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Houston Rockets: Absorbing The Blow Of Josh Smith’s Departure

By Gerald Bourguet

May 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith (5) reacts after scoring against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs. at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith (5) reacts after scoring against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs. at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Josh Smith
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Sam Dekker (Wisconsin) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number eighteen overall pick to the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Long-Term Outlook

Technically speaking, D-Mo and T-Jones are young enough to qualify for this category as well. Other than Howard and Trevor Ariza, the Rockets are pretty young across the board and have a promising future. But if McHale can find time for the raw prospects like their two new power forward, the Rockets will be better off for it in the long run.

It starts with Sam Dekker, Houston’s first round selection in this year’s draft. At 6’9″, Dekker has the size, length and athleticism to hound small forwards, but he’s perfectly suited to log time at the 4 in small-ball lineups as well. Dekker hasn’t been able to play in Summer League, but the Rockets are hopeful he’s able to spread the floor with a three-point shot as efficiently as he did in the NCAA Tournament.

As for Harrell, he’s more of a brute force in the paint than anything else. He has the ability to knock down midrange looks and is averaging a respectable 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game for the Rockets’ Summer League team.

But his real value comes from banging bodies in the paint for hustle points and angry slam dunks. It remains to be seen how he’d fit on a team that favors finesse and perimeter skills more than the kind of raw strength he’d bring inside. There can only be one Dwight Howard soaking up possessions in the post, after all. We could also mention Summer League acquisition Alan Williams, a rebounding machine who’s averaging 20.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in Las Vegas.

Neither Dekker nor Harrell figure to be the kind of defensive stalwart that Smith was, nor will they be able to make the kinds of plays that he did. But between Dekker, Harrell and 21-year-old Clint Capela, the Rockets’ frontcourt is in a good place moving forward.

Next: Conclusion

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