Spend 240 million to keep two forwards? The Rockets may find it difficult to keep Amen! 2 with 3 forwards, Stone also has a headache

So far, the Rockets have 18 players in the lineup, including 14 players with formal contracts, which also means that the Rockets have a formal contract quota and can sign another player. There is a high probability that the Rockets will not do this, because if they sign another person, even if the Rockets sign a contract with a basic salary, their overall salary space will break through the "rich line", which also means that Fertita will pay more luxury taxes for the Rockets.

It's easy to say that the Rockets can win the championship next season. If they can't win the championship, such expenses will also make Fertita feel difficult, especially among the Rockets, there are several large contracts, such as Durant with an annual salary of more than 50 million, Shin Kyung with an annual salary of nearly 40 million, and Van Vritte with an annual salary of 25 million. These players have always occupied a lot of salary space in the team.

, and the Rockets also need to face the problem of early renewal of the two forwards, namely Durant and Ethan. Now Durant and Ethan have the last one left in the contract. Durant is eligible to sign a two-year, 120 million contract extension with the Rockets; Ethan still has one year of rookie contract, and he will become a restricted free agent after his contract expires. The Rockets should renew his contract with him in advance to avoid problems in the future.

According to previous news, the Rockets may renew Ethan and then Durant, and both forwards may stay in the team. The Rockets may give Durant a two-year maximum salary contract of 120 million yuan, while Ethan's contract should be higher than 120 million yuan in five years, which means that the Rockets may spend $240 million to leave double strikers Durant and Ethan. The Rockets' forward line looks really luxurious now. In addition to Ethan and Durant, next season, Jabbarry Smith Jr., Okogie, Finney Smith, Jeff Green and Tate are also on the forward line. These players are famous players in the league. But will the Rockets' Amen Thompson stay on the team in the future?

In terms of development potential, Amen Thompson should be better than Ethan, and Amen is two years younger than Ethan and is only 22 years old, he is still in his rookie contract. After next season, he will have the right to sign an early contract renewal with the Rockets. Judging from Amen Thompson's average of about 15 points in the regular season and playoffs last season, and his honor to be selected for the All-Defensive First Team, he has a chance to sign a maximum salary contract with the Rockets. After all, Amen is considered the best defender in the league and an all-around forward with very strong athletic ability and speed.

If the Rockets keep Durant and Ethan, plus the big contracts of players such as Van Vreet and Shin Kyung, then if the Rockets want to keep Amen next season, they will also have to pay a lot of luxury tax in two years. This seems unacceptable to the always-purchasing Houston Rockets management.

Therefore, among the three forward players Durant, Amen and Ethan, the Rockets may choose two of them, that is, give up renewing a player and leave two other players. However, whether it is Durant, Amen and Ethan, the three players are core strikers. If Stone gave up one of the three of them, I believe he would have a headache.

In that case, the Rockets must find a way to free up salary space from other positions, such as giving up Finney Smith or Capela, or giving up Adams or Van Vreet. In this way, the Rockets can free up salary space to renew Amen Thompson in advance, leaving Durant and Ethan behind.