Houston Rockets: 3 candidates for a breakout season in 2018-19

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 26: Marquese Chriss #0 of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on February 26, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 26: Marquese Chriss #0 of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on February 26, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

1. Marquese Chriss

In two seasons of NBA play, Marquese Chriss has shown his immense physical gifts in the form of stanchion-rattling dunks and tremendous blocked shots, but the former No. 8 overall pick hasn’t really shown much else, leaving some to believe his time in the league will be short-lived.

Playing alongside guys like Paul and Harden will likely do wonders for Chriss, with their passing ability and pick-and-roll prowess. The two All-Stars have brought the best out of a player with similar raw talent in Clint Capela, turning him into one of the league’s most feared rim-runners. They could do the same with their new teammate.

Houston should be a better situation for Chriss, who will no longer be tasked with the burden of lifting up one of the NBA’s cellar-dwellers, and instead will simply be asked to do what he does best in limited minutes without much expected of him.

Nene proved to be a productive player off the pine for the Rockets, but his style doesn’t really fit what they like to do on both ends. Chriss certainly needs some smoothing around the edges, but in a stable environment like Houston and with talent around him, his stock should rise in a role similar to the one that netted Capela $80 million this past summer.