Long gone are the days where James Harden helped propel the Houston Rockets to elite status in the Western Conference. Instead, it’s a full-scale rebuild ongoing in 2022 for the Rockets. So far, the results honestly aren’t too bad.
No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green took a major step forward during his rookie season, as did big man Alperen Sengun. A full-on youth movement is in effect for Houston, which means wins shouldn’t be top priority right now. Instead, focus completely on the growth of young players like Green, Sengun, and whoever is selected at No. 3 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Houston is still far away from competing post-Harden, but there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. If Houston hits its draft pick out of the park, which is likely thanks to this class being strong at the top, it will become a very feisty squad overnight. And a few years from now, we could be talking about the Rockets once more as a real threat in the West.
Other Offseason Snapshots: DET I OKC I ORL I SAC
2021-22 record: 20-62, missed playoffs
Players under contract: John Wall, Eric Gordon, Christian Wood, Jalen Green, David Nwaba, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Porter Jr., Usman Garuba, Josh Christopher, Garrison Mathews, Kenyon Martin Jr., Jae’Sean Tate
Impending free agents: Dennis Schroder
Draft picks: No. 3, No. 17
Two things the Rockets should do this offseason: Trade Christian Wood and Eric Gordon
Both Wood and Gordon have been in trade rumors for the past year, and there’s little signs of either slowing down. Gordon is a veteran who has paid his dues in Houston and deserves to join a Finals contender for his final years. Meanwhile, Wood joined as a free agent expecting to be a potent pick-and-roll threat with Harden but instead joined a tanking team. Expect to see a real market come together for Wood once he hits the trade block this summer, which isn’t too bad for Houston thanks to Sengun and the likelihood of adding another frontcourt player at No. 3 overall.
As far as trying to gauge value for Wood and Gordon, expect to see some movement on draft night in a few weeks. There’s a real possibility Houston could extract a late first-round pick for either one.
A deal that makes sense on paper revolves around the Miami Heat. Miami badly needs another scoring threat who can add defensive versatility, so enter in Wood as the power forward alongside Bam Adebayo. The Rockets in return receive Duncan Robinson’s bloated salary alongside the No. 27 overall pick in this year’s draft.
For an expiring contract in Wood, this return isn’t bad at all for Houston. The same could be said for Gordon, who can add two-way stability for any contender out there needing guard depth.
One thing the Rockets should not do this offseason: Prioritize immediate improvement
Embrace the tank, Rockets fans. By the time this rebuild is all over, it could be 2025 or beyond for Houston to experience their hopeful postseason ceiling. Luckily, landing a top-three pick is another key game-changer for the organization.
The last thing Houston should do at this stage is trying to make win-now moves. If possible, move off Wood and Gordon. Don’t make a short-sighted decision revolving around John Wall’s albatross $47 million expiring contract. Instead, continue to stockpile young talent until it all clicks together.
With two top-17 picks, Houston has the flexibility to move around the top of the draft. Don’t be surprised if we see trade talks around the No. 3 pick, but in the end Houston settles on whichever of these players is left on the board: Jabari Smith Jr. (Auburn), Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga), Paolo Banchero (Duke).
Offseason Breakdown
We have liftoff on at least a sturdy foundation in Houston. Green and Sengun look like foundational building blocks, and another one will soon join them in a few weeks. All indications are Smith and Holmgren will be the top two selections, so many are already envisioning Banchero alongside Green and Sengun for the Rockets.
Diving more into the fit of Banchero for Houston, who I would also say is likely to end up there, it’s excellent all-around. Not only will Banchero and Green form a dynamite 1-2 scoring duo, but there’s some real positional versatility to capitalize on with the Duke Blue Devil wing/big as well. Banchero’s ceiling looks to be an easy 20-plus point per game scorer while also filling up the stat sheet on both ends of the court. If Banchero and Green both hit their ceilings together, Houston will be in an envious position a few years down the road.
Rockets fans aren’t used to this level of basketball, especially during the prime Harden years. Moving away from that era is a painful process, but one that had to be done for both sides. From the Rockets’ perspective, they might actually be the winners in the end thanks to their endless amounts of blue-chip young talent.
