trade, the Rockets will have a hard salary cap this season at the luxury tax “apron” level of about $138.9 million in total payroll. As a result, the minimum salary is the most the Rockets could realistically offer to Green or other free agents, since they are already tight on financial space.
The Brooklyn Nets and Jeff Green have agreed to a 1-year deal for the veteran minimum, league sources told @hoopshype. The Athletic first reported an agreement.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) November 21, 2020
