The Houston Rockets made a big swing to land Kevin Durant this offseason, but their roster is strong at all levels.
The Houston Rockets went from a dangerous playoff team to a genuine contender this offseason.
The Rockets traded for Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns just hours before Game 7 of the NBA Finals, kicking off the offseason in style.
But they didn’t just stop there, as the Rockets had a brilliant free agency period, signing some big names. Perhaps their biggest coup was luring Dorian Finney-Smith from the LA Lakers.
The Rockets genuinely feel like contenders in the Western Conference, and could challenge the OKC Thunder and Denver Nuggets for the top spot.
While Kevin Durant was the big-name acquisition for the Rockets, they did make some big changes to their roster.
This is what their lineup with Kevin Durant looks like:
Starting Lineup | Second Unit |
Fred VanVleet | Aaron Holiday |
Amen Thompson | Josh Okogie |
Kevin Durant | Jabari Smith Jr. |
Dorian Finney-Smith | Tari Eason |
Alperen Sengun | Clint Capela |
The Rockets have a brilliant young core, and placing Kevin Durant and Dorian Finney-Smith among them in the starting lineup is a brilliant play.
The Rockets’ landing of Clint Capela also provides them with some much-needed depth at the center position. Steven Adams, along with Capela, gives Sengun some great backup.
It’s no secret that the Houston Rockets spent the last five years trying to build their team the right way, with an influx of young players.
But after their disappointing first-round exit at the hands of the Golden State Warriors, they knew they had to add a bona fide star to their team.
The Rockets went back on their word by landing Kevin Durant. And he must reward this faith by delivering at the highest level.
Durant is even taking a pay cut for the Rockets, showing his commitment to the team. But there is no better reward for both sides than a title-winning season.
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