Should the Houston Rockets consolidate their team and turn to youth?

The Houston Rockets have a young and strong core, while also boasting some winning veteran players in Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet. Before long, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone will have to choose a direction that comes with some tough decisions.

Now, the Rockets have signed the two aforementioned players with the goal of building a playoff team. It worked, to a certain extent. No, the Rockets did not make the playoffs. However, they improved by 19 wins and posted a 41-41 record.

After signing both winning players now, the team is in a bit of a rut with the salary cap, and it will struggle to find ways to further build on a contender it already has. Trying to develop their young talent, which they have in abundance, doesn’t really work because it takes a backseat to winning players now.

Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson form an incredible young core. Add Cam Whitmore to the mix and you have a very, very strong young core to work with. Oh, and the team owns the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Clearly, it seems like the Rockets would be better off prioritizing their young talent to eventually build a championship-level team rather than a perennial playoff team. Signing Brooks and VanVleet was short-sighted, and the team continues to have glaring holes and the only way to fix them is to move away from their young assets, which gives them the flexibility they have.

The team will already lose veteran guard Aaron Holiday to free agency, which will see a defensive 3-point shooter leave. With a team lacking in the shooting department, seeing a stretcher go to the ground will hurt.

Obviously, the Rockets’ current situation will be difficult navigation, and ensuring the young core develops to its maximum potential will ultimately be the path forward to having the most competitive roster.

READ MORE: DeMar DeRozan Opens Up About Midseason Dispute With Rockets’ Dillon Brooks

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