Free agency, much like spring or summer, is its own season. The air is different, the anticipation tangible.



Around this same time, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey relocates inside Toyota Center, abandoning his usual office and opting for the war room.



Being one of the top teams in the NBA, there’s always pressure on Houston to perform and stay atop the pack. Like any other team, the Rockets’ focus is adding players who can improve what they currently have. The nature of the past two playoff exits to Golden State, however, has changed things a bit internally.



As it pertains to the Rockets in free agency, when a player wants to come, there are multiple ways to make it happen. Chris Paul’s arrival two summers ago should serve as a reference point.



Where Houston deviates from other teams, and where the Rockets perceive their advantage in the market lies, is in evaluation. They look at the NBA landscape like this: The players most...