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5 Roster Moves The Houston Rockets Need To Make

By Matthew Hallett

Apr 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) and guard James Harden (13) walk down the court after the Rockets were called for a foul against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 115-106. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) and guard James Harden (13) walk down the court after the Rockets were called for a foul against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 115-106. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Houston Rockets had a season that they would like to forget. James Harden had his usual statistical brilliant season, but scraping into the playoffs was probably the worst thing that could have happened. Here are five roster moves they need to make.

Apr 21, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after a play during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after a play during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

So the 2014-15 season was quite successful for the Houston Rockets, who lost the Western Conference Finals to the eventual champions, the Golden State Warriors. James Harden thought that he he should have won the MVP.

Unfortunately for him, Stephen Curry took the award for the first time.

The 2015-16 season could not have played out any more differently, they were beaten by Golden State again in the playoffs, but this time it was in the first round–much earlier than they would have anticipated at the start of the year.

Midway through the season Dwight Howard seemed to opt out of the team in his head and Houston suffered. James Harden became even more of a one-man show.

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Houston has now lost Dwight Howard, who opted out of his contract. One good thing about this is that Houston now has a heap of cap space–an extra $23 million they would not have had and they have a chance to sign a top level free agent who actually wants to be there.

On draft night, Houston made some different choices considering their issues. They selected defensive-oriented center Chinanu Onuaku from Louisville.

Then in the second round they selected Zhou Qi of China, who is wafer thin and can only be a draft and stash. His buyout is also not being completed until the end of the 2017 season.

They also signed two undrafted players, Gary Payton II and Kyle Wiltjer. None of these players help to fix the offense that is broken.

Here are five roster moves they need to make.

Next: Sign Hassan Whiteside

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