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          What a record sale means for the Rockets' future and other owners

          For the past few years, teams including the Rockets have been kicking around a proposal to flip the order of the draft and free agency. AP Photo/Pat Sullivan
          • Kevin PeltonSep 5, 2017, 12:30 PM ET
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            • Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
            • Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
            • Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
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          What implications will Tuesday's news that the Houston Rockets have been sold to local billionaire Tilman Fertitta for a reported $2.2 billion, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, have for both the Rockets and the rest of the NBA?

          Fertitta's willingness to pay longtime owner Les Alexander the highest price ever for an NBA team suggests franchise values continue to, well, skyrocket. But with Houston headed for the luxury tax if the team is able to re-sign newly acquired All-Star guard Chris Paul as a free agent next summer, might the $2.2 billion price tag only be the beginning for Fertitta?