Steven Adams has given the Rockets real value when he’s on the floor. That’s the catch, though. Houston has gotten too little of him, and the team’s center rotation has started to show it.
Adams has played only 90 total games across his first two seasons with the Rockets, and this season he has appeared just once so far. For a team trying to patch together dependable minutes in the middle, that’s a problem the Rockets can’t keep working around forever.
The alternatives have been shaky. Houston has had to lean on Jabari Smith Jr at center for extended stretches against much bigger opponents, while also asking Alperen Sengun and Clint Capela to log more minutes than they should.
Oscar Tshiebwe has even been part of the mix. That’s not a clean solution, and it’s not the kind of setup a contender wants to live with.
Adams is making $13 million this season, but his injuries have kept his impact from matching the price tag. He’s 33 now, and after 14 NBA seasons built on a punishing style of play, the health concerns are hardly a mystery. Still, the Rockets have to think about what’s best for the roster, not just what Adams has meant when available.
That’s where the Nets pick swap comes in. Houston has a draft asset that could help it chase a more dependable backup center, and there should be interest around the league. Several players fit the general mold of what the Rockets need: someone in Adams’ salary range who can actually stay on the court.
Jalen Smith of the Bulls, Robert Williams III of the Blazers and Jock Landale of the Hawks all stand out as possible targets. Each brings something useful, and each has generally been more reliable health-wise than Adams. Williams is the closest comparison in terms of injury concerns, but he’s younger and has been healthy so far this season.
A move like that would do more than just patch one hole. It could give Sengun more breathing room, preserve him for bigger moments and help Houston keep size on the floor in bench lineups. It would also give the Rockets a little more flexibility elsewhere as they try to keep climbing toward title contention.
In Other News...
Marcus Smart Let Another Rockets Discipline Problem Boil Over
Marcus Smarts latest flashpoint came in a tense stretch of the game against Golden State, when the veteran guard was tossed after things got physical with Charles Bassey. The confrontation erupted late in the third quarter and ended with Smart throwing a punch that missed, but the officials had already seen enough to send him straight to the locker room.
For Houston, it was another reminder of how quickly discipline issues can tilt a night off course. Bassey did not hide his frustration afterward, calling Smart dirty and questioning his toughness, and the league now has a decision to make on a play that went beyond ordinary playoff-style edge and into something that could carry a real cost. [Read more 🡒]
Amen Thompson Faces A Huge Chance To Answer Rockets Doubts
Amen Thompsons season has been a little harder to pin down than the early hype suggested. The Rockets still value his size, speed and versatility, but his defensive impact has slipped and his offense has not been as efficient, leaving more room for questions about how quickly he is settling into a bigger role. Opposing guards and wings have had their moments against him lately, with LaMelo Ball, Devin Booker and Jamal Murray all finding success in recent matchups.
Now comes a chance that can swing the conversation back in his favor. Houston is about to see Thompson tested in a marquee defensive assignment, the kind of assignment that can either reinforce the doubts or remind everyone why the Rockets are so intrigued by his upside. If he can handle the challenge, it would give his season a badly needed lift and offer a cleaner answer to the uneven stretch he has been working through. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Injury Situation Just Made This Rockets Test Feel Different
The Warriors arrive in Houston to open a five-game road trip with both teams sitting at 8-3, and the matchup already has a little extra weight because of how well each side has been playing. Golden State brings an eight-game winning streak into the building, while the Rockets are coming off a win over the Denver Nuggets, setting up a meeting that feels more like an early measuring stick than a routine November game.
Injuries are part of the backdrop, too, with several names on both sides popping up on the report and changing the feel of the night before tipoff. For Houston, the frontcourt picture is especially worth watching, and Golden States own uncertainty adds another layer to a game that could look a lot different depending on who is actually available when the ball goes up. [Read more 🡒]