With about a tenth of the season in the books, the Rockets’ two notable offseason additions are already giving Houston different kinds of value. Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic arrived on contracts worth $6,064,00 and $3,524,115 this season, and early on, they’ve filled separate needs for a young roster.
Smart’s impact goes well beyond what shows up in the box score. His defense, nonstop motor, and knack for making opposing guards uncomfortable helped him earn Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2022.
He also gives Houston a veteran voice in a locker room built around youth. The Rockets won’t need him to carry the scoring load every night, but his ball-handling, shot creation, and ability to hit timely shots make him a useful piece in the rotation.
The numbers have been solid so far. Smart is averaging 9.8 points, 2.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals while shooting 38.7% from three and 44.2% from the field.
That field-goal mark is better than his career average, and the three-point shooting is a welcome sign. He also had one of his best outings against the Thunder, finishing with 24 points and seven made threes.
Bogdan Bogdanovic brings a different package entirely, and it’s one Houston clearly wanted. The Rockets needed perimeter shooting, and Bogdanovic has been a 38% three-point shooter for his entire NBA career.
He can also create off the dribble at the second level of the offense and make shots when the main offensive players are on the bench or under heavy pressure from the defense. This season, he’s averaging 5.6 points per game, but he’s hitting 45.5% from deep.
That kind of shooting is valuable for any team, and Bogdanovic adds more than just catch-and-shoot ability. He can shoot, create off the dribble and space the floor, which checks several boxes for Houston. Still, his health and consistency will decide how effective this signing really is.
What stands out most about both players is how differently they can shape a game. Smart is there for defense, energy, and leadership.
Bogdanovic is there for shooting, offensive creation, and floor spacing. Both bring experience to a young core, and both can help ease some of the younger players into bigger rotation roles as they develop.
That includes players like Reed Sheppard, who can benefit from having veterans around to support the group and give the coaching staff more lineup flexibility.
In the end, these signings will be judged by what they do when the games matter most. Houston isn’t just trying to collect veterans and youngsters; it’s trying to build a team that can get past the first round in the postseason. For now, the early grades would be an A for Bogdanovic and an A- for Smart, with the slight ding on Smart tied to the injury time he has already missed.
In Other News...
Bruce Thornton Just Gave Rockets Fans A Reason To Revisit The Backcourt
Bruce Thorntons first stop with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers gave Rockets fans a fresh reason to keep an eye on the back end of the roster. Assigned to Houstons G League affiliate, the rookie guard has already shown signs of growth in his first NBA season, and the move down to the Vipers was another chance to get real game reps in a setting where he could handle more of the offense.
The assignment did not last long. Thornton was back with the Rockets after the game, a reminder that Houston is still sorting through its backcourt depth while keeping tabs on one of its younger pieces. For a team that has been watching his development closely since taking him 31st overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, every brief stint like this feels like part of a larger evaluation. [Read more 🡒]
Jabari Smith Jr. Has To Stop Disappearing In Rockets Offense
Jabari Smith Jr. opened the season looking far more assertive, attacking the rim and taking on a bigger scoring load for Houston in a way that suggested real offensive growth. Through the early stretch, he was giving the Rockets a different kind of threat, one that could punish defenses when they focused too heavily on the rest of the lineup and help keep the offense from becoming too predictable.
But the recent dip was a reminder of how much more there is to unlock. When Smith stops looking for his own shot, Houston loses one of the young pieces it needs most to develop into a dependable scoring option, and the offense can feel thinner for it. The Rockets do not need him to force the issue every night, but they do need the version of Smith who stays aggressive and makes opposing defenses pay attention. [Read more 🡒]
Dillon Brooks Just Gave Rockets Fans Another Reason To Hate This Matchup
Dillon Brooks has never needed much help turning a game into a grudge match, and the former Rockets wing is doing it again ahead of Houstons meeting with Phoenix. Brooks, now with the Suns, said the matchup carries extra edge because of the recent back-and-forth involving Kevin Durant and Suns owner Mat Ishbia, a social media exchange that already had plenty of heat before the teams even tipped off.
Brooks also made it clear he wants his response to land squarely on Durant, not in the usual vague, indirect NBA internet style. For Rockets fans, it is another reminder that this matchup comes with more than the usual playoff-style tension, especially with Brooks leaning into the moment and promising to meet Durants comments head-on. [Read more 🡒]