Rockets Preview: Houston On Rise, Now Must Decide Whether To Stay Patient Or Swing For The Fences

Rockets Preview

A look at the Houston Rockets entering the 2024-25 season …

• Coach: Ime Udoka
• Record: 41-41 (failed to make the playoffs)
• New Faces: Steven Adams, Reed Sheppard, Jack McVeigh, N’Faly Dante
• Notable Losses: Reggie Bullock, Boban Marjanovic

Overview

The Rockets have arrived at a pivotal moment, and it’s not just about what they could do. It’s about what they should do. Sitting on a mountain of young talent and significant potential, they’re in that rare position of having a lot of options. And with options comes pressure.

After last season’s leap from 22 to 41 wins — the biggest year-over-year improvement in the NBA — Houston has already proven it’s trending upward. The question now is, how fast do they want to get where they’re going?

In the NBA.com GM survey, the Rockets ranked high in several categories, including having one of the most promising young cores. However, they were also considered one of the hardest teams to predict in terms of success.

And that, right there, sums up Houston’s dilemma. Are they ready to go all-in, or should they continue to let their talented young core grow at its own pace?

The centerpiece of that young core is Alperen Sengun, who, despite being just 21 years old, might already be the Rockets’ best player. He’s a versatile big who can pass, score, and control the paint, and he’s only scratching the surface of what he can do.

Then there’s Jalen Green, the electric guard who took a major step forward late last season, averaging nearly 28 points per game in March. Green has All-Star potential, but consistency remains a question mark.

Add in guys like Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and rookie Reed Sheppard, and you’re talking about a collection of top-tier prospects who could lead Houston for years.

But here’s the catch: that same depth can become a problem. Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks were brought in over the summer to bring a veteran presence, stabilize the locker room, and help turn this team into a winner.

They’ll play key roles — VanVleet as the lead ball-handler and Brooks as the defensive stopper — but their presence complicates things for the younger players.

Guys like Green, Thompson, and Sheppard need the ball in their hands to develop, but there are only so many touches to go around. Similarly, Houston’s forward and center rotation is crowded with talent.

With Smith, Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, Jock Landale, and the newly acquired Steven Adams, Ime Udoka will have his hands full figuring out how to balance playing time.

This is where things could get interesting. When you’ve got this much young talent, and you’re paying veterans a combined $65 million a year, it’s natural to start thinking about consolidation.

The Rockets are one of the few teams in the NBA that have both the players and the draft picks to go after a star. They control a significant amount of draft capital over the next few years, which makes them players in any major trade talks that arise. The question is, do they make that move now, or do they wait?

Houston could look to keep its core intact for another season, waiting for one more leap in development before making a splash. Neither Green nor Sengun has signed rookie extensions yet, and the Rockets may opt to delay negotiations, particularly with Sengun, to maintain financial flexibility.

If they were to wait until next summer, they could potentially open up nearly $69 million in cap space by declining VanVleet’s team option. That would set them up to pursue a big-name free agent while keeping their young core together. It’s a strategy similar to what the 76ers did before landing Paul George and re-upping Tyrese Maxey.

But patience is easier said than done. If Houston’s young players start showing they’re ready to compete now, it could be hard for GM Rafael Stone and owner Tilman Fertitta to resist making a move.

The Rockets have the assets to swing for a star, and if the right opportunity presents itself, it might make sense to accelerate the rebuild. After all, VanVleet and Brooks aren’t getting any younger, and you don’t want to waste their prime years waiting for the kids to grow up.

At any rate, the Rockets are approaching a tipping point. They’ve done a great job accumulating talent, but talent alone doesn’t win in the NBA. Timing does.

They could stay patient and let their young core develop, or they could push their chips to the middle and make a run this season.

Either way, the future looks bright in Houston. The only question is how fast they want to get there.

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