Each NBA team’s projected starting lineup for 2023–24
By Cal Durrett
Projected starting lineup: Houston Rockets
Point Guard: Fred VanVleet
Shooting Guard: Jalen Green
Small Forward: Dillon Brooks
Power Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
Center: Alperin Sengun
The Houston Rockets have been among the worst teams in basketball for the last three seasons, going just 59-177 during the span. That brutal stretch led to them changing their rebuilding strategy and choosing to sign Fred Van Vleet and Dillon Brooks in hopes of making them more respectable. On paper, they should definitely be better, with a much-improved starting lineup that makes a lot more sense.
Van Vleet should help improve the Rockets’ offense by creating better shots, while Brooks should help their defense by guarding the opposing team’s best wing. Factor in some internal improvement by Green, Smith Jr., and Sengun, and this might not be a terrible team this season.
Even then, the Western Conference appears to be deeper than last season, so they may still be one of the worst teams in the conference. But after winning just 33% of their games over the last three seasons, anything that gets them closer to .500 should be considered a win.