2021 is about to pass, in this year the Rockets have experienced too many changes, from the absolute strong team with Harden, to the rotten team that began to rebuild, it can be said that this year the Rockets still have a lot of big things. Let's take stock of seven big things happening with the Rockets in 2021!
1, the Rockets traded for many years core James Harden
After years of failing to win a championship, Harden finally offered to trade him, a deal that was completely closed in early 2021. The Rockets made a big four-way deal with the Nets, Pacers and Cavaliers, with the Rockets sending harden and 2023 second-round picks, receiving unprotected first-round picks from the Nets in 2022, 2024, 2026, first-round picks from the Bucks in 2022, unprotected first-round picks from the Nets in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027 from the Nets!
The deal also completely changed the Rockets, from a playoff team, and even a championship team to a rotten team, these chips are not actually the future of the Rockets, only these draft picks are what the Rockets need most. The deal at the beginning of the year also made it difficult for the Rockets to become a championship team for many years to come, but it is also a team's inevitable to tear down and rebuild!
2. Rockets traded kevin Porter Jr
Shortly after harden's trade, the Rockets got another lake-colored youngster, kevin Porter Jr., who had a very big problem in the Cavaliers' locker room, resulting in a conflict between Porter Jr. and his opponent, so the Rockets only got the youngster with a protected second-round pick.
After getting Porter Jr., he has always been a very important player for the Rockets and the core of the future that the team focuses on cultivating. Last season he was still able to play very good games sometimes, and in the 2011-2022 season, his performance is also getting better, I believe that as long as he can be logical, even if he can't become a superstar in the future, he can become a very good star player!
3. Rockets trade Tucker and Oladipo
After the Rockets decided to rebuild, the team's veteran PJ Tucker became the subject of trades for multiple teams in the league, and then the overseer chose to trade with the Bucks, who traded with Tucker, Kurutz and a 2022 first-round pick, and traded Augustine and DJ Wilson, as well as an unprotected first-round pick in 2021! After joining the Bucks, Tucker also fulfilled his dream and helped the team win the championship!
The Oladipo trade was completed with the Heat, the Rockets got Olynyk, Bradley and the 2022 lotto protection of the first round of swaps, sent away Oladipo, this deal has not had much impact on the Rockets, Oladipo after joining the Heat, also did not give the team much help, has been in the recovery!
4. Porter Jr. scored 50 points and 11 assists
On April 30, 2021, Beijing time, in the Rockets' game against the Bucks, Porter Jr. played a masterpiece of his career, he played 41 minutes, shooting 16 of 26 shots, 9 of 15 three-pointers, 9 of 11 free throws, crazy cut the data of 50 points, 11 assists and 5 rebounds, and led the team to defeat the powerful Bucks.
The game also set a new single-game scoring record for Porter Jr., and also set a new record for single-game shooting from three-pointers. And he is also the youngest player in the history of that side with 50 points and 10 assists in a single game, breaking James's record, and the second player in Rockets history to get at least 50+10, the other is James Harden. He's also the fourth player in NBA history to score at least 50 points before the age of 21!
It can be said that this game made the fans see the potential of Little Potter, and also made the fans look forward to him more and more!
5. The draft picks jaylen Green, Shin Kyung, Christopher and Garuba
In the 2021 draft, the Rockets held multiple draft picks, they selected Jaylen Green with the second pick, then got the Thunder's No. 16 pick through the trade, selected Alperen Shenjing, selected Garupa with the 23rd pick in the first round, and Christopher with the 24th pick in the first round!
These four first-round shows have been very good in this season, Green has slowly entered the form, Shin Kyung has also played very steadily, Christopher has also had a good performance in recent games, only Garupa has not had many opportunities this season, but these first-round shows are really unlimited potential and have become the future of the Rockets!
6, Wall does not represent the Rockets to play
Before the start of the season, Wall agreed with the Rockets that they would not play for the Rockets this season. In order to train Green and Porter Jr., the Rockets must put them in the starting position, so there is no Wall position, so this decision is good for Both Wall and the Rockets.
Although Wall wants to get back into the team in the middle of the season, he has to get a starting position, which is one of the reasons why the two sides didn't talk!
7. After 15 consecutive defeats, the Rockets won 7 consecutive wins
The Rockets are the weakest team in the league this season, and they have suffered a 15-game losing streak at the beginning of the season, which is also in line with the expectations of fans. But after losing 15 straight, they suddenly found their form, facing the Bulls, Hornets, Thunder, Thunder, Magic, Pelicans and Nets, they all won, and won seven in a row!
And there are still very high quality in these seven consecutive wins, the Bulls, Hornets and Nets are all strong teams in the league, and their 7 consecutive wins after 15 consecutive defeats have also created a number of records, becoming a big "miracle" in the league!
It can be said that these seven major events are the biggest things for the Rockets this year, and this year is also the year with the biggest changes in the Rockets in recent years, I believe that it will not be long before the Rockets will completely complete the reconstruction and re-enter the ranks of the strong teams in the league!