The NBA offseason is in full swing, and there’s less than one month to go before the season begins. This offseason has been a rollercoaster for the Rockets thus far, so it’s about time to break it all down.
Troubled Stars?
The biggest concern in Houston is what will become of their superstar backcourt. Some sources say Harden and Russ want to be traded elsewhere, and Harden reportedly turned down the largest contract extension in NBA history (a staggering two-year, $103 million deal). Much uncertainty surrounds the organization at the moment, but there’s no need to panic yet.
One of two things is happening here. The first and less desirable possibility is that Harden and Westbrook genuinely want out, and still prefer to be traded away. However, it’s also possible that Harden/Russ used trade rumors to force the front office/ownership into a more aggressive stance. While it’s just speculation, the rumors could’ve been a power move directed at the Rockets’ notoriously cheap owner.
Training camps begin shortly, and it looks like both Harden and Westbrook will start the season with the Rockets. While they could still leave Houston in a trade during the season, the hope remains that time heals all wounds. Hopefully they can both move past their issues and lock in for the upcoming year.
EDIT: Late in the evening after this article was published, Woj reported that Russell Westbrook was traded for John Wall and a protected 1st round pick. Russ didn’t report for training camp today, but Harden did show up and is still expected to be on the opening day roster.
Draft Day
When the NBA lifted the transaction moratorium, the Rockets turned heads by trading Robert Covington to Portland in exchange for Trevor Ariza, the Blazers’ 2020 first round pick (#16 overall), and another future first rounder. Soon after, Houston gave the 2020 first to the Pistons for very little return just an hour before the draft. By this point, nearly every Rockets fan found themselves questioning the team’s plans for the future.
Despite trading out of the first round, Houston did bring in prospects on draft night. With the 52nd pick, they took Kenyon Martin Jr.– the son of former NBA player Kenyon Martin. After the draft, Houston agreed to deals with undrafted free agents Mason Jones and Trevelin Queen. All three show flashes of potential, but they must really show out in training camp if they want a spot on the final roster. Otherwise, they’ll spend time developing in the G-League for now.
Big is the New Small
Despite the concerning moves to start the offseason, new Rockets GM Rafael Stone proved he had a plan after all. As free agency began, it was revealed that Ariza/Pick 16 were sent to Detroit as part of a sign-and-trade deal for breakout PF/C Christian Wood. Following last season’s trade deadline, Wood started 12 games, averaging 21.9 PTS, 9.4 REB, 2.3 AST and 40.8% shooting from three.
At 6’10, Wood adds much-needed height to the Rockets lineup and makes the offense significantly more versatile. Most importantly, his elite shooting allows Houston to maintain spacing with the five-out offense too. Between his age (25) and contract (three years), C-Wood might just turn out to be the next big thing in Houston.
For their other big signing, the Rockets brought in center DeMarcus Cousins on a one-year, non-guaranteed deal. Despite suffering a torn ACL in August of 2019, Houston staff said Boogie impressed them in his workout with the team last week. In his last season for the Warriors, he averaged 16.3/8.2/3.6 with 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals. If the four-time all-star can return to even half of what he used to be, he can make a significant difference for the Rockets moving forward, especially in the playoffs when teams need big bodies to throw at guys like LeBron and Anthony Davis.
New-Look Rockets
In addition to the big offseason additions, the Rockets also brought in a couple of role players to shore up the back end of the lineup. Jae’Sean Tate could become an x-factor off the bench, as he earned first-team honors in the Australian NBL last season. Tate may be short at just 6’5, but he’s a great slasher who hustles and plays solid defense. The Rockets also added Sterling Brown from the Bucks while retaining Ben McLemore, David Nwaba and Bruno Caboclo. As an added bonus, fan-favorite Gerald Green signed a non-guaranteed deal and is set to fight for a roster spot in training camp.
Hope for the Future
If we had to grade the Rockets offseason, they’d land at a B to B+. Especially when considering the limited flexibility he was given, Rafael Stone proved that he can hold his own in a lead GM position. Wood signed a team-friendly deal and Cousins remains a low-risk, high-reward player. Many of the new faces are age 25 and younger too, so the influx of youth is an encouraging sign for the future. Between new head coach Stephen Silas at the helm and the shift away from full-time small ball, this Rockets squad could really position themselves for a deep playoff run in the upcoming season.
Follow us on Twitter @RocketsLead for the latest Rockets news and insight.
Leave a comment