Stephen A. Smith says Jimmy Butler's attitude would clash with Rockets
FIRST TAKE
27 June 2019
FIRST TAKE
With more reports coming in about Houston's interest in acquiring Jimmy Butler, Stephen A. Smith shares his thoughts on why the deal could backfire for the Rockets.
Houston is reportedly shopping Clint Capela, P.J. Tucker, and Eric Gordon which could leave the team thin if all three of the players are moved.
Should Rockets fans be excited for Jimmy Butler if the cost is losing Capela, Gordon, and Tucker?
The Houston Texans still have spots to fill, as we're only three days into free agency. But they have addressed linebacker with the signing of former Titan and 49er, Azeez Al-Shaair.
Al-Shaair played for DeMeco in San Francisco, and was a target of the Texans in free agency last season. Al-Shaair opted to sign a 1-year deal with the Titans instead of coming to Houston.
This year, DeMeco got his man signing Al-Shaair to a 3-year, $34 million deal, per KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson.
#Texans three-year, $34M deal for Azeez Al-Shaair: $21.5M gtd, $11 million signing bonus, salaries $1.5M (gtd), $9M (gtd), $11M; $29,412 per game active roster bonus annual up to $500K
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 12, 2024
Just two years ago, Al-Shaair was a member of the best linebacker trio in the NFL. Playing alongside 49ers' Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. But with his contract expiring with the 49ers after the 2022 season, it was time for Al-Shaair to go be the main guy on a new team. And after one season with Tennessee, it's time for him to do it in Houston.
With Denzel Perryman and Blake Cashman leaving in free agency, Houston needed to add to the position group. Al-Shaair will join Christian Harris in the Texans' linebacker room. Who will fill the third role is yet to be determined. But that's a great duo at linebacker, and the Texans play a ton of nickel coverage, with only 2 linebackers on the field.
What does Al-Shaair bring to the table?
Al-Shaair isn't quite as good in coverage as Cashman or Harris, per PFF. But he's great against the run, recording over 150 tackles last season.
The 26-year-old Al-Shaair should be an immediate upgrade at linebacker. And don't be surprised if we see Christian Harris taking over some coverage duties left behind by Cashman.
In the video above, Craig from Sports Talk Extra uses some numbers from PFF to illustrate how DeMeco Ryans could deploy his new handpicked linebacker.