The Rockets‘ starting lineup is mostly set, but one spot will be up for grabs when training camp opens later this month.
Houston sent starters Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to Phoenix, along with the 10th pick in this year’s draft, in the Kevin Durant trade. Durant will start alongside Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Fred VanVleet, but coach Ime Udoka faces several options with the fifth position.
“It’s to be determined,” Udoka told Ben DuBose of RocketsWire at a September 11 community event the team hosted this week. “I do think Jabari (Smith Jr.) showed tremendous growth this offseason, and obviously he started the majority of his time here, before the injury. But we’ll take a look at everything. We feel we have incredible depth this year and a lot of versatility, so we could go a number of different ways, as far as that. I think some of that will be proven in training camp.”
Smith began last season as a starter and kept that role for 39 games before breaking his hand in January. Thompson took his place and turned out to be too good to move back to the bench. Smith occupied a sixth man role for the rest of the season, but he may be the best fit with the other four members of the current starting unit. At 6’11”, he provides plenty of size next to Durant and Sengun, and he’s proficient enough as a three-point shooter to stretch defenses and create driving lanes.
DuBose notes that the Rockets enjoyed tremendous success with double-big lineups late last season, so center Steven Adams might get consideration, at least against certain matchups. Adams only started three games during the regular season, but Udoka leaned heavily on him during the playoff series against Golden State.
Free agent addition Dorian Finney-Smith is a strong wing defender who greatly improved the Lakers’ defense after being acquired in a December trade. At 32, Finney-Smith brings a veteran presence to what’s still mostly a young team, and he shot 41.1% from three-point range last season.
Another option is fourth-year forward Tari Eason, who made 16 starts last season, the most of his NBA career. Eason is a disruptive defender like Finney-Smith, but he’s not quite as accomplished as an outside shooter.
Houston is loaded. They look pretty strong to me. No reason why they can’t be a high seed again this year.
They are very dangerous and have a year of success under their belts.
Durant only playing 60 games will be the reason why.
@ Davey…bahahahaha hahahahaha hahahahaha.
Aside from Amen and Sengun and whatever KD produces at this aging, injury-plagued point in his career, the Rockets aren’t very good and likely will not make the top 6 next year in the loaded West. The Spurs might be better than the Rockets next year.
Stick to the death penalty big guy. Ball isn’t your forte.
I honestly think you sound crazy. This Houston Rockets team is loaded.
Ime Udoka do have some hard decisions but I think he should go with a regular 9 man rotation.
Starters
SF Kevin Durant
PF Jabari Smith Jr.
C Alperen Sengun
SG Amen Thompson
PG Fred VanVleet
Bench Rotation
PF Tari Eason
SF Dorian Finney-Smith
C Steven Adams
PG Reed Sheppard
Bench Reserves
C Clint Capela
SF Josh Okogie
PG Aaron Holiday
SF Jae’Sean Tate
PF Jeff Green
False. But GS thanks KD for the rings. I don’t like KD but that was a stupid post. lol not top 6.
Not top six? What six teams will finish ahead of the Rockets?