We laughed at Dillon Brooks’ unceremonious exit from the Memphis Grizzlies, however it is going to be him with the cheshire grin plastered to his face each time {that a} direct deposit hits his account. On Saturday he signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the Houston Rockets. The day earlier than, Fred VanVleet signed a three-year, $130 million contract.
Veteran assist was definitely wanted for the Rockets. In 2022-23 their roster was the second-youngest within the NBA. Skilled athletics is a enterprise that requires youth, but when a group has too many gamers nearer to highschool commencement than their thirtieth birthday, postseason success is extremely unlikely.
Will Houston be price watching?
The Rockets are nonetheless many miles away from championship rivalry with their present roster. Nonetheless, the NBA wage ground is actual, so that they needed to spend some cash to succeed in it. In doing so, they’ve jammed collectively a roster that’s at the very least worthy of some league-pass check-ins subsequent season.
Jalen Inexperienced — the very best drafted participant to return by means of G-League Ignite — could also be inefficient, however he’s definitely a bonafide NBA scorer. His scoring common jumped from 17.3 factors per sport as a rookie to 22.1. Though all of his taking pictures percentages dropped and his turnovers elevated.
Similar to Inexperienced, Alperen Şengün was drafted by the Rockets in 2021. In his second season, he started to blossom as a real low-post risk. His scoring common elevated by 5 factors per sport, and his field-goal share additionally went up from 47.4 to 55.3 p.c. He additionally improved as a rebounder, rising his common from 5.5 per sport to 9.
On this yr’s draft they chose Amen Thompson, who may already be the perfect total athlete within the league. Final yr they drafted Jabari Smith Jr. third total. Throw in Kevin Porter Jr. who is supplied with each expertise and a mood, and this a group made for spotlight reels together with one other top-five draft choose subsequent season.
With a transparent gap of their roster in terms of veteran expertise, the Rockets determined to plug it with Brooks and VanVleet. Brooks is a robust defender and irritant who has no thought the that means of the phrase “dangerous shot.” As a starter on the Grizzlies who received 50-plus video games in consecutive seasons, it was reported this offseason that they had been going to make zero effort to re-sign him.
Welcome to Houston, Fred VanVleet
VanVleet has been a invaluable contributor for the Toronto Raptors since their 2019 championship postseason. With that group nowhere close to able to contend for the franchise’s second title, it’s affordable that they’d not wish to pay him over $40 million per yr. In Houston he shall be counted on to offer a steadying presence as a veteran level guard who has solely as soon as in his profession shot higher than 42 p.c from the sphere for a season.
The Rockets are definitely a greater group after including these two playoff-experienced veterans to their roster, however they couldn’t get a lot worse. They haven’t reached 23 wins in a season since earlier than COVID. Possibly they win 32 video games this coming season, however that’s nonetheless not ok for a play-in berth.
Whereas these two additions received’t flip the Rockets into champions, it is going to be price turning to their video games on tv to see how this hodgepodge of expertise will work on the courtroom collectively. As a result of whereas this roster shall be a troublesome match, what it received’t lack is gamers prepared to heave up 27-foot 3-pointers with 15 seconds remaining on the shot clock.
For these like a easy, free flowing basketball sport, the 2023-24 Rockets usually are not for you. However for many who take pleasure in a mashup explosive athleticism and horrible choice making, the Rockets will serve it up in huge parts.
