Recently, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone was interviewed by the US media "The Athletic", talking about how to view the Rockets' rebuilding process in the past three years, Stone said: "When the Rockets began to rebuild after sending Harden away, we lacked talent in the roster, no salary space, and no draft picks, which are the three directions we need to improve, and now we have all done it." Stone then stressed: "Our next phase of the task is to turn these things into a competitive team, and as Jaylen Green, Ethan and Jabari Smith Jr. mature, I believe we can get the job done." ”
The biggest problem for the Rockets this season is in point guard - Porter Jr. and defense, after three seasons, Porter Jr. has not made any improvement in passing ability, but the average number of turnovers per game has long been in the top 10 in the league, and the most intuitive impression he gives Rockets fans is that they are not at ease, and the various brainless operations that appear in the game are maddening. Former NBA player Frye satirized on Road Trippin that the Rockets were the worst defensive team in 20 years, playing every game like an All-Star Game, so it's no surprise that Lillard scored a career-high score of 71 points.
Recently, the US media "NBA Analysis" suggested that the Rockets and Heat teams conduct an 8-for-1 swap deal this summer, if the deal can be finally realized, the Rockets are expected to get All-Star defensive titan Butler, the specific trade plan is: the Rockets send Kevin Porter Jr. + Tate + Shenjing + Topher + 2023 first-round pick (Clippers, Bucks) + 2024 first-round pick (Nets) + 2024 second-round pick (Thunder) + 2026 second-round pick (Timberwolves), Get Jimmy Butler from the Heat.
Butler is 2.03 meters tall, 2.02 meters in arm span, a small forward, this season can average 21.7 points, 6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2 steals per game, shooting 50.7%, three-point shooting rate of 30.3%, just looking at such data you may think that he is very average, but fans familiar with Butler know that the more critical the game, Butler is tougher, last season playoffs he averaged 27.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game in the playoffs comprehensive data, one person hard to carry the Celtics double scout. Selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 30th pick in the first round in 2011, he played for the Bulls, Timberwolves, 76ers and Heat during his career, winning 1 Most Improved Player, 1 Steal King, 4 All-NBA Third Team, 5 All-Defensive Second Team, and 1 Olympic Gold Medal. He has outstanding physical fitness and athleticism, can shoot suddenly, explosive, is more comprehensive on the offensive end, and also has a certain ability to hold the ball, but his shooting stability is relatively average, and he is an excellent team player. Positive and tough on the defensive end, he and Leonard are recognized as tough guys in the league, and his defense often determines the course of the game (Butler is a Houstonian).
Tate is 1.95 meters tall, has an arm span of 2.06 meters, weighs 104 kilograms, plays a professional power forward/small forward on the court, averaged 24.6 minutes per game last season, can get 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1 steal, shooting 50% from the field, he has a strong body, tough character, always energetic on the court, plays passionately, and is a highly influential player. After the Rockets sent Tucker away that year, Tate entered the starting lineup with the status of a lost draft, and with his excellent play, he was finally selected for the All-Rookie Team of the Year, his playing style has many similarities with Tucker, and the Heat can make up for the vacancy of the power forward position after getting Tate.
Shen Jing is 2.11 meters tall, has an arm span of 2.16 meters and weighs 116 kilograms, and has played 26.5 minutes per game this season, contributing 16.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists, shooting 57.4% from the field. He is by far the most consistent player on the Rockets, ranking 12th in the league in PER (overall player efficiency), well ahead of Jaylen Green and Porter Jr. After a season, Shin Kyung's low-post offensive skills have matured, and even against an All-Star interior like Downs, he has repeatedly succeeded in singled opponents. I don't know if the Rockets are out of rotten considerations, head coach Silas did not design too many back singles tactics for Shenjing, but provided Porter Jr. and Jaylen Green with unlimited firing rights on the outside, resulting in the team's offensive rhythm being extremely messy, Shenjing can also barely score with excellent low-post singles ability, and players like Jabari Smith Jr. don't even have few shooting opportunities.
Porter Jr. has averaged 33.9 minutes per game this season, with 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.3 steals. In addition to his inability to take on the starting point guard duties this season, his poor organization and tandem that left all of the Rockets' players essentially siloed, he often played emotionally, and in a recent game, ignored Jabari Smith Jr. for not passing the ball to him, choosing to cross his waist from outside the three-point line and watch the other four teammates run the tactic. The Rockets signed a four-year contract extension worth $82.5 million with Porter Jr., which guarantees a starting salary of $15.9 million in the 2022-2023 season, and only the first season is fully guaranteed, and the other three seasons, with a deadline before the start of each season, can be cut without financial penalties and only pay a small salary (about $2 million or so).
Why did the Rockets make this deal?
According to NBA data expert Keith Smith, the Rockets have $71.1 million in salary space for reinforcement in 2023, ranking first among all teams in the league. General manager Rafael Stone has been operating for years to make the Rockets finally turn around next summer, but this season's continued sluggish performance of Rockets players, even with plenty of salary space, it is difficult to attract stars. This was a problem that General Manager Stone needed to solve, and getting Butler was one of the best solutions. He is one of the most defensive players in the league and has remained at a high level this season, and Butler's role is not only to help the Rockets improve next season, but more importantly, the Rockets can attract more strong players with his huge influence in the summer. Harden will most likely opt out of his contract next summer, and returning to Houston to join Butler is a decision he can make without thinking. If the Rockets can get Butler and Harden, will they still be worried about not being able to attract stars? In addition, the Rockets have accumulated a large number of talented young players over the years, Jaylen Green, Ethan, Jabari Smith Jr., Martin Jr., plus the 2023 high pick rookie (Venbanyama), it is only a matter of time before the Rockets re-emerge.
Why did the Heat make this trade?
The NBA regular season is nearing its end, and if you were to pick the team that would be the most disappointing team of the season, it would probably be the Heat. Spoelstra's team can lose at home to the league's bottom-to-last Pistons, and Miami fans can't believe how such a team, which was the Eastern Conference regular-season champion last season, can be reduced to such a situation in just one season. General manager Pat Riley, known as the "God Operator", is no longer magical, and he was not only robbed of starting power forward PJ Tucker by direct competitors this summer, but also missed the opportunity to get Durant and Irving. And such an unfavorable momentum Heat seems to be unable to be contained, the Heat has been reduced to a play-off runner this season, it can be said that the team's championship window has closed. Dunro's 5-year 90 million junk contract, Lowry's plummeting, maybe the Heat should really consider tearing down and starting over, and rebuild the team around Hiro and Adebayo to have a future.
Point guard: Harden
Quarterback: Jaylen Green
Small front: Butler
Ōzen: Bunbanyama
Center: Jabari Smith Jr
替补阵容：伊森、小马丁、加鲁巴，泰泰－华盛顿，争冠球队有9人轮换足够用了。