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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Ben DuBose

Free agency eve rumors: NBA teams expect Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks to join Rockets

The NBA’s 2023 free agency window officially opens on Friday at 5:00 p.m. Central, and it might not take long for agreements to roll in.

For the Houston Rockets, who have a league-leading figure of more than $60 million in financial space beneath the salary cap, there’s an incentive to work quickly. If they can’t get a top target, they need to move on to secondary ones before those potentially sign elsewhere.

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So, who will general manager Rafael Stone target once negotiations can officially begin on Friday afternoon? According to veteran NBA scribe Marc Stein, rival NBA teams are expecting Toronto guard Fred VanVleet and Memphis wing Dillon Brooks to both sign with the Rockets in the hours after free agency begins.

VanVleet will likely get a two-year offer worth a projected maximum of over $40 million per season, according to Stein, while Brooks could be on a two-year deal worth at least $14 million, annually.

As of Thursday morning, here’s where things stand.

Rival teams expect Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks to sign with Houston on Friday

(Marc Stein, The Stein Line)

Rockets no longer in running for James Harden

Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura unlikely to leave current teams

Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton (of the Bucks) are the most likely of the high-dollar targets on the Rockets’ list to return to their current team.

Similarly, the Rockets have interest in the Lakers’ restricted free agents Austin Reeves and Rui Hachimura, but both are likely to stick with Los Angeles.

(Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle)

Other free agency targets for Rockets

According to a person with knowledge of the team’s thinking, the Rockets are interested in Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks, Nuggets guard/forward Bruce Brown, and Raptors center Jakob Poeltl. Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo is an unrestricted free agent the Rockets will consider.

If they are filling out their free-agent haul and have not signed one of their targeted centers, the Mavericks’ Dwight Powell would also have a place on their shopping list.

(Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle)

Alperen Sengun not keen on potential Brook Lopez addition?

(Kelly Iko and Sam Vecenie, The Athletic)

Rockets a leading option for Kyle Kuzma?

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