While the majority of this Houston Rockets core foundation is already contractually locked in for the long haul, this summer, there are a few noteworthy players who appear to have uncertain futures with the organization.
Both figuratively and literally, the biggest name that falls into this particular category is starting center Steven Adams, who finds himself heading into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
By all accounts, it appears Houston is very interested in re-signing the seasoned veteran, and, [per Kelly Iko of The Athletic](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6396071/2025/06/03/rockets-steven-adams-giannis-antetokounmpo-nba-draft/), the feeling seems to be mutual.
Of course, considering the extensions that loom for guys like Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr., coupled with the soon-to-kick-in lofty paydays for Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green, finding the right price point for bringing back Adams may be a bit tricky.
Fortunately, the Rockets have a full mid-level exception at their disposal, and they should be highly interested in re-upping with the 31-year-old via such means.
**Rockets should look to re-sign Steven Adams with full MLE**
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In all likelihood, Houston [will wind up renegotiating Fred VanVleet's contract](https://spacecityscoop.com/rockets-only-option-retaining-fred-vanvleet-become-painfully-obvious) this summer, which, in turn, will push their payroll dangerously close to the $154.6 million cap.
Such a decision will have a direct impact on the club's methods of re-signing Adams, though, while a bit more challenging, is still more than realistic.
Utilizing the entirety of their MLE (an exception that allows teams to sign players to above minimum-scale salaries, even while over the cap) on the big man may limit the quantity of players they can absorb into the $5.7 million luxury, but emphasize their desire for quality contributors.
In just one season playing for the Rockets, Steven Adams has already proven himself to be a vital component to their championship aspirations.
While his regular season production may not have blown anyone away (3.9 points and 5.6 rebounds on 54.5 percent shooting from the field), it was his efforts and impact under the bright lights of the postseason that truly cemented his status as a should-be, long-term rotational fixture.
Houston proved to play their best brand of basketball when both Adams and Sengun shared the floor together against the Golden State Warriors during their round-one showdown, as the team sported a plus-30.7 points per 100 possessions during such sets.
On top of this, with him in the game, the ball club also ranked in the 94 percentile in point differential (+14.5), the 98 percentile in opponent's effective field goal percentage (47.6), and the 100 percentile in offensive rebound percentage (42.1).
What's most important to realize is that, before making his debut for the Rockets on October 28, Adams' last time seeing meaningful on-court action was back in January of 2023, as he was sidelined due to a lingering PCL sprain in his right knee.
Clearly, the big man needed time to shake off the rust, and, as the season went on, he progressively got more comfortable and more impactful on the hardwood.
After seeing how effective he was in high-pressure situations, such as the NBA Playoffs, it should be a no-brainer that Steven Adams is worth every penny of Houston's MLE.