The Houston Rockets are likely to receive a Disabled Players’ Exception (DPE) following Fred VanVleet’s injury. That’s great, but it may not change their fortunes too much.
Such is the punitive nature of the salary cap. The Rockets are over the first apron. Even with the DPE, any signing they make has to be for $1.25 million or less.
For those familiar with NBA contracts, $1.25 million is roughly the equivalent of a shiny new penny. It's new and shiny:
But it's not worth much.
Go look at a list of available free agents.