Struggling Young Players Houston Rockets Can Sign on the Cheap

Even though they have the cap space to land a marquee free agent, the Houston Rockets could benefit from scouring the bargain bin for a cheap, young free agent this offseason. Taking a chance on a player whose best years are ahead of him and still has something to prove is a low risk move that could yield a high reward. 

The Rockets don't have many holes to fill this summer. They have a potential superstar to build around in last year's blockbuster acquisition of James Harden. They also have a couple fine role players in Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik, as well as a rising star in Chandler Parsons. 

The team is deep at power forward with a stable of young big men that includes Terrance Jones, Thomas Robinson, Donatas Motiejunas and Royce White. Point guard Patrick Beverley is another cheap piece expected to be in the fold for next season. 

Houston could choose to use its considerable resources (just $38 million committed for next season) to lure a big name like Dwight Howard or Josh Smith. They could also decide to hold off until next year's star-studded free agent class (LeBron James, Luol Deng, Danny Granger, Dwyane Wade among the names possibly on the market in 2014) and opt to make smaller moves to add depth. 

The Rockets already declined the $6.4 million option on guard Francisco Garcia. He might be joined on the open market by fellow veteran Carlos Delfino, who has a $3 million team option for next year and is nursing a broken foot. 

Without Garcia and Delfino, Houston would be in need of a couple reserves behind Harden and Parsons. They could also use a backup center and a third point guard to take the place of veteran Aaron Brooks (if the team chooses not to pick up his $2.5 million option for next season). 

This summer, there will be a few once-promising free agents looking for a second chance at keeping their fledgling career going. Here are a few names that are worth a shot. 

G/F Corey Brewer

Corey Brewer had a resurgence in Denver this past season, but he has yet to prove he can consistently live up to the hype that made him the No. 7 overall pick back in 2007. His 12.1 points per game this season was the first time he's averaged double-digits in scoring since the 2009-10 season in Minnesota. 

At 27 years old, Brewer still has a chance to build on last year's comeback season. He might not be worthy of cracking the starting lineup in Houston, but he'd be a solid piece to add to the second unit. 

At 6'9", Brewer can play either shooting guard or small forward. Houston might even be able to get away with playing him alongside Chandler Parsons in a smaller lineup like they did with Carlos Delfino this season. 

The former Florida Gator doesn't have Delfino's shooting range, but he brings an element sorely needed in Houston: defense. Brewer has averaged at least a steal per game every season since being drafted and has finished in the top 10 in steal percentage the last three years. 

He could be a Thabo Sefolosha-type stopper off of the bench who can provide the occasional offensive spark. He doesn't offer much in terms of shooting, but he's athletic enough to be effective as a slasher routinely attacking the basket. 

It has been an up-and-down career for the former NCAA national champion. While he played well enough to put the "struggling" label up for debate, he'll still come cheap enough for the Rockets to be considered a bargain. 

PG Shaun Livingston

Shaun Livingston was on the Rockets' preseason roster and he played well enough to catch the attention of head coach Kevin McHale. McHale even campaigned for Livingston to make the cut, but the team inevitably opted to let him go and sign Scott Machado. 

If the team decides to let Aaron Brooks walk, they will need a third point guard to put behind Jeremy Lin and Patrick Beverley. Given his size (6'7"), age (still only 27) and experience with the team, the former Clippers lottery pick is worth another flier. 

Livingston has been a bust since Los Angeles made him the No. 4 overall pick in 2004, thanks in large part to injuries and a steep learning curve after making the jump from high school. He still has enough left in the tank to have a career resurrection in the right situation. 

In Houston, he would be playing under a coach who respects his talents, and there is enough depth at point guard to keep him from playing too large of a role. With his exceptional height, he could defend either guard position and he's a decent enough passer to make plays here and there. 

Livingston isn't without his faults. He's a terrible shooter from deep (career 21 percent shooter from the three-point line) and he's a bit light at 175 pounds. 

Still, as an emergency point guard, it wouldn't hurt the team too much to roll the dice on a kid with potential. Livingston's bounced around the league throughout his career (seven different teams in seven years) but he can still be useful.

He's already done enough to be worthy of making the roster once. Why not see if he can do it again? 

C Cole Aldrich

Like Shaun Livingston, Cole Aldrich has already had a taste of playing in Houston. He appeared in 30 games for the Rockets this season after coming over in the James Harden trade. Inevitably, he was shipped to Sacramento in a deal for fellow Jayhawk Thomas Robinson. 

Aldrich's career numbers certainly aren't befitting a guy who was taken with the No. 11 overall pick in 2010. In two seasons, he's averaged two points and two rebounds per game. 

In his defense, playing time has been scarce as he's bounced around to three different teams. The 11.7 minutes a night he logged in 15 games with the Kings this season was the most he's had in his entire career. 

He isn't the ideal choice to be the backup to Omer Asik, but you can bet that he will come cheap. The 24-year-old might not have produced in the pros so far, but he isn't that far removed from a solid junior season at Kansas. 

During the 2009-10 season, Aldrich averaged 11.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game for the Jayhawks. He also shot 56 percent from the field. 

It may be a stretch to think he can duplicate those numbers in Houston, but he has the skills to be productive if he can manage to play in more than just mop-up duty. The Rockets could use another shot-blocker and Aldrich fits the bill. 

Aldrich showed in college he can produce when he has the opportunity. He hasn't had the chance to show what he can do in the pros. For what it will cost to sign him, the Rockets should give Aldrich another shot to prove himself. 

G/F Xavier Henry

At Kansas, Xavier Henry was an efficient scorer (13.1 points per game) with the range to be effective from deep (nearly 42 percent from behind the arc). In the NBA, Henry hasn't proven to be effective anywhere. 

In what turned out to be an unwise decision, Henry opted for the draft in 2010 after just one season with the Jayhawks. The Grizzlies were intrigued enough by his potential to select him with the No. 12 overall pick. 

After playing just 38 games in Memphis in his rookie season, he was shipped to New Orleans. Unfortunately, his stint in the Big Easy wasn't much more productive. Despite logging in nearly 17 minutes per game, Henry only contributed 5.3 points a night.

This season, with the starting small forward spot up for grabs and starting guard Eric Gordon missing 40 games, Henry failed once again to capitalize on his opportunity with the Hornets. He averaged 3.9 points per game and began to lose playing time to guys like Lance Thomas and Darius Miller.

Still, there are reasons to believe that Henry is salvageable. For starters, he's still only 22 years old. He's also shot the ball better as of late. He's a career 40 percent shooter from the field. His poor three-point percentage (29 percent in three seasons) could be attributed to a lack of attempts (just 45 threes taken in that same span). 

His inability to put together a promising season means he'll come cheap for the Rockets. If he can regain the shooting touch he had in college, he could be a steal. Plus, at his young age, there's still room for him to grow with the team. 

Henry's still a work in progress, but he's one of the youngest free agents on the market. Just because he gave up on college too early doesn't mean the same should hold true in the pros. 

G/F Wesley Johnson

Keeping with the theme here, Wesley Johnson is another failed lottery pick that has bounced around a little during the short span he's been in the NBA. 

The former Syracuse product started off his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who drafted Johnson with the No. 4 overall pick in 2010. He averaged seven points per game in two seasons with Minnesota, and was eventually sent packing to Phoenix. 

Life didn't get much better in the desert for Johnson. He contributed eight points a contest for the Suns, but couldn't break away from the pack despite the lack of a bona fide star at shooting guard or small forward. 

He did manage to bring his shooting percentage above 40 percent for the first time in his career and posted his best free throw percentage so far (77 percent from the stripe).

What does that mean for Johnson in Houston? 

It means he could be a decent role player as a slasher who makes his living attacking the basket. He could get his share of points on the break in a uptempo offense. That way, the Rockets could hide Johnson's lack of ideal shooting ability (career 33 percent three-point shooter) and put him in a position where he is most effective. 

At just 25 years old, there's still hope for Johnson. On a second unit filled with projects, he could develop along with them and contribute in an offense that plays to his strengths.