Ceiling, floor for Houston Rockets: Ready to make noise in the West?
The Houston Rockets rebuild took an extensive step forward this offseason with the addition of head coach Ime Udoka and two culture-setters in Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks.
Ceiling: 40-42, with playoffs on their mind
With youngsters Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun already on the roster, talent was never a concern for the Rockets. Yet an influx of veteran additions this summer could quickly help morph Houston from a fun, up-and-coming team to a competitive squad.
Brooks is fresh off an All-Defensive second-team nod in 2022-23 and should do wonders shoring up the wing for a Rockets defense that rated second-worst in the NBA last season (118.6). VanVleet saw his production take a slight step back during the past campaign, but remains a borderline All-Star talent, averaging 19.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game since the start of the 2020-21 season. The former NBA champion will be a sound upgrade over Kevin Porter Jr., bringing consistency to the position and serving as a veteran presence for No. 4 overall pick Amen Thompson.
If Green, who averaged a career-best 22.1 PPG last season, can take a third-year jump into stardom and solidify himself as a go-to scorer, the Rockets will be able to hang with nearly anyone in 2023-24.
Floor: 34-48 and a step in the right direction
While Green made improvements in the scoring department last season, his efficiency gives some reason for concern – shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 47.1 percent on two-point attempts. Sengun's versatile offensive game could easily reach All-Star caliber this season, but he's proven a liability defensively.
Houston's influx of veteran players should prove beneficial in the long haul for their core of young talent, but could stunt its growth in the intermediate. VanVleet has averaged 16.6 field-goal attempts over the last three seasons, while Brooks has been vocal in his desire to man a larger offensive role – after netting a $86 million contract in free agency, chances are he gets it.
Regardless, the arrow is pointing up in Houston. The Rockets have the right pieces, although it might take some time to find proper meshing. Houston will see an uptick in win total this season, but may be another year or two away from making legitimate noise in the West.
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