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How the Houston Rockets achieved the perfect balance for a rebuild
Apr 7, 2022, 6:21 pm
Jalen Green looks like the real deal. Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Rockets' need to feed their future. They're obviously fans of my work because not only have they listened, but it's been working out nicely. And by nicely, I mean they're developing their future stars, but still losing games in order to improve their chances for a top pick in the upcoming draft. In March, rookie guard Jalen Green averaged 20.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in 17 games played on 48% shooting from the field, which includes 39.6% from three. Diving a little further into his surge, he's at 21.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, on 47.6% shooting with 39.5% from three in 22 games since the All-Star break.
Green himself said the All-Star break gave him the confidence he needed to go into the second half with a renewed focus. Couple that with the extra film sessions with head coach Stephen Silas and shootarounds with John Lucas, and we're seeing this kid blossom right before our eyes. His continued growth, along with Alperen Sengun and Kevin Porter Jr, has the future looking brighter than what most of us initially thought.
Yesterday The Bench's John Granato and Lance Zierlein from ESPN Houston, talked about how Green has been the best rookie in the second half of the NBA season. They highlighted how his shooting has improved (along with his shot selection), his killer first step, finishing strong at the rim despite his slight frame, and how those flashes of brilliance have now become sustainable excellence. The Killer B's, Joel Blank and Jeremy Branham, also talked about the future of the Rockets a few weeks ago amid this surge. They too like how the team has handled their young stars while maintaining their positioning in the upcoming draft.
When James Harden was traded, most people thought this rebuild would take years. The team was devoid of talent, no room under the cap, and had very little draft desirable capital. They were going to be banking on being a flaming disaster in order to keep their lottery protected picks. Turns out, they've made some shrewd moves that seem to be paying off big time. The trade for KPJ, drafting Green (as well as Sengun and Josh Christopher), and signing Christian Wood to a very affordable deal given his production. However, with Sengun emerging as a better fit next to Green and the others, Wood is now a valuable trade piece the team should use to attract some assets back to help this young team truly realize its potential.
I'll be the first to eat my words when it comes to Wood. I wanted him to be a part of the long-term plans here. I even wrote about how I felt he would be worth keeping. Joel has been adamant about the team needing to trade him. He was so right, and now I'm on the bus. I can see why he's not good for this young nucleus (attitude and inflated sense of self-worth), plus he's taking valuable minutes Sengun needs to develop. What if they could flip Wood into another pick or maybe even a veteran who can come in and truly mentor these young guys? Think about the Suns. They were one of the worst teams in the league not too long ago. Now they're the best team in the league this season and appeared in the Finals last season. All because they added Chris Paul to a young nucleus that included superstar guard Devin Booker and promising big Deandre Ayton.
I'm not saying the Rockets will be the Suns in a couple of years, but it's not out of the realm of possibility anymore. They must continue to grow and develop their young core, identify free agents to bring into the fold that'll help the long-term goal (even if they're here short term), and continue to draft well. If things keep falling in place at the rate they have the second half of this season, we may be looking at a potential play-in spot within a couple of years. Beyond that, it's anybody's guess where this team could end up.
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Astros keep doing this, and it’s getting hard to ignore
Jun 25, 2025, 10:01 pm
While the rolling Astros have a week of possible World Series preview matchups against the Phillies and Cubs, it’s the Rockets who made the biggest local sports headline with their acquisition of Kevin Durant. What a move! Of course there is risk involved in trading for a guy soon to turn 37 years old and who carries an injury history, but balancing risk vs. reward is a part of the game. This is a fabulous move for the Rockets. It’s understood that there are dissenters to this view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including people with the wrong opinion! Let’s dig in.
The Rockets had a wonderful season in winning 52 games before their disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Warriors, but like everyone else in the Western Conference, they were nowhere close to Oklahoma City’s caliber. While they finished second in the West, the Rockets only finished four games ahead of the play-in. That letting the stew simmer with further growth among their young players would yield true championship contention was no given for 2025-26 or beyond.
Kevin Durant is one of the 10 greatest offensive players the NBA has ever seen. Among his current contemporaries only Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic make that list. For instance, Durant offensively has clearly been better than the late and legendary Kobe Bryant. To view it from a Houston perspective, Durant has been an indisputably greater offensive force than the amazing Hakeem Olajuwon. But this is not a nostalgia trip in which the Rockets are trading for a guy based on what he used to be. While Durant could hit the wall at any point, living in fear that it’s about to happen is no way to live because KD, approaching his 18th NBA season, is still an elite offensive player.
As to the durability concern, Durant played more games (62) this past season than did Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason. The season before he played more games (75) than did VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Alperen Sengun. In each of the last two seasons Durant averaged more minutes per game (36.9) than any Rocket. That was stupid and/or desperate of the Suns, the Rockets will be smarter. Not that the workload eroded Durant’s production or efficiency. Over the two seasons he averaged almost 27 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Awesomeness. The Rockets made the leap to being a very good team despite a frankly crummy half-court offense. The Rockets ranked 21st among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage, and dead last in free throw percentage. Amen Thompson has an array of skills and looks poised to be a unique star. Alas, Thompson has no credible jump shot. VanVleet is not a creator, Smith has limited handle. Adding Durant directly addresses the Rockets’ most glaring weakness.
The price the Rockets paid was in the big picture, minimal, unless you think Jalen Green is going to become a bonafide star. Green is still just 23 years old and spectacular athletically, but nothing he has done over four pro seasons suggests he’s on the cusp of greatness. In no season has Green even shot the league average from the floor or from three. His defense has never been as good as it should be given his athleticism. Compared to some other two-guards who made the NBA move one year removed from high school, four seasons into his career Green is waaaaaay behind where Shae Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker were four seasons in, and now well behind his draft classmate Cade Cunningham. Dillon Brooks was a solid pro in two seasons here and shot a career-best from three in 2024-2025, but he’s being replaced by Kevin Durant! In terms of the draft pick capital sent to Phoenix, five second round picks are essentially meaningless. The Rockets have multiple extra first round picks in the coming years. As for the sole first-rounder dealt away, whichever player the Rockets would have taken 10th Wednesday night would have been rather unlikely to crack the playing rotation.
VanVleet signs extension
Re-signing Fred VanVleet to a two-year, 50 million dollar guarantee is sensible. In a vacuum, VanVleet was substantially overpaid at the over 40 mil he made per season the last two. He’s a middle-of-the-pack starting point guard. But his professionalism and headiness brought major value to the Rockets’ kiddie corps while their payroll was otherwise very low. Ideally, Reed Sheppard makes a leap to look like an NBA lead guard in his second season, after a pretty much zippo of a rookie campaign. Sheppard is supposed to be a lights-out shooter. For the Rockets to max out, they need two sharpshooters on the court to balance Thompson’s presence.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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