The Houston Rockets surprised the league this season by rising to the second seed in the Western Conference. The end of the season was a disappointment, as the Rockets lost to the Warriors in seven games in the first round, but the future is bright in Houston.
The series with Golden State showed Houston’s need for more offense, specifically in the halfcourt. The Rockets did not have a reliable three-level scorer that could get them a bucket, nor did they have enough floor spacing to prevent the floor from shrinking on offense.
Houston has a bright future ahead of them, and armed with the 10th pick in the draft, a budding young core, and ample draft capital, the avenues to improvement this summer are endless. Here are three things the Rockets must do this offseason.
3. Prioritizing Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun’s development
Thompson and Sengun made it clear this year that they are the future of the Rockets franchise. The 22-year-olds accomplished a lot this season. Thompson was named to the All-Defensive First Team and had a career year offensively (14 points per game on 56 percent shooting and four assists per game), while Sengun was named an All-Star for the first time, averaging 19/10/5 and showing an improved physicality.
Both players have a lot of areas they need to improve in. Thompson needs to keep adding to his offensive game, specifically becoming more of a shooting threat in the halfcourt, while Sengun needs to improve his touch around the rim and his jump shot as well. These weaknesses are
Thompson and Sengun are the future of the Rockets, and taking the next step in their developments will make Houston a threat in the West for years to come.
2. Shooting, shooting, and more shooting
It is no secret that the Rockets need more floor spacing. They were 22nd in three-pointers made per game, 21st in three-point percentage, and 20th in attempts. Their shooting reared its ugly head in the playoffs, as Fred VanVleet was their only consistent outside threat.
Bringing VanVleet back on a team-friendly deal would help with this problem, but adding more floor spacing should be a priority for Houston. If they decide to keep their pick in the draft, drafting someone like Duke’s Kon Knneupel or trading down and drafting UConn’s Liam McNeely are options for shooting.
In free agency, Houston will likely be limited since they are flirting with being an apron team, so budget options like Nic Batum and Taurean Prince would not be splashy moves, but valuable ones they must consider to round out the roster.
1. Acquiring an All-Star scorer
Houston needs scoring. Thompson and Sengun are great, but they will likely never be three-level scorers. The Rockets have assets to trade, and this is the offseason they need to cash in. They reportedly want to keep Jalen Green, but given the volatility he showed all season, playoffs, and his entire Houston tenure, it might be time for the Rockets to consider other options.
Kevin Durant is the obvious target, and he and the Rockets reportedly have interest in a union. Durant’s only issue is his age, as he will be entering year 19 next season. Phoenix wants a haul for their All-Star but likely won’t get one because of Durant’s age. If the price drops low enough, Houston needs to be all over it.
Another target for the Rockets to consider would be Kings guard Zach LaVine. LaVine is coming off the most efficient offensive season of his career (23 PPG on 51 percent shooting and 45 percent from three), and with Sacramento ushering in new management, they could look to rebuild and ship off their veteran pieces.
LaVine’s price tag would likely be lower than Durant’s and he would give Houston the scoring punch they need at all three levels. LaVine is also seven years younger than Durant and fits the Rockets’ timeline better.