The Rockets had a relatively quiet offseason, with a few additions on the margins and some low-key departures. However, one move is already coming back to bite them in the same offseason. Back in July, the Rockets traded away three second-round picks to get off Dorian Finney-Smith’s contract. On September 22nd, he was then traded by the Hornets for Buddy Hield and Ryan Nembhard, with no picks attached to get off his contract this time.
Houston didn’t get the most value out of DFS
Obviously, the Hornets got a much better deal out of Finney-Smith than the Rockets did. While Houston gave up some considerable future assets, Charlotte instead got back a couple pieces. Nembhard was waived almost instantly, but Hield could even have some trade value to another team if he has an opportunity to showcase his shooting again.
The Rockets were eager to get off Finney-Smith’s contract that will pay out $40 million over the next 3 seasons, but they might have jumped the gun. Perhaps waiting longer into the offseason would have revealed a more favorable trade like the Hornets found, or at least one that involved giving up less draft picks. Houston probably felt some pressure to maximize their flexibility heading into the offseason before a pivotal year, leading to rushed decision-making.
The Rockets had their reasons for making their DFS trade
One key difference from a cap flexibility perspective between the Rockets and Hornets is that Charlotte got back plenty of money for next season in Hield and Nembhard. Although Nembhard was waived almost instantly, his $2 million contract will still count against the salary cap for the Hornets. Hield’s $9.7 million salary for next season, along with a $10 million player option for the following year, will be even harder to get rid of.
Like I mentioned, it’s possible that Hield finds some trade interest around the league if he can return to peak form as a shooter. He’s hit the second-most threes in the entire league since 2020, only behind Stephen Curry. Obviously Hield isn’t in his prime anymore but he can still have something to offer teams desperate for shooting.
On the Rockets, it would be hard to find room for Hield. Between the already-tight cap situation and the growing room of guard talent, Houston doesn’t have the space to take on Hield. Avoiding his contract might not end up being such a bad thing, even if the Rockets gave up several picks to get off Finney-Smith.
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