In perhaps the clearest sign of the Rockets’ plans for free agency next month, the Rockets are likely to allow forward Chandler Parsons to become a restricted free agent in the hopes that they could sign a major free agent and then go over the salary cap to retain Parsons, a person with knowledge of their thinking said on Tuesday.

Yahoo Sports first reported on Tuesday that the Rockets have decided not to pick up their option on a fourth season on Parsons’ contract. A person with knowledge of the Rockets thinking said that a decision about Parsons’ contract has not been finalized, but that the team is “leaning towards” having him become a free agent this summer.

That individual emphasized that if the team becomes too concerned that Parsons will receive too great a contract this summer, the Rockets could still opt to keep him under his rookie contract for one more season. The uncertainty about what sort of deal Parsons would receive, he said, has the team more likely to make him a free agent.

By making him a free agent this off-season, rather than after the 2014-15 season, and making a qualifying offer, the Rockets would be able to match any offer sheet Parsons signs. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said last month that Parsons would be back with the Rockets next season.

The Rockets have until June 30 to pick up their option on Parsons’ contract for next season. Worth $964,750, it would be one of the top bargains in the NBA, but Parsons would then become an unrestricted free agent after the 2014-15 season.

If the Rockets were to pursue a top free agent after that season, it would be much more difficult to sign an expensive free agent and keep Parsons than would be this off-season when they would be able to match any offer he receives. A decision to allow Parsons to become a free agent this summer would indicate some confidence that they can sign a top free agent next month and would not have to wait until after next season.

The Rockets are expected to pursue the top free agents this summer – including LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony and Dirk Nowitzki – if each opts out of contracts and will consider the Rockets. To have that sort of cap room, the Rockets would have to move several contracts, likely including Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik, especially if Parsons is a free agent because of the cap hold necessary for the Rockets to retain their rights to match offers for him.

According to an individual familiar with the Rockets’ plans, they are confident they would be able to move Lin and Asik’s contracts because unlike their failed efforts to trade Asik last season, they would be looking to clear cap room, rather than bring back rotation players with similar contracts .

Parsons, the Rockets’ third-leading scorer last season, has said he wants to return to the Rockets next season. When asked this week on Twitter if he expects to be back, he answered to ask Morey.