Rockets 3rd team is strong! "Xiaocai King" becomes a free agent, can the basic salary be renewed? The center s spare tire is released

Atlanta Hawks center Capela has just celebrated her 31st birthday. Since the Rockets sent Capela away to exchange for the Timberwolves Covington, the Rockets have always lacked excellent defensive centers. At that time, D'Antoni's Rockets had always focused on a small lineup, with Covington as the Rockets' starting power forward, while veteran PJ Tucker became the starting center of the Rockets. Although this very small lineup is invincible in the regular season, the Rockets were taught a lesson by the Lakers in the playoffs. In the end, he was easily defeated by the Lakers 4-1 in the second round of the playoffs, and the Rockets fell apart: Westbrook was traded to the Wizards, and the Rockets exchanged for another point guard, John Wall; Harden was also sent to the Nets in the subsequent transaction, and the Rockets received some expiring contracts and multiple first-round draft picks.

The Rockets actually have their own "Little Capela", which is their 23-year-old undrafted center Enfalee Dante. At the draft last summer, the Rockets used their precious No. 3 draw to take away Kentucky scorer Shepard.

After the draft, the Rockets immediately signed a two-way contract with undrafted center Dante. The big man played for the Rockets all season and was transferred to the Rockets' Development League Vipers for a long time, only to be recalled in the last few games of the regular season and got some chances. In the regular season, Dante only played 4 times for the Rockets. He averaged 6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.2 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of up to 77%. More importantly, in limited playing time, Dante did show the characteristics of a basket protector: he can grab rebounds and has very good blocking ability. On the offensive end, although his back-to-back ability and side-to-stop offensive ability are not enough, he is fully capable of eating cakes, just like the Rockets' "Bai King" Clint Capela. After receiving the ball, Dante always has a way to put the ball into the basket, either by an all-in-one or by grabbing the frontcourt rebound for a tip-off.

Dant, now 23 years old, his style of play reminds people of Capela, the main center of the Rockets back then. In fact, the Rockets' third lineup this season is very strong, including powerful forwards like Whitmore, double-athlete defenders like Shepard, shooters like Ginathan Williams, inside defenders like Dante, and even 38-year-old veteran forward Jeff Green. If this lineup is given to a team that ranks in the middle and lower reaches, it can be completely rotated. However, the Rockets' lineup depth this season, and their overall strength is also extremely strong, so the players in these third-tier teams do not get much chance to enter the rotation lineup.

At present, the Rockets' Adams has expired and may not renew his contract with Houston; and Landale is also a non-guaranteed contract. If the Rockets want to clear their salary space, the first choice seems to be to cut Landale. Therefore, although the 23-year-old Dante is far inferior to Langdale and Adams, he is young enough and is still in the rising period of his career. At least his defense, rebounding and eating ability are not bad.

Now, the Rockets' "Baby King" Enfalley Dent's one-year two-way contract has officially ended, and he will become a free agent. If the Rockets want to make the depth of No. 5 better, then they can use a basic salary to keep Dante next season. In this way, the spare tire for the center position has been released, and the Rockets no longer have to work hard to find a new center, leaving Dante seems to be a better choice.