Although the Houston Rockets are in win-now mode, owner Tilman Fertitta is looking to shed salary to avoid a luxury-tax bill, league sources told CNBC's Jabari Young.
Some league executives reportedly believe Fertitta is pressuring general manager Daryl Morey to make a deal that decreases salary while simultaneously keeping the team competitive.
"He's got a new owner now," an executive told Young. "This isn't the old days with Leslie Alexander; he's with Fertitta now, who counts every penny. It's a new world there."
Houston's $139.9-million payroll is the second-highest in the league and the team currently has a projected luxury-tax bill of $482,198, according to Spotrac.
The Rockets have reportedly engaged multiple Eastern Conference teams regarding potential trades involving starting center Clint Capela. The 25-year-old is owed $14.9 million for 2019-20, the second season of a five-year, $90-million contract. Russell Westbrook and James Harden are the only Rockets players earning more than Capela this season.
Fertitta bought the Rockets in 2017 for $2.2 billion - then an NBA record - but he needed to sell $1.4 billion worth of bonds to purchase the team.
