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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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May 3, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) has a shot blocked by Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Heat won 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) has a shot blocked by Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Heat won 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Sign Hassan Whiteside

I know that no Miami Heat fans want any other team to have Hassan Whiteside, but unfortunately his skill set is going to be massively in demand this summer.

When Dwight Howard went to Houston, I thought that they were going to win the championship for sure, that he and James Harden would dominate the West. I was so wrong.

In the past year we have seen the straining and then the fracturing of that on-court relationship; one of the egos had to go. I don’t use the word ego in a negative sense there; they both believe that they are stars … well … because they both are.

Unfortunately there appeared to be compatibility issues between the two. I think that Whiteside, who has played on the Heat team with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, has figured out how to play with other stars.

Houston is now in desperate need of a rim protector now that Howard has gone. Whiteside certainly fits that need having lead the NBA in blocks last season with 3.7 per game.

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Whiteside will also rebound as hard as Howard did; both of them averaged 11.8 rebounds last year.

One major upside for Whiteside is he will be more involved in the offense as he wants to be there, unlike Howard, so should give Houston a reliable second offensive option.

Next: Move On From Josh Smith

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