Dallas Mavericks: Will the Rockets shake up their roster? Could Mavs benefit?

Why the Rockets would shake up their roster, and how it impacts the Dallas Mavericks

Houston has plenty of difficult decisions to make before next season gets underway. They have ten players under contract for north of $131 million combined meaning the Rockets will be paying the luxury tax after filling out their roster.

Houston could shed salary, but nearly all of the money is tied up in their five best players. James Harden and Russell Westbrook are each set to make over $41 million. Eric Gordon is their third highest-paid player at $16.7 million and is in the first of a four-year deal. Robert Covington makes $12.1 million and P.J. Tucker is locked in at nearly $8 million. Trading away any of those five players is going to hurt the Rockets chances of contending in 2021.

The main reason to shake up the roster would be the results. Houston was dominated by the Lakers in the second round of the playoffs. This small ball approach does not appear to be a title-winning formula. The Rockets are likely to grab a center and use a more traditional rotation next season.

Houston shaking up their roster benefits the Mavericks. The Rockets deciding to add a center means Dallas can grab a matchup advantage. Houston shredding salary makes the Mavs a lock to take over the Southwest Division in 2021. The Rockets mixing it up benefits Dallas.

Next: Why to run it back