Rockets Aren't Here for Your Pity: Houston's Loaded Comeback Starts Now
Can the Houston Rockets, entering Year 2 of the Kevin Durant era, actually become a perennial Western Conference threat? That was the question hanging over a team that ended 2025-26 with a whimper—a first-round exit to a short-handed Lakers squad, point guard chaos, and enough behind-the-scenes drama to fuel a whole season of burner-phone jokes.
But instead of blowing it up, general manager Rafael Stone went the opposite route. No Giannis sweepstakes. No rebuild. Just smart, rugged, high-IQ additions and a bet on internal growth. The result? A deeper, meaner, and far more experienced Rockets team ready to run it back.
Offseason at a Glance
Key additions: G Marcus Smart, G Bogdan Bogdanovic
Key retentions: F Tari Eason
Key subtractions: F Dorian Finney-Smith, G Josh Okogie
The headliner? Tari Eason's five-year, $81.5 million extension—one of the best value deals of the entire summer. Houston also brought in two grizzled vets in Smart and Bogdanovic, plus renowned shooting coach Chip Engelland from Oklahoma City. That's a culture shift, not a rebuild.
What We Learned: Stone Isn't Morey
Back in the day, the Rockets loved cycling through stars: Dwight Howard, James Harden, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook. But after that embarrassing playoff ousting, Stone kept Ime Udoka, kept the core, and resisted the urge to chase Greek Freaks. Instead, he shipped out Dorian Finney-Smith (who barely played) and doubled down on defense and shooting.
The bet? Fred VanVleet returns from his torn ACL, Steven Adams comes back from ankle surgery, and the young core—Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Alperen Sengun—makes a leap. It's not a terrible gamble, especially with OKC, the Lakers, and Minnesota all losing key pieces this summer.
The Big Question: Can They Actually Compete?
Look, the top tier of the West belongs to Oklahoma City and San Antonio. But Houston has a puncher's chance. Durant's comfort level in Year 2 should be way higher. VanVleet's return means no more point guard roulette. And Adams being healthy means that ridiculous 44% offensive rebound rate with him on the floor can wreck second units again.
ESPN's Basketball Power Index has Houston at No. 9, but the advanced metrics are clear: Durant is the only Rocket who consistently torches elite competition (+2.8 net points per 48 minutes). Jabari Smith Jr. is next at +0.6, then Sengun at +0.2. The undercard—Thompson, Sheppard, and the rest—needs to climb toward plus-1.0 if this team wants to survive the second round.
X Factor: Steven Adams
When Adams played last season, the Rockets posted a plus-11.8 net rating—best on the team. His screens, his rebounding, his sheer physicality changed the game. He didn't play after January due to ankle surgery, and the team's late-season collapse was no coincidence.
The catch? He hasn't played 60 games since 2021-22. If Adams stays healthy, Houston's ceiling rises significantly.
The Odds
Our betting brains love the Rockets to go OVER 47.5 wins (+100). They've cleared 50 in back-to-back seasons, and now they have even more depth and a healthy VanVleet. Unless the injury bug bites hard, 50 is the floor.
Bottom line: Houston isn't here to apologize. They're here to dominate the boards, get stops, and prove that last year's disappointment was just a detour. The West's elite better take notice.