5 BURNING QUESTIONS
The change of seasons, with a sudden turn this week
from summer sweltering to autumn delightful, was as dramatic as welcome but not as extreme as the transformation of the Rockets.
When the Rockets reported to last season’s delayed training camp, they still fancied themselves as title contenders. They had brought in high-profile reinforcements John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, happily moved to a new coach and general manager in Stephen Silas and Rafael Stone and were hopeful that James Harden would make his peace with one more season in Houston — once he got around to showing up.
When training camp begins Tuesday in Galveston, the transformation from contenders to a rebuild nearly is complete, pending only Wall’s eventual departure. Instead of a backcourt of Harden with Wall, Russell Westbrook or Chris Paul, the Rockets move on to Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green, the latter arriving as the second pick of the draft who began a rush of four first-round selections, all 19 years old.
With so much turnover — only Eric Gordon and Danuel House Jr. remain from the 2019-20 team — there is uncertainty throughout the roster, and many questions to begin answering at training camp. The answers won’t come rapidly, but the questions can start to be asked and addressed Tuesday on the courts along Seawall Boulevard.
How does the backcourt rotation shake out?
1
The Rockets will want to be sure Porter Jr. and Green get starter’s
minutes, likely Gordon, too. Gordon presumably would be ahead of the young guards, undoubtedly defensively. So who starts? Who are we kidding? Green and Porter Jr. will start, but the rotation needs to be ironed out, especially with Gordon’s defensive physicality allowing three-guard lineups, particularly to finish games. The Rockets also will need to determine if there is playing time for another guard.
Is Green the backup point guard?
2
Green is not a point by trade, but these days, the lines between
the guards and their roles has been blurred. The Rockets will have to decide if they want the bulk of Green’s and Porter Jr.’s playing time to come together or whether to stagger them, as they had Harden and his most recent backcourt partners. A combination of Green and Gordon when Porter Jr. sits would provide enough ballhandling, but if the Rockets don’t want to put that on their prized rookie, D.J. Augustin could be a steadying influence for stretches.
Can Christian Wood and Daniel Theis play together?
3
The Rockets were interested in adding a center in part because
of the success pairing Wood and Kelly Olynyk, if much of anything last season could be seen as a success. Theis is very different from Olynyk, but Wood’s offensive skills should make him a pliable fit. Theis is such an outstanding screen-setter, the Rockets could add more of that to the offense. But that would need training camp work, especially if they play together.
Where do the other rookies fit?
4
Alperen Sengun appears ready for some rookie playing time,
but, as with all the Rockets’ young additions, will be a work in progress defensively. Usman Garuba could be effective defensively, even as a rookie, but is a project on the other end. Josh Christopher could be somewhere in between. That also points to the value of letting young players get their playing time and go through the growing pains early. But there likely will not be enough time to go around. A few minutes here and there would not be enough and probably would not keep them as ready to step in should injuries open more playing time and responsibility as would regular time in the G League. Given the Rockets’ history, including last season when Porter Jr. and KJ Martin put in apprenticeship time with the Vipers, some G League work is a possibility but only after training camp and the preseason determines if there could be playing time with the varsity.
What about last season’s rookies?
5
Training camp and the preseason games will be important to sort out roles for Martin and Jae’Sean Tate. Tate, a bright spot last season as a first-team All-Rookie selection, could still start at power forward. He could pick up minutes at small forward, particularly if his 3-point touch has improved and depending on where House Jr. fits. If Tate and House Jr. are both playing along with Wood, Theis and perhaps Sengun, that does not leave much time for Martin. But beyond the highlights of the dunks and especially the blocked shots, Martin improved as a potential 3-and-D forward. Considering how much he benefited from the playing time opened by all the injuries last season, a case could be made to keep getting Martin on the floor. That makes for a crowded frontcourt, and something to work out beginning Tuesday. He could pick up minutes at small forward, particularly if his 3-point touch has improved, and depending on where House and David Nwaba fit. If Tate, House and Nwaba are all playing along with Wood, Theis and perhaps Sengun, that does not leave much time for Martin.