The 2024 NBA free agency officially opens today, and the prelude to this annual basketball feast kicks off at 6 a.m. sharp. As soon as the free market opened, it was like a huge pebble being thrown into the calm lake, which instantly stirred up layers of ripples. According to NBA salary expert Keith Smith, 4.5 hours after the free agency market opened, 23 free agents agreed to new contracts for a total of $1.2 billion. Such a violent situation, and such a rapid movement, indicates that this summer is another situation of great power strife.
The opening of the free market is not only an opportunity for players to pursue higher salaries and a broader stage, but also a key moment for teams to adjust their lineups, optimize tactics and achieve their goals. In an era where speed and efficiency are king, team management needs to make smart decisions in a short period of time to ensure that the team can achieve better results in the new season. The Rockets, a team with a long history, had a great pick in the draft this year, and the addition of Shepard and potential forward AJ Griffin has fans excited about the future of the team.
However, in the free market, the Rockets are a bit of a low-key one. Instead of actively signing players like other teams, they chose to wait and see what happened, waiting for the right moment before making a move. Interestingly, the Rockets failed to sign free agents and are likely to lose some players soon. Today, according to a report from The Athletic Rockets reporter Kelly Iko, multiple sources revealed that 33-year-old wing player Reggie Bullock is unlikely to return to the Rockets, with multiple playoff teams interested in the veteran sharpshooter.
Bullock has played 11 seasons in the NBA and has shot 38.5 percent from three-point range so far in his career. In the 2023-24 season, Bullock played in 44 games for the Rockets, averaging 2.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.5 minutes per game, while shooting 40.3% from three-point range. The veteran who played for the Rockets for one season has a good outside shooting ability. However, with the rise of young players and the adjustment of the team's tactics, Brock's position with the Rockets gradually became marginal. Especially with the addition of Shepard and the arrival of AJ Griffin, the Rockets no longer have a place for Bullock.
When the door to free agency opened, multiple playoff teams quickly extended an olive branch to Bullock. They have taken a fancy to Bullock's extensive game experience and consistent projection and believe he can play a key role in the new season. Although the Rockets don't have a place for Bullock, other teams are very fond of him, which also shows that Bullock is not as useless as some Rockets fans think. If nothing else, Bullock will be the first player to leave the Rockets this summer. The iron-clad battalion and the flowing soldiers are the truth.
With Bullock's departure, the Rockets' young players will also have more opportunities. Young players such as Shepard and Griffin will be given more minutes and performances, and they will need to show their quality and potential in the game to earn more minutes for themselves. With the opening of the free agency market and the signing of players, the NBA's landscape is changing subtly. Let's take a look at what kind of lineup changes will happen to the high-profile Rockets!