Houston GM Daryl Morey will not be limited financially in his attempts to upgrade the Rockets by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, according to a new report from CNBC’s Jabari Young.
Citing a source, Young writes that Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has given Morey “full rights” to improve the team at the deadline with no financial restrictions. “Fertitta [is] not happy with team’s current standing and wants to win now,” Young wrote on Twitter.
The previous day, Young quoted league sources as saying that Fertitta wanted to shed payroll in hopes of avoiding the NBA’s luxury tax.
The Rockets are reportedly shopping center Clint Capela on the trade market while hoping to bring in a wing player and replacement center. They’re also said to be monitoring the potential buyout market, with high-profile targets such as Cleveland big man Tristan Thompson.
But some of those moves could push Houston into luxury tax territory, leaving many fans wondering just how viable they actually are. In Fertitta’s first two seasons owning the Rockets in 2017-18 and 2018-19, Houston avoided paying the tax.
However, it seems Fertitta could have a different mindset heading into the 2019-20 deadline, with the Rockets (31-18) mired in the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference and perhaps needing further roster upgrades to reach their expected status as an NBA title contender.
The trade deadline arrives at 2 p.m. Central time on Thursday.
