The Houston Rockets are staring down a tough stretch without one of their most physical presences in the paint. Steven Adams, who exited Sunday’s game against the Pelicans with an ankle injury, has officially been diagnosed with a grade-three ankle sprain.
That’s the most severe type, and it comes with a lengthy recovery timeline-typically up to nine weeks or more. That puts Adams’ potential return somewhere around mid-to-late March, right on the doorstep of the postseason.
And depending on how his rehab progresses, there’s a real chance he may not return at all this season.
That’s a big blow. Adams isn’t just a big body-he’s a tone-setter.
He brings toughness, rebounding, and interior defense that doesn’t always show up in the box score but makes a difference night in and night out. Losing him for an extended stretch is no small thing.
But if there’s a silver lining for the Rockets, it’s this: depth.
Houston built this roster with contingencies in mind, and one of the most obvious was Clint Capela. The veteran center was brought in with the understanding that the Rockets wanted to maintain their ability to play big, even if Adams wasn’t available.
While Capela doesn’t bring quite the same physicality or offensive rebounding prowess as Adams, he’s a proven rim protector and lob threat who understands his role. He’s not a one-for-one replacement, but he’s a capable fill-in who can keep the Rockets’ frontcourt identity intact.
If head coach Ime Udoka wants to stick with the double-big lineup that’s been a staple at times this season, Capela is the most natural plug-in. But Udoka has options, and one of them is to pivot entirely-go small and lean into versatility.
That’s where things get interesting.
Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. both offer intriguing small-ball possibilities at the five. Durant, of course, has logged minutes at center before, most notably during his time with the Warriors when Golden State’s “death lineup” turned the league upside down. While he’s not a traditional big, Durant’s length, shot-blocking instincts, and ability to stretch the floor make him a unique option if Houston wants to speed up the tempo and create mismatches.
Then there’s Jabari Smith Jr., who’s still developing but has shown flashes of being able to hold his own defensively at the five. Offensively, he can space the floor and knock down shots, which could open up driving lanes for Houston’s guards.
The challenge with Smith is consistency-he’s still learning the nuances of NBA defense, especially in the post. But this could be a valuable opportunity for growth.
Beyond those two, the Rockets could also experiment with other forwards in spot minutes at center. Dorian Finney-Smith and Tari Eason come to mind, though both would be undersized and might struggle against more traditional bigs.
Jeff Green is another name in the mix, but so far this season, he’s been mostly relegated to garbage-time duty. With Capela now clearly ahead of him in the rotation, it’s unlikely Green sees a significant uptick in minutes unless injuries force Udoka’s hand.
The bottom line? Houston has choices.
None of them replicate what Adams brings, but that’s the nature of injury management in the NBA. It’s about adjusting, adapting, and finding new ways to win with the pieces you have.
The Rockets are back on the court Monday night at home against the Memphis Grizzlies, a game that also doubles as Steven Adams and Reed Sheppard bobblehead night. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM. While Adams won’t be suiting up, his presence will still be felt-and the next few weeks will show just how well this Houston team can hold the line without him.