David Aldridge @davidaldridgedc
Free agent yak with @sam_amick, @ThompsonScribe and me on this week’s “Hoops, Adjacent” ep of @AthleticNBAShow. Draymond, Kuzma, Harrison Barnes, Harden, VanVleet, and more. Listen in!:
theathletic.com/podcast/8-the-… – 12:02 PM

Evan Sidery @esidery
The Rockets are projected to offer Fred VanVleet a 2-year, $83.6 million contract when free agency begins, per @TheSteinLine (marcstein.substack.com/p/top-nba-free…).
VanVleet would help kickstart a new era in Houston under new head coach Ime Udoka. pic.twitter.com/qOG620bOlF – 11:51 AM

Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
New from @TheSteinLine this morning:
“The Rockets want to sign [Fred] VanVleet to a max two-year deal projected at $83.6 million…
…VanVleet and Memphis’ Dillon Brooks continue to be the free agents most frequently billed as Houston-bound this week, with James Harden… – 11:03 AM

Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Have spoken to a few people around the league who aren’t buying Houston as a FVV landing spot, despite reported interest. We’ll see. Money talks & HOU has the cap space to make a serious run at Fred (or drive up his price). I’m told the Raptors remain confident they can keep him. – 4:35 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
The Rockets are prepared to offer Fred VanVleet a very competitive deal, per @JakeLFischer.
Sources say it would take a max contract to lure FVV from Toronto, which would top out at 2 years, $80M.
More free agency intel yhoo.it/3NrYS5V pic.twitter.com/Rf3qERQD0Q – 2:21 PM

Evan Sidery @esidery
Significant buzz building around Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks potentially signing with the Rockets.
@TheSteinLine (marcstein.substack.com/p/who-do-the-r…) and @JakeLFischer (sports.yahoo.com/2023-nba-free-…) reported today on Houston wanting to sign both once free agency begins.
Houston can afford… pic.twitter.com/CZ69rFsHCS – 1:10 PM

Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
New @Ringer: Scattered thoughts on free agency, including a logical path for Dame to stay in Portland, how the Clippers can add another star, a Zach LaVine hypothetical I am increasingly obsessed with, speculation about the Rockets, FVV, and so much more theringer.com/2023/6/27/2377… – 11:42 AM

Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
New from @JakeLFischer this morning:
-Rockets planning to use short-term, high-salary contracts to use their $61 million in space
-Could take a 2-year, $80 million contract to lure Fred VanVleet out of Toronto
-Dillon Brooks considered to be Rockets top wing target
-Brook Lopez… – 11:30 AM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Report: Rockets prioritize Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks in free agency. They have the money to land both.
nbcsports.com/nba/news/repor… – 11:16 AM

Tim Chisholm @timpchisholm
I get the Rockets being interested in a culture-vet like VanVleet, but this is a team with a lot of guys who need the ball in their hands.
Rockets could really mess up Raptors roster plans, though, either by forcing a $32m-plus salary or by forcing Raps to lose him for nothing – 9:41 AM

Dave Early @DavidEarly
Sixers beat reporter drama!?
Tobias Harris, VanVleet, Harden, Lillard.
All the latest
libertyballers.com/2023/6/27/2377… – 1:14 AM

Alvaro Martin @AlvaroNBAMartin
Si James Harden renueva en Philadelphia, @HoustonRockets pone sus miras en @FredVanVleet, por el cual están dispuestos a pagar $30 millones por temporada, dice Marc. Dillon Brooks quiere más que la excepción media de $12.4 millones pero anticipan que se unirá al equipo. pic.twitter.com/FsJpGdUf7w – 11:27 PM

Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
Per @TheSteinLine this evening:
“League sources say they see Toronto’s Fred VanVleet and Memphis’ Dillon Brooks at the top of a Rockets wish list widely thought to be headlined by former Rockets All-Star James Harden…
Sources say that the Raptors realize it will likely require… – 10:37 PM

Eric Koreen @ekoreen
This is not reporting, but simply math if FVV and Jak are back at their expected prices: I think trading Gary Trent Jr. would make a lot of sense, assuming you don’t have to attach any assets. – 4:25 PM

Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Gradey Dick, who grew up in Wichita, said he’s watched a lot of Fred VanVleet over the years. He’s close with FVV’s college teammate Ron Baker, so he’s met Fred a few times, even went to some of his camps as a kid. He said his dad has a VanVleet poster hanging in their house. – 12:02 PM

Alvaro Martin @AlvaroNBAMartin
Con sus $60 millones bajo el tope, @HoustonRockets perseguirá a varios de estos agentes libres:
Khris Middleton
Brook López
Fred VanVleet
Bruce Brown
Jordan Clarkson
Dillon Brooks
Donte DiVincenzo
Jakob Poeltl
Cam Johnson (RFA)
Austin Reaves (RFA)
Rui Hachimura (RFA) pic.twitter.com/eETxeV5jXb – 6:06 PM

David Hardisty @clutchfans
Houston — what are your thoughts on this potential 2023-24 #Rockets team?
PG: Fred VanVleet
SG: Jalen Green
SF: Dillon Brooks
PF: Jabari Smith Jr
C: Brook Lopez
Bench: Şengün, Tari, KPJ, Amen, Whitmore, TyTy
Bubble/trade: KJ, Tate, Garuba, Christopher pic.twitter.com/zmeEf7cSiY – 3:50 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Yesterday I found out there’s a subset of Laker fans that think D’Angelo Russell is as good as Fred VanVleet and… can’t say I understand that one.
I get not wanting to allocate cap space to FVV, but yea, there’s a gap between those two guys. – 2:39 PM

Evan Sidery @esidery
The Rockets plan to pursue the following free agents next week, per @Jonathan_Feigen (houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-n…):
Khris Middleton
Brook Lopez
Fred VanVleet
Bruce Brown
Cam Johnson (RFA)
Jordan Clarkson
Austin Reaves (RFA)
Dillon Brooks
Rui Hachimura (RFA)
Donte DiVincenzo
Jakob… pic.twitter.com/MfjxfOJue4 – 12:33 PM

Evan Sidery @esidery
The Rockets plan to pursue the following free agents next week, per @Jonathan_Feigen (houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-n…):
Khris Middleton
Brook Lopez
Fred VanVleet
Bruce Brown
Cam Johnson (RFA)
Jordan Clarkson
Austin Reaves (RFA)
Dillon Brooks
Rui Hachimura (RFA)
Donte DiVincenzo (RFA)… pic.twitter.com/XWACkrSsTt – 12:30 PM