Houston Rockets will feature a new look for their starting five this new season after they released Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Kevin Durant. KD got one of the first five role but who will get the remaining slot? Head coach Ime Udoka is pointing to their 2022 third overall pick.
Durant is joined in the starting five by 2025 All-Star Alperen Sengun, main PG Fred Van Vleet, and rising star Amen Thompson. The remaining is up for grabs but Udoka feels Jabari Smith is a candidate.
“It’s to be determined. I do think Jabari showed tremendous growth this offseason, and obviously he started the majority of his time here, before the injury,” he said.
Smith played just 57 games last season and started only in 18. He had to miss games because of injuries, most notably a fractured hand that made him miss six weeks.
Udoka is leaning towards Smith but he is keeping the doors open as he believes he got a versatile squad.
“We’ll take a look at everything,” he added.
“We feel we have incredible depth this year and a lot of versatility, so we could go a number of different ways, as far as that. I think some of that will be proven in training camp.”
Houston Rockets’ roster depth
Rockets are in the Top 3 of many NBA Power Rankings heading to the new season. It’s not only because they have Durant now but because of their depth.
Among those the lost are Green, Brooks, and Cam Whitmore who’s with the Washington Wizards now. Their new acquisitions are Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Okogie who their entire careers are known for their defense.
Clint Capela also returns to the team after spending the last five seasons with Atlanta Hawks. He was James Harden’s main center and pick and roll partner during the team’s peak from 2014 to 2020.
Holdovers are Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, and Steven Adams who found his niche with the team off the bench. Adams was especially useful in their first round series with the Golden State Warriors who they pushed into a Game 7 as the underdog and the younger team.
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