It is just a few posts down, but I think I did pretty well with my post about the Rockets from a year ago. It is amazing how much has changed.
The new additions to the team have been great, and the team is playing winning basketball. In the brutal Western Conference, if the Rockets get into the playoffs, their style of play will translate well.
No one has missed the ascendance of Alperen Sengun. He was a late first round pick who's improved every year. Everyone compares him to Jokic, a center and fellow late pick. But Giannis and Kawhi were also late picks and took time to blossom. Sengun is on pace to be faster to 20-and-10 than any of them. Which is either a great sign that he really is a star or a bad sign that he's reaching his ceiling faster. We aren't even halfway through the season, but Sengun feels like the worst outcome for him is borderline all-star and the best outcome is consistent all-star.
It is early, but he's probably not a super star like the others mentioned above who can carry a team alone. But, winning teams need great players. I hate the term, but the Rockets have a "piece" - Sengun could definitely be the second best player on very good teams in the future.
So, then who is the star to pair with Sengun?
I admired Fred VanFleet from afar during the Raptors title run so I was happy to have him join the team. Around him are two top draft picks in Jalen Green and Amen Thompson. The thinking in Houston had to be for Fred to be a win-now guy and also a mentor to the young talent. So far, Jalen Green doesn't seem to be learning how to pick-and-roll with his excellent center. Is anyone better at that than VanFleet? It is too early to judge Amen, but it is good that the Rockets plan includes giving him meaningful minutes. He's shown flashes.
There are currently rumors about the Rockets trading for Malcom Brogdon. He's another I have admired from afar. The Rockets coaching staff wants efficiency. I have no idea how he fits with the team, but he is exemplar of that and I'd love to see it.
My sleeper pick for another star is the scrappy Tari Eason. I can't wait for him to get on the court and animate the contest. His game is a bit rough at times, and I so wish coach would run a few plays for him so he can develop. In his physical skills and canniness, I see a young Kawhi Leonard. (Is everything in this post hinged on Kawhi?). But he needs room to develop. I'd like to see Tari and Jabari on the court together more.
The front court in total is crammed.
Like Fred, I have to believe the Rockets intentionally brought in Dillon Brooks to win but also teach up the front court.
Jabari Smith is looking polished in just his second year. He's already a solid player and he deserves the minutes he's getting.
Jae'sean Tate is another animating player who's fun to watch. His enthusiast play saved my spirit during the tanking days. I hate it that he's kind of redundant with Tari emerging. One of them will have to be traded or not get paid. I will hate this whichever way it goes.
And now, Cam Whitmore is getting real minutes and showing flashes. Maybe the college forward become an NBA two guard? He's compared himself to Russell Westbrook. Cam is less skilled (at this point) off the bounce, but he already has a elite shooting stroke.
Oh, and the Rockets own the next 600 picks from the currently moribund Brooklyn Nets. Which means that "someone else" is a possibility for a Rockets future star. Either from a lottery or near lottery pick or using all these assets to get a star player.
Dillon and Fred might be gone in two or three years.
So, who is the 2026 starting five for the Rockets? Will that be Phase 3 of the rebuild?
5- Sengun
4 - Jabri or somebody else
3- Eason (mostly emotional pick at this point)
2 - Whitmore or Jalen Green or somebody else
1 - Thompson or somebody else
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