The 3-day All-Star Game is over, and the Rockets' four players for All-Star Weekend are also preparing for the upcoming second half of the regular season. Four days later, on the 26th, the Rockets' next opponent will be the Magic. In the game with the Magic, the Rockets are confident and sure to win, after all, the Rockets have gained 7 consecutive losses after losing to the Clippers, and if they lose again, the Rockets really can't get over the face.
In addition, the Thunder are now 3 wins ahead of the Rockets, which means that the Rockets do not have to take the initiative to lose to open the gap with the Thunder's record, and now the Rockets will not surpass the Thunder even if they win a few more games. The Rockets' goal is to be one of the three worst teams of the season, so that they can have a maximum 14% chance of winning the lottery at this summer's draft draw.
Look at the Rockets' roster, after cutting Augustine and Brooks, the Rockets traded two new signings from Fernando and Schroeder, and Stone will also develop the two-way contract of League guard Daishin Knicks, so that the Rockets' 15 standard contract places have been full, but the Rockets have vacated a two-way player quota, and in the next 24 games, the Rockets still have the opportunity to bring in another player.
There is news that the Rockets are interested in the laid shooter Brooks, but Brooks has already won the NBA official contract, will he still be interested in a two-way contract? Obviously not, and in addition to the Rockets, there are quite a few teams that are interested in Brooks. Look at the buyout market, dragic such a veteran will certainly not be interested in the Rockets, first, the Rockets have no chance to compete for the championship, even into the playoffs is impossible, second, the players who are bought out should not accept the Rockets' two-way contract.
So how do the Rockets bring in reinforcements? In fact, there is still a way. What the Rockets are best at is to pick up leaks from the development league, and over the years, the Rockets have picked up a lot of treasures from the league, including Danuel House and now Daisyn Knicks. In addition, the players in the development league are generally younger, many of them have lost the draft in recent seasons, these players are young enough to have some potential, and more importantly, they are willing to accept a humble two-way contract in order to get the opportunity to play in the NBA.
There are many NBA active players who have become official players in the NBA through two-way contracts, such as rocket shooters Brooks and Carey Thomas last season, as well as this season's guards Matthews and Knicks. Under the premise that the Rockets basically have no chance to buy out the market, instead of retaining a two-way quota vacancy, it is better to develop the league to pick up leaks, after all, there are many young potential players who are still worth the Rockets.
Can't the next House or Matthews be bumped into by the Rockets? At present, several young players of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers can be used by the Rockets, such as the interior gate Carbenguele and the powerful forward Anthony Lamb, all of which are potential candidates for the Rockets to pick up leaks.