The Houston Rockets could be one of the biggest players this offseason, but it all depends on how the NBA playoffs go.
The Houston Rockets quietly boast the second-best Western Conference record for most of the season. While fans and experts alike seem to like to talk about the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers, the Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder are teams that have achieved and earned a season-long track record of excellence.
However, Rocket is a very young team and does not have a traditional “superstar.” Luckily they have tradeable contracts, a substantial stockpile of draft picks, and head coach of Ime Udoka that players want to play with, and they have their destinations.
As the Rockets look to the offseason, they are linked to several stars, including Giannis Antetocomo and Zion Williamson, but Kevin Durant appears to be the most reasonable target.
However, Houston could change its offseason plans depending on how the postseason goes. Anyway, the Phoenix Suns will be front and center in the final rumours.
This season, the Rockets are all excluded from the locks that will enter the postseason with home court advantage. Thanks to the Dallas Mavericks’ failure, the Suns should be able to make a play-in tournament, with first-round matchups with the seeded Thunder or ultimately the second seeded at best.
Depending on the degree of rocket success this spring, the team may move away from Durant or all-in forward.
“I think this is a playoff run that decides everything, because these last three or four years are what you gather and see, what you’re obsessed with, what you need to stay, what you need to mold or repair,” he said. Athletic Kelly Iko. “I think it’s clear that anyone watching this team needs a guy to turn to in the half court.”
Durant will certainly compete in the trade market, but depending on how the season goes, the Suns will also trade Devin Booker.
“Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, those are people I’ve seen for a while,” Iko said of the rocket.
“Phoenix could somehow sneak into that play-in, perhaps, and get the eighth seed and play Houston in round one, which would make it an attractive storyline for its impact on the future.
“But if I’m a rocket, I definitely keep the speed dial because, like I said, you have leverage in their near future.
If Houston could advance to the final of the conference or play a good fight against a more experienced team at least in the second round, it would make sense for general manager Rafael Stone to choose to keep the course.
If his young core can prove that he can win and succeed without the help of a veteran, there is no reason to split their group to pursue a superstar.
However, young forward Jabari Smith Jr. and young guard Jalen Green both have tradeable deals. It appears to be a possible course for Rocket, replacing Smith Jr. with Durant (by throwing on several draft picks and matching pay).
However, Green is a striped player who has never faced postseason pressure. If the lights turn out to be too bright and he is short on, he could be a strange guy instead. In that case, the Rockets could make a strong push to add Booker to the backcourt next to Fred VanVleet, who looks like Houston’s all-in.
Unlike the Suns, the Rockets have flexibility and a few options. And with the Suns paying three draft picks over the next few years, Houston is the forefront of taking advantage of Phoenix.