Report: Rockets may finally try to sign Spanish icon Sergio Llull
They've only held his right for seven years
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1 min read
Stop me if you've heard this one before: The Houston Rockets will try to sign Spanish guard Sergio Llull next offseason.
Yes, this has been reported numerous times since the Rockets acquired his rights seven years ago, but ESPN's Marc Stein reported that it is for real ... as long as Houston is willing to promise him big bucks and an important role:
The devotion to his Spanish club has established the 28-year-old as a local hero on a scale that only Real Madrid's biggest soccer stars know better. And Llull's popularity only soared in the summer of 2015, when he signed a six-year contract extension.
Sources briefed on the specifics of Llull's contract, however, tell ESPN.com that the NBA buyout to free him from his contract in Madrid is not nearly as onerous as Spanish press reports suggest.
It's "manageable" in the words of one source.
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The belief in Europe is that the Rockets would have to promise a significant role, on top of a pile of money that covers any buyout and also pays him nicely, to get Llull to leave behind his comfort zone and the adoring Madrid public.
Just know this: Houston, sources say, will keep trying to convince Llull to make the leap.
Luis Scola made his NBA debut for the Rockets at 27 years old, so the organization is used to playing the waiting game. Still, this seems extreme. For years, Llull has showed that he is skilled and athletic enough to thrive in the NBA, but he has elected not to do so. If you're a Houston fan, then watching Llull play for Spain in international competition and for Real Madrid in preseason games against NBA teams must be frustrating. His mix of shooting and playmaking would be perfect next to James Harden.
At this point in Llull's career, part of this will be about how much he wants to try playing in the NBA. Philadelphia 76ers forward Dario Saric, for example, sacrificed millions of dollars by coming to the league this year and signing a rookie-scale contract. He did it because he made a commitment to the Sixers two years ago and dreamed of playing in the NBA. It's unclear whether Llull, beloved and comfortable playing in Spain, feels the same way.
