The annual salary is only 6.7 million! The Rockets new center averages 9+8 per game, saving 1.3 million. No wonder they cut the three-point cannon

The Rockets now have 18 players in the lineup, but the total salary of four players will not be included in the Rockets' salary. They are three two-way contract players, Crawford, Harris and Davidson, and Cam Matthews, who holds a training camp contract. These four players are all holding very cheap contracts and will not be included in the Rockets' total salary.

But the Rockets' salary space is completely insufficient now. Currently, the 14 Rockets players with standard contracts have a total salary of $1.2 million left from the first hard salary cap. This is why the Rockets are now empty and they never dare to sign new players again - because even if the Rockets sign a player with a cheap basic salary, it will exceed the hard salary cap, making the Rockets pay more luxury taxes, and the Rockets will not do this for the time being.

, former Rockets player Beverly said that the Rockets almost signed him before, but due to insufficient salary space, it is very regrettable that the two sides were unable to continue to cooperate together. But now the Rockets' budget-oriented characteristics are fully reflected, because we have seen how the Rockets save money this summer.

I believe everyone has seen that in addition to Durant, the Rockets also won the third center Capela by signing first and then changing. The 31-year-old Rockets' old player has always wanted to go back to Houston to play again. Now he has signed a three-year contract with the Rockets for 21.5 million, and his annual salary next season is only $6.7 million. Compared with the Rockets' third center Jock Langdale's annual salary of $8 million last season, the Rockets saved 1.3 million inside and outside.

Although Capela is two years older than Landale, Landale's contribution to defensive end is far less than Capela. Although Langdale averaged 42% of three-point shooting percentage last season, and Capela is not a shooting center, the Rockets still cut off Jock Langdale, the three-point shooting turret for Capela.

The reason is that Shin Kyung's three-point shooting ability is getting better and better. Smith Jr. is also a stable big shooter. In addition, the tall forward Durant has a three-point shooting percentage of more than 40%. So, even if Landale is cut, it will not have any impact on the Rockets' offense. Moreover, the Rockets' new center Capela averaged 9 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block per game last season. On the defensive end, he is better and stronger than Landale. His new inside lineup with Shin Kyung and Adams of the Rockets is also more conducive to the upgrade of the Rockets' double towers.

More importantly, Capela's annual salary is 1.3 million less than Landale, and the Rockets can save 1.3 million. In this way, it will be beneficial for the Rockets to sign other players, such as renewing several veterans, including Adams, Van Vritte, Jeff Green, etc.; the Rockets also have salary space to sign free agents like Finney Smith. Although 1.3 million is not much, the Rockets' careful calculation operation is impressive.

The Rockets use their salary space to the extreme, and only $1.2 million left is going to touch the first hard salary cap. Without the $1.3 million saved, the Rockets will trigger the first hard salary cap, but the Rockets still did not touch it very accurately. This is the level of Rockets general manager Raphael Stone, creating the strongest lineup with the least amount of money. In this league, the Rockets are indeed one of the best in this regard. The Rockets have a better center for less money.