I truly believe the Houston Rockets are sitting on a gold mine of potential.
They already have a strong young core that could elevate them into an elite tier; but getting there might require some really tough, unpopular decisions that not every fan will love.
Both paths I’m thinking about could realistically turn them into legitimate Championship contenders:
Route 1: Package players like Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, and Fred VanVleet in trades to bring in proven veterans or high-upside wings such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lauri Markkanen, Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, John Collins, or Jalen Williams.
Ideal Starting Lineup: A+
🟢Sengun (Leo)
🟢Markannen (Gemini)
🟢Durant (Libra)
🟢Murphy III (Gemini)
🟢Thompson (Aquarius)
Route 2: Explore moving Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant to land a superstar like Donovan Mitchell, Nikola Jokic, Jaylen Brown, Luka Dončić, or Jaren Jackson Jr.
Ideal Starting Lineup: A+
🔵Jackson Jr. (Virgo)
🔵Smith Jr. (Taurus)
🔵Eason (Taurus)
🔵Mitchell (Virgo)
🔵VanVleet (Pisces)
The membership of the National Basketball Coaches Association joins the NBA family in mourning the passing of legendary Head Coach and Hall of Famer, Rick Adelman.
Rick Adelman coached in the NBA for 29 years, serving as a Head Coach for 23 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Over his coaching career, Rick won 1,042 games (10th all-time), was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021 and received the NBCA Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. Coach Adelman also enjoyed an eight-year NBA playing career with the San Diego Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Jazz, and Kansas City-Omaha Kings.
Adelman will be remembered not only as a coach and a player, but also as a mentor to so many in the basketball community. Rick was a husband to Mary Kay for 56 years; father to Kathy, RJ, Laura, David, Caitlin, and Patrick; and a grandfather of twelve. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Adelman family during this difficult time.
A coin flip. A fucking coin flip. That they won! That's why the Rockets did not get Wemby.
Now the Spurs are in the Finals while the Rockets are figuring what the hell they should do with their very flawed roster.