Report: Rockets put Lou Williams, Ryan Anderson on trading block

The Houston Rockets may be looking to make some room in the books so they can make a splash this offseason.

In a bid to gain salary-cap flexibility, the club has made shooting guard Lou Williams and power forward Ryan Anderson available on the trade market, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

They join point guard Patrick Beverley on the trading block. Eight teams are in the mix for the pesky defender, a source told USA TODAY's Sam Amick.

Related: Patrick Beverley fans the flames of his own trade rumors

General manager Daryl Morey recently said he has something up his sleeve to counter the dominance of the champion Golden State Warriors. However, with $87.67 million in guaranteed salary next season tied up between 10 players, Houston didn't have enough dough to pursue a star in free agency.

But if the Rockets were able to shed the contracts of Anderson, Williams, and Beverley, that would open up about $32 million in 2017-18 (not counting the salaries they'd take back).

Money owed

Stein also indicated that the Rockets, who reportedly just inked Morey to a four-year extension, plan to be in the free-agent sweepstakes for Chris Paul and Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, and Atlanta Hawks power forward Paul Millsap, who are all expected to command max deals.