Assessing the Houston Rockets’ biggest offseason needs

Unlike previous years, the Houston Rockets enter the 2024 offseason without any glaring roster needs. Last offseason in 2023, after three straight years of rebuilding in which the team averaged just 20 wins, the Rockets entered the summer with obvious needs at point guard and center and an amount of money under the salary cap to spend. But after signing veteran point guard Fred VanVleet and with the emergence of third-year center Alperen Sengun, the Rockets’ starting lineup for next year appears to be set.

The team’s biggest hole last season was at backup center. General manager Rafael Stone signed veteran Jock Landale to a four-year, $32 million contract to add depth at the position, but aside from a few signs of life toward the end of the year, Landale has largely been a disappointment in his first season for the Rockets. . For much of the year, Houston employed veteran forward Jeff Green, who signed a two-year, $16 million contract, as Sengun’s backup. As the trade deadline approached, the team was linked to centers Clint Capela, Robert Williams III and Daniel Gafford, but ultimately decided to acquire veteran center Steven Adams from the Memphis Grizzlies for the minimal cost of Victor Oladipo’s contract expiration, two 2024 second-round picks and a 2025 second-round pick.

While Adams was unavailable to dress after the trade due to knee surgery (performed before the start of the season), the Rockets got their replacement for next season at a very affordable cost . Adams, 31, is expected to make $12.6 million next season; he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2025-26. In theory, he is still young enough to be retained as the team’s long-term veteran backup, similar to the roles played by Dikembe Mutombo and Nene during previous eras of the Rockets.

The roster has at least two players at every other position; one could even argue that there aren’t enough minutes for the Rockets’ top prospects. Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Dillon Brooks round out the starting lineup alongside VanVleet and Sengun and all three are expected to retain their starting roles in 2024-25. Sophomores Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore both had very promising rookie campaigns and will both need more minutes to continue their development. Thompson spent most of his time last season serving as a winger, especially after Sengun was lost for the year with a serious ankle injury.

And then there’s Tari Eason, arguably the team’s most productive player, with his highest net rating. Eason missed most of the year with a lower leg injury. In most situations, he would likely be the starter given his productivity, but he’s behind Smith, a former third overall pick, on the team’s depth chart. Could Eason eventually supplant Brooks at small forward?

What this team could use is shooting. The Rockets were just 23rd overall in the league from long distance, with a connect rate of just 35.2 percent. That would do more than anything to help their anemic offense (just 20th overall with a 113.7 offensive rating). The Rockets are armed with the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to go hunting in free agency. One thing is certain: the needs are not as clear as they were last summer.