With Harden about to make his debut at the 76ers, this season's championship is likely to continue to belong to the Eastern Conference, and no other team has such a strong lineup as the 76ers, the closest is the Warriors, but only if Green returns and brings in reliable interior players in the buyout market. Even as these teams struggle for the championship, the teams that are advancing reconstruction should not be underestimated, and the Rockets have the greatest ambitions. Although a trade was also made in the offseason, All-Star guard Wall, who basically would not play, and the core of the team, Gordon, were retained.
According to local media reports in Houston, the Rockets owner clearly hopes that the team will complete its rebuild in the next few years and have the strength to compete for the championship. In other words, the Rockets are bound to seek a big deal in the next offseason and must bring in a superstar to serve as the new core of the team. Sources say the Rockets' target is Zion, and in order to get the superstar, the Rockets may have to send away top scorer Gordon, inside pillar Wood and a 2022 first-round pick. The deal holds a certain possibility, as Zion is not happy at the Pelicans.
First of all, Zion has been under tremendous pressure from public opinion, and at the age of 21, he must have felt depressed, and his mentality was inevitably changed. After all, not everyone is James, who can have a positive mindset to face all difficulties. James once said when helping the Cavaliers win the championship for the first time, everyone must be put in a difficult situation that can be solved, and he never complains about why he is so unlucky. In fact, Zion can really learn from James' mentality. As for his constant indignation against the Pelicans' management, it was interpreted by the outside world as a sign of leaving the team, at least the Pelicans did not want to keep an absent-minded supergiant.
Second, Zion has always had high hopes because he has stronger physical qualities and athleticism than James. But after becoming a champion, he has played less than 100 games for the Pelicans in three years, which disappointed the Pelicans and Zion felt quite helpless. However, in a healthy situation, Zion averaged 26 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per game, which is definitely a huge stat and level. Obviously, the Pelicans are not the most suitable platform for his development, not to mention that the core of the Pelicans is not Zion at all. Zion was traded, and it seemed reasonable. Although the team that pursued Zion didn't believe that much, the Rockets were the closest they could get him.
On the one hand, the Rockets have maintained their bottom-to-last position in the West, and they have a first-round pick that all teams dream of. Whether this year's or next year's draft is a small year, the signing of a higher pick can definitely change the trend of a team. On the other hand, the Rockets' team building idea is to be young, and there is an extreme need for a young super giant to serve as the core, and a veteran like Lillard is super giant, basically not into the eyes of the Rockets. For a quasi-megagi like Edwards, it is difficult for the Rockets to trade. Only Zion, his situation and mentality have laid the groundwork for being traded, and if the Rockets make a move, they will only go with the flow. Initially, the deal is something to be expected.
Assuming the Pelicans accepted the rumored deal, Zion came to the Rockets, no doubt closer to what the Rockets owner had envisioned, and the team had at least the potential to compete for the championship. It is expected that the chemistry of the starting Five Tigers will still be relatively large, the starting point guard should be Schroeder, and if the Rockets buy him out, I am afraid they will regret it. In fact, it can be expected that Schroder can bring surprises, and the Rockets can even be ready for a long-term contract. And Jaylen Green is the super core of the backcourt, and his expectations are no less than Zion's. There is little suspense in the front, and the combination of Zion and Tate is highly complementary, Zion is the main attack, and the Tate is the main defender. And center Shin Kyung should be in the position directly after Wood leaves the team. The future of the Rockets is still good, and next, it depends on whether Zion can successfully join.