Rockets decline option on Troy Daniels, hope to re-sign unlikely playoff hero

Troy Daniels emerged from the ether to become an unlikely playoff hero for the Houston Rockets and seemed a safe bet to have solidified himself as a piece of the Rockets' future.

But making a splash in free agency comes first, and as such, the Rockets have declined a very inexpensive $816,482 team option for the 2014-15 season, making Daniels a restricted free agent.

It's a somewhat strange move, as Daniels' qualifying offer will be just over $1 million, and his cap hold will be $816,482 - the same as his option - if the team decides not to tender him one. The only advantage would seem to be if they renounced Daniels entirely, shrinking his cap hold to the league minimum, or quickly signed him to a team-friendly deal.

Daniels, a 22-year-old out of VCU, played in just five regular season games, averaging 8.4 points in 15 minutes. He averaged 7.8 points in 17 minutes in four playoff games, following a D-League season in which he averaged 21.5 points while shooting 40.1 percent from long range. He profiles as an above-average, perhaps even elite, floor spacing weapon off the bench and should have suitors outside of Houston.

[Contract data courtesy ShamSports]