Houston Rockets making moves in the offseason—keep adding depth

(Houston Rockets/X)

Despite the 52-win regular season record, finishing 2nd in the Western Conference last season and falling short in the first round against the 7th seed Golden State Warriors in seven games, the Houston Rockets really need a makeover for the next season. 

In the offseason, the Rockets made significant adjustments, as the blockbuster Kevin Durant acquisition took place immediately after the NBA playoffs. Sources tell Shams Charania, sports reporter for ESPN, that the Phoenix Suns traded two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant to the Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft, Khaman Maluach and five second-round picks. 

The 3-level scorer will be looking to add a big impact on the offensive end with Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, as he signed a two-year, $50 million contract to stay with the franchise. VanVleet averaged 18.7 points per game (43.0% FGs, 43.5% 3FGs, 24-24 FTs) and 4.4 assists per game in 7 games facing the Warriors. 

For the center position, Houston Rockets center Steven Adams has agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract extension to stay with the franchise. Adams played a key rotation and leadership role in the Rockets’ playoff run, dropping 5.7 points per game (60.0% FGs, 53.3% FTs), 6.6 rebounds per game, and 1.14 blocks per game while playing 22.1 minutes per game.

Meanwhile, Clint Capela will return to Houston, where he spent the first six years of his career after agreeing to a three-year, $21.5 million deal. Over 55 regular-season outings with Atlanta in 2024-25, Capela averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 blocks across 21.4 minutes per game. Capela’s inclusion in the frontcourt will make him trade rotations with Steven Adams and Alperen Şengün.

With the new addition to the lineup, Dorian Finney-Smith agreed to a four-year, $53 million deal with the Rockets after declining his $15.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Finney-Smith, a monster on the defensive end with a 116.9 defensive rating in his 9th season with the Lakers, is most likely to create a void on the perimeter. He also has a lot more rim-protecting scenarios than the average forward players in the league.

After a 52-win season and top-2 seed for the first time in seven years, Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has agreed to a long-term contract extension with the franchise that makes him one of the highest-paid NBA coaches. The Houston Rockets also signed their free agents Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday and the veteran Jeff Green on new contracts for the next season. 

The Houston Rockets have been in playoff contention for the last fifteen years. The Rockets last won the NBA title in 1995, making it a decades-long thirst to return to the top of the basketball world.  With the new deep roster, the Rockets’ hope for a title run has come alive.