While the media was gathered at a Saturday afternoon press conference to introduce the Houston Rockets’ newest free agent acquisitions, the team made “a second announcement”: it had signed James Harden to an extension that will pay him the maximum salary through 2020 (the last season being a player option), locking up its franchise player for the long(er) term.

This announcement came as a huge surprise… to most.

FWIW:

Rockets current cap room (pre D-Mo sign/match): $9-11M.

Cap room needed to renegotiate-and-extend Harden to a max deal: About $9.7M.

— David Weiner (@BimaThug) July 4, 2016

“But how was that even possible?” you ask? Here’s how:

Players with deals of four years or longer who have been under their current contract for at least three years (like Harden) are eligible for a contract extension. An extension can prolong the player’s contract for up to four seasons (including seasons remaining on the player’s current contract). However, an extension alone cannot increase the player’s salary during the remaining year(s) on his deal, nor can it increase his salary in the extended years by more than 7.5% from the player’s previous salary.

But a renegotiation-and-extension of a player’s contract can increase a player’s existing salary up to the max, so long as the team has enough available cap room to provide such a raise. The Rockets had just enough space to do so. The Rockets used about $9.8 million in cap room to increase Harden’s previous salary of $16.8 million.

Harden’s extension will pay him $26.54 million this season, $28.53 million in 2017-18 and $30.52 million in 2018-19, with a player option for $32.51 million in 2019-2020.

Unless Harden dramatically underperforms his contract, expect him to opt out in 2019, at which time he will be a 10-year veteran and eligible (at least under the current CBA) for an even higher maximum salary. But with a boatload of goodwill in the bank (literally!), an opt-out by Harden would most likely be in order to secure another long-term deal with the Rockets rather than to bolt for another franchise.

This extension also provides the Rockets with a little more cost certainty for their star player prior to a 2017 CBA negotiation that could see a dramatic increase (quite possible) or even an elimination (less likely but still on the table) of the max salary. Note that, unlike in 2011, the players union’s leadership is comprised of superstars (including president Chris Paul and vice president LeBron James) who may be motivated to better compensate the league’s marquee players.

As I’ll touch on in further detail in my next salary cap update, this extension largely eliminates the Rockets’ remaining cap flexibility this summer and significantly hampers it next summer. However, avoiding the impending free agency limbo that the Thunder will undoubtedly face with Russell Westbrook this season may outweigh whatever that flexibility (which was not going to be sizeable, anyway) would have provided Houston.

With the Houston Rockets still having roughly $9-10 million in cap room and a need for some help at point guard, many have speculated that this may finally be the time that Spanish league star Sergio Llull comes to Clutch City.

Not this year. The Rockets will not be signing him this offseason, a source confirmed to ClutchFans.

It remains unclear how much interest Llull has in coming over to the NBA. The Rockets felt very good about their chances of bringing him over last season but he declined their deal at a late hour, opting instead to sign an extension with Real Madrid through the 2020-21 season. It was reported that the NBA buyout clause in his new extension was friendlier to him than it was in his previous deal.

The 6-foot-3 combo guard was drafted by Denver with the 34th pick of the 2009 NBA Draft. His draft rights were sold to Houston that night for $2.25 million in cash, a record at the time for a second round pick.

As far as identifying talent, the Rockets did well as Llull has thrived overseas. He is a strong pick-and-roll guard who loves to play in the open court, which would make one think that a Mike D’Antoni system would be a draw. He’s a career 38-39% three-point shooter, though he has been less effective from distance the past two seasons. He’s passionate about the game, having a flair for the dramatic and a penchant for game-winning shots.

It will now be a minimum of eight years from the time Houston drafted him to the next shot they have at getting him over, and even Arvydas Sabonis thinks that’s a bit long. That raises the question about whether the Rockets will ever bring over the 28-year old guard.

It’s the Summer of Overspending, but the Rockets may have just found their value.

The Rockets have agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million deal with Wizards free agent center Nenê Hilario. The 33-year old big man confirmed the deal via Twitter, with newest Rocket Eric Gordon replying to the tweet with his approval as well.

@NeneHilario42 yes sir!!!!

— Eric Gordon (@TheofficialEG10) July 6, 2016

The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Nenê was a target of the Rockets in 2011, having agreed to sign with Houston contingent on the Pau Gasol trade. That deal was later vetoed by the league and Nenê re-signed with Denver, traded to Washington a year later.

For the Rockets, this is sorely needed. Clint Capela, while progressing, is not quite ready for the bulk of the minutes and Nenê, who was an effective backup last season for the Wizards, fills this gap.

Nenê is a good defensive player, though not the rim protector that a Dwight Howard is. He’s a smart, strong defender that is difficult for opponents to move. Like a Chuck Hayes, he doesn’t fill up the box score but he has a major impact in plus-minus.

The problem, as it is with other Rocket additions this offseason, is health. Nenê played in just 57 games this past season and has averaged playing just under 60 games a season the past four years.

The Rockets now have some depth at center, though they are likely to start out rookie Chinanu Onuaku at Rio Grande Valley. As Deuce of the BBS points out, the Rockets now have a Nanu and a Nene at center.

@clutchfans The Rockets drafted a Nanu and now have signed a Nene. #NanuNene

— Chris A. White  (@fyrebear) July 6, 2016

The Houston Rockets are adding shooters.

Shortly after striking a deal with Ryan Anderson, the Rockets have agreed to terms on a deal with Pelicans guard Eric Gordon, as first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.

The deal is for four years at $53 million.

Gordon has dealt with several injuries in New Orleans but is a very strong shooter and scorer, capable of more if he can stay healthy. Therein lies the rub as Gordon played in only 141 games over his five seasons in New Orleans.

But he’s a dangerous scorer. The 27-year old shooting guard is a career 38.3% three-point shooter and 81% free-throw shooter, so he can put the ball in the basket. He might be effective as a spot-up shooter alongside Harden but is definitely capable of being a strong sixth man scorer for this squad.

Defense isn’t found too much on the menu right now, but one thing looks pretty certain — this won’t be the Corey Brewer-Josh Smith brickfest we’ve been seeing the last couple of years. The Rockets have added a couple of guys that teams will have to defend on the perimeter. Mike D’Antoni has more weapons to work with now as James Harden, Trevor Ariza, Patrick Beverley, Anderson and Gordon can all connect on spot-up threes.

As for what’s next, it looks like the Rockets could still have ~$10 million left in cap space, with Donatas Motiejunas’ restricted free agency still up in the air.

After Anderson & Gordon signings, and WITH D-Mo's cap hold & Beasley, the #Rockets could still have up to $9.2M in cap room left to spend.

— David Weiner (@BimaThug) July 3, 2016

If D-Mo does return and can get his back situation in order, you have to hope he can play some center minutes (as he did in 2014-15) as that spot is a concern right now.

The Rockets didn’t get to make a pitch to Kevin Durant, couldn’t woo Kent Bazemore and seem to be out of the running for Al Horford, but they did make one big signing on Saturday.

Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson reportedly will sign a four-year, $80 million contract to join the Rockets, as first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Rockets need shooting and salaries have ballooned. We now live in a world where Jon Leuer signs for four years, $42 million, so the $20 million per year the Rockets are giving Anderson isn’t as crazy as it sounded 36 hours ago. Anderson has had Houston’s interest for some time.

The 6-foot-10 power forward is a career 37.7% three-point shooter, averaging 17.0 points per game last season to go with 6.0 rebounds. He enjoyed a career year in 2013-14 when he put up 19.8 points a night, hitting 40.9% from deep. The hope is that he will see even more open threes here.

The 28-year old fits what Mike D’Antoni is likely to implement, an offensive-minded scheme that will shoot a lot of triples and needs a power forward that can stretch the floor. James Harden will undoubtedly love kicking passes out to Anderson. He’s also a solid rebounder. What he’s not is a defender, which is the big bonus the Rockets would have gotten in Bazemore and/or Horford.

He wasn’t my first choice and it’s a lot of money for an incremental bump as the Rockets still don’t have a definite solution at the five, but this team desperately needs shooting at this spot and they get it here. How this looks in the overall big picture will depend on what other moves Daryl Morey and company do after this, and Woj is reporting the Rockets are going after another Pelicans sharpshooter in Eric Gordon. The Rockets still have cap space. As it stands, I’m not convinced Dwight out and Anderson in alone has a huge impact on the bottom line but we’ll see how this shakes out.

The Rockets are meeting with Atlanta Hawks free agent guard/forward Kent Bazemore tonight as free agent negotiations have started.

As first reported by Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports, the Rockets are preparing a big pitch for Bazemore, who was not planning on meeting with any teams until July 5th. James Harden will reportedly be present for the meeting.

The 27-year old Bazemore averaged 11.6 points for the Hawks last season, hitting 35.7% from three-point range, to go with 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He’s an athletic player with upside that has a history with Mike D’Antoni from the 2013-14 Lakers.

Bazemore is going to get overpaid in free agency, without a doubt, but he would be a very good addition here. He’s a three-and-D wing who has experience defending some of the league’s best players, sporting a near-seven foot wingspan that gives opponents trouble. He also has shown to be an effective catch-and-shoot three-point shooter, a skill that would be in demand from role players alongside Harden.

It was not 100% clear who the Rockets would consider a top target outside of Kevin Durant in this free agent class, but that picture may be starting to come into focus.

The Rockets are scheduled to meet with Atlanta Hawks free agent center Al Horford on Friday, according to local Fox 26.

The 30-year old Horford averaged 15.2 points on 50.5% from the field to go with 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks last season for the Hawks. The nine-year veteran started to show three-point range for the first time this past season, putting up 256 triples at a 34.4% clip. Horford had shot a grand total of 66 three-pointers in his first eight seasons in the NBA.

Horford was a college teammate of Rockets small forward Corey Brewer at Florida where the pair won back-to-back NCAA championships together in 2006 and 2007.

With Dwight Howard an unrestricted free agent, the Rockets are likely going to need some help inside. Horford is a different kind of big man, one who shot nearly 80% from the free throw line last season, which must make him look like a unicorn to Houston fans.

The Rockets declined to extend a qualifying offer to Terrence Jones, highlighting that they are placing a premium on cap space. Not to get ahead of ourselves, but an approach the Rockets are likely taking here is to get a guy like Horford early, which could make the Rockets more attractive to other free agents. Easier said than done, but they’re still hunting big game.

As expected, the Rockets have extended a qualifying offer to Donatas Motiejunas, making him a restricted free agent as free agent negotiations open in the NBA tonight at midnight. We reported last week that the Rockets are making a push to let D-Mo know they want him back.

However, the Rockets have declined to extend a qualifying offer to Terrence Jones, according to the Houston Chronicle, making him an unrestricted free agent.

I knew Jones was not in the Rockets’ plans after falling completely out of the rotation last season, but it was still unexpected to see this. At a little over $3 million, and with salaries expected to explode, I thought the Rockets would extend the offer, knowing they could always pull it back later to create the cap room.

To me, it shows just how far he has truly fallen that the threat of him accepting that offer was too big of a risk to the Rockets.

Jones appeared to be ready for a breakout heading into 2014-15, but since then he has been hammered by bizarre injuries, including a collapsed lung, nerve inflammation, eye laceration and recovery from a car accident. But even when healthy in 2015-16, he was just plain unproductive, shooting a career-low from the field and routinely getting lost in switches and pick-and-roll defensive sets. In the final 27 games of the regular season and postseason, Jones played a grand total of 5 minutes — all in garbage time of a rout of the Timberwolves on April 11.