1 game was not played, and the Rockets are looking to trade veterans, 2+1 centers or Cheng Tian to secure a playoff spot
From losing the first game of the season, to a wave of consecutive wins, to consecutive defeats, and through home advantage, he took back the initiative in the playoffs. The Rockets have a strong ability to adjust this year, and it is no longer a slump, among the six rookies, 5 of them have entered the regular rotation, Whitmore is only one chance away, Shen Jing has played an All-Star level performance, Ethan, Jabari Smith two forward players, forming a strong offensive and defensive combination, but the regular season is relatively long, and it is easy to drop the chain.
According to reporter Brett Siegel, the Rockets are ready to trade veteran Oladipo, who has been "forgotten", at the beginning of the season because of the trade of Porter Jr., Oladipo returned to the Rockets, which is his "second palace", due to injuries and other problems, after joining, he has not played a game for the Rockets. Belonging to the players who were just traded and were destined not to stay, Oladipo has one year left on his contract, $9.4 million, and the expiring contract is more valuable.
The Rockets have no shortage of young players, Jalen Green has become the team's second scorer, and in recent games, he has gradually regained his three-point touch and is full of confidence on the offensive end. Jabari Smith is the best three-in-command, the style of play of the forward 3D player, playing his own value, worthy of the pick, Ethan has the starting strength, Amen Thompson is gradually adapting to the rhythm of the NBA game, Whitmore has conquered the Rockets fans in limited playing time, and the Rockets have 6 sons, one by one.
What is missing is the experienced veterans, VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green, who have shown that they can lead the team to the playoffs. Udoka favored veterans and signed Bullock directly at the start of the season, but he didn't live up to expectations, which didn't stop the Rockets from continuing to seek veterans. There are 5 positions of players, the center is the strongest, but it is also the worst in depth, and only Shen Jing can play, and Landale's 8 million contract is not as good as a two-way contract.
The lineup and results are relatively stable, the Rockets will not choose a big deal, in the case of not moving the main lineup, the trade gets a veteran, and Landale, who can get an average of 2+1.9 per game this season, may become an add-on, he and Oladipo have a combined 17 million expiring contract, and the transaction value is very large, which tests the ability of general manager Udoka, whether he can trade a qualified substitute center, so that Shen Jing has a certain amount of rest time to ensure rebounding, Defensively, every game can be played for about 10 minutes, and Smith will also play a small lineup center.
From 8th in the West to 11th in the West, the results of the four teams are relatively tight, winning 1 game can improve to 8th, and losing 2 games may fall directly out of the top 10. The current results of the Rockets are not stable, and head coach Stone and general manager Udoka naturally understand this truth. That's why they will seek a trade, the Rockets have draft picks in addition to expiring contracts, and if there are the right players, the Rockets will not be stingy, and the next few games will be the litmus test for the Rockets, guaranteeing a playoff spot, and the team's results this year will meet expectations.