Explaining Aaron Holiday’s True Value to the Rockets

Last summer, the Houston Rockets emphasized defense over offense and shooting. That indirectly turned Aaron Holiday into a makeshift shooter, which wasn’t really the plan.

Holiday has been a bit of a journeyman, playing for four different teams in five seasons and was one of the last players the Rockets signed last offseason. The Rockets added Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson, two other point guards, leading many to wonder if Holiday would actually make the roster or just be a training camp addition.

Not only was he selected, but he was also included in Rockets coach Ime Udoka’s closing lineup on multiple occasions. Holiday shot 38.7 percent from long range (on just 2.8 attempts), which was second on the team behind Reggie Bullock. Holiday also showed immense defensive effort.

Granted, Holiday was also a little greedy with the ball, which is not what you want from your point guard.

The Rockets ultimately decided to bring Holiday back, on a two-year contract worth about $10 million.

And the reason they brought him back had little to do with his on-field abilities. The reasoning was simple: He was a replacement.

The deal includes a team option for the final year, similar to deals signed by Jae’Sean Tate, Jeff Green and even Fred VanVleet. The Rockets have prioritized flexibility in their contract extensions, so much so that it’s become a recurring theme.

Jock Landale also has a largely unguaranteed contract, as only $8 million of his $32 million contract is guaranteed.

In total, Landale, Holiday, Tate and Green have a combined $28 million in replacement salary, not including VanVleet, who has a figure over $40 million on his own. The Rockets are willing to make a major move for a superstar because they also have the necessary draft assets, in addition to the replacement salary needed to make it happen.

Holiday’s offer only increases this figure.

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