Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
The new NBA season has started, and teams across the league have shown that this year could be special. Last season saw a lot of success from smaller market teams, and it has a certain buzz going throughout the league.
However, there are still plenty of bigger market squads who could do damage this year as well. One of those is the Houston Rockets, who are more of a mid-range market, but the team is still poised to be a real contender this season.
After adding star Kevin Durant to the mix this summer, the Rockets now have a reliable star player who can get them a bucket in crunch time. During the Rockets’ playoff series loss to the Golden State Warriors, the team often looked like they were waiting for someone to take this role, and nobody ever did.
With Durant in the fold now, the Rockets are now being seen as true title contenders, and this team can do some damage. Across the roster, the Rockets have depth, which is needed to win in this current era of the league.
But the Rockets also lost star guard Fred VanVleet for the upcoming season due to injury a few weeks ago. This was a massive blow to the overall chances of this team, and the backcourt is now fairly thin.
If the Rockets want to do damage this season, the front office will likely need to address the backcourt before the trade deadline ends next spring. This team can do a lot on the floor, but having a solid backcourt remains one of the more important factors to winning games in the league.
This is just a prediction, NOT a report!
More NBA Content From TWSN
Boston Celtics Will Survive Without Jayson Tatum
Toronto Raptors Are in Major Trouble
Can Luka Doncic, LeBron James Co-Exist on Lakers?
Houston Rockets Land LaMelo Ball
The Rockets’ front office continues to assess the landscape of the league; one option for them to consider is star guard LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets. Ball has been with the Hornets for his entire career so far, but the team hasn’t seen much success on the court during his tenure.
The Hornets have been trying to build themselves into a potential playoff contender for a while now, but nothing has stuck. This could see a player like Ball look to leave the organization down the line, and Houston could strike to land him.
Not only would Ball help replace the production lost by VanVleet, but he could be part of the future of this team. Since Durant is older, he is only likely to play a few more years, which would leave a big hole in the overall rotation of this Rockets team.
Ball would instantly become one of the faces of this franchise, and he could grow with the other young players on the team. Putting him next to star center Alperen Şengün and forward Amen Thompson could give the Rockets one of the more lethal trios in the league once Durant calls it a career.
The guard has shown out during his time in the NBA, and he has improved pretty much each season. Last year with the Hornets, Ball appeared in 47 games, while putting up 25.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per contest.
Due to his ability to both help run the offensive attack while also spacing the floor well, Ball is a valuable piece to any team. Charlotte may have a high asking price to land him, but Houston should be able to meet the ask in a potential deal.
Ball has dealt with some injury issues throughout his career, which could dissuade the Rockets. But he is an All-Star caliber player, and trading for him could be more than worthwhile.
If anything, this could be a move to help the Rockets plan for the future, while also helping them go after the title this year. The Rockets can be special, but the front office does need to make some moves to help maximize the season going forward.
