Houston Rockets: 3 big questions heading into 2018-19 NBA season

2. Will a strong supporting cast be in place by the playoffs?

Losing both Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute was a tough blow for the Rockets this summer. While Mbah a Moute had health concerns and wasn’t effective in playoffs as a result of them, both he and Ariza were crucial to the defensive identity the team had carved out.

Ariza is another situation entirely. His situation resembles the Chandler Parsons predicament the team was faced with years earlier. The Rockets felt as though Parsons wasn’t worth the money, so they let him walk and signed Ariza.

Now the team is seeing history repeat itself, as Ariza signed a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns. To replace him, the Rockets brought in both Carmelo Anthony, as well as James Ennis, who spent last season with the Memphis Grizzlies and Detroit Pistons.

Ennis is a 28 year-old forward that has shown the ability to be a tenacious defender. While he is a bit of a streaky shooter, he does have the ability to keep the defense honest from deep.

It’s possible that Ennis and Anthony, along with the returning P.J. Tucker, Eric Gordon and Gerald Green will be enough help on the perimeter.

The other option could be for the Rockets to find help on the buyout market. You never know if a player like DeMarre Carroll could become available midseason, or even a return for Trevor Ariza.

But no matter what the answer is from a personnel standpoint, the Rockets must look to make sure the right pieces are in place by the postseason. Their window is now and the team must be proactive in its search to get the pieces that will help them defeat the Golden State Warriors.