Jalen Green admitted he wasn`t fully prepared for the intensity of the playoffs.
The lights at the Toyota Center felt much brighter for Green during Game 1 against Golden State, a team filled with future Hall of Famers experienced in the postseason. This playoff debut was a first for Green and several other young core players on the Houston Rockets, a team whose challenging rebuilding phase, which began with the James Harden trade, is finally starting to yield significant positive results.
“The court seemed enormous,” Green remarked a few nights later. “I couldn`t really settle in. My legs felt a bit shaky.”
The 23-year-old Green`s performance showed his nervousness, resulting in inefficiency. He managed just seven points on 3-of-15 shooting in Houston`s 95-85 defeat. This first playoff game reinforced the widespread belief around the league that the Rockets, who surprisingly finished as the scrappy No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, are still missing one key piece to be a genuine title contender.
“They`re mistaken,” Green declared after bouncing back with 38 points in Houston`s Game 2 victory, showcasing the potential of the 2021 second overall pick. “I`m going to go out there and handle things. The ball will be in my hands in the fourth quarter, and we`ll make something happen.”
However, this hasn`t been the pattern of the series as it returns to Houston with the Rockets facing elimination. Green again scored in single digits in both losses in San Francisco and was on the bench during the crucial moments of Game 4, which was decided at the very end when Alperen Sengun missed a difficult potential go-ahead shot over Draymond Green in an isolation play.
The prominent question persists: How can the Rockets acquire the elite offensive talent that all top teams require?
The hope in Houston is that this player might develop within the current roster.
“We don`t predetermine our players` potential,” general manager Rafael Stone told ESPN.
But a backup plan would involve leveraging some of the assets the Rockets have patiently gathered over the last five years to accelerate the process through a major trade.
Green is Houston`s top scorer and one of several “bets,” as Stone calls them, that the Rockets are making on players developing into the All-NBA caliber talent needed for a championship run. Sengun, a skilled center, was an All-Star at age 22 this season. Amen Thompson, also 22 and the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, has quickly become a formidable defensive player and is only starting to unlock his offensive abilities. Rockets management sees guard Reed Sheppard, the No. 3 pick who hasn`t consistently found minutes in a deep rotation as a rookie, as potentially the most gifted offensive player on the team.
“We are all aligned on our organizational assets and the desire to see them develop, seeing what these young players can become,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka recently shared with ESPN. “When you have this many high draft picks, you want to see who emerges. I understood when I took this job that we planned to develop these players and see how far we could get. I believe they have all demonstrated growth and potential. The next stage is identifying who can be our consistent leader. So, trying to rush the process by acquiring one piece now would somewhat contradict what we initially discussed. That is our vision, and I think this year`s playoffs will provide a clear picture of that, putting players in various high-pressure scenarios to observe their responses.”
Evaluating the young Rockets stars` first playoff experience will be a crucial part of these internal discussions. A major trade would necessitate giving up some of that young talent, although Houston has indicated to other teams that Thompson is considered off-limits.
“I am certain there are multiple players currently on this roster who possess the potential, given their age, to be the best player on a championship squad,” Patrick Fertitta, the 30-year-old son of owner Tilman Fertitta and the family`s daily presence in basketball operations, told ESPN late in the regular season. “Players at this age aren`t usually `that person` yet, but I`m very confident one, if not a few, of these guys can become that. Having said that, whenever a player of that caliber becomes available, it would be negligent not to perform our due diligence.”
The Rockets have built a team that reflects their tough-minded coach`s style. The additions of experienced, gritty players like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, alongside the development of the young talent, enabled the Rockets to make a significant leap to respectability last season, followed by another jump to a 52-30 record this season.
Coach Udoka`s team wins through resilience and physical play, leading the league in rebounding rate and ranking fifth in defensive efficiency, which compensates for their average offense. However, this approach, without a superstar, has limitations.
“We understand that sometimes in the playoffs, it comes down to having a player who is impossible to guard in the final five minutes to close out games,” VanVleet commented to ESPN. “We possess everything else. I don`t believe a savior is needed to fix all our issues, but rather, do you have a player you can give the ball to in the clutch moments of a playoff series who can secure wins when it matters most? I think if we had that, we`d be considered more likely title contenders. While success in the playoffs is still possible, it becomes more challenging. The margin for error is smaller.”
VanVleet hasn`t demonstrated he is that specific player, but he is an excellent leader who is part of the Rockets` plans, whether they exercise his $44.9 million team option for the next season or sign him to a longer contract. He also agrees with Udoka and the front office that potential superstars are already on the roster.
In fact, some of the league`s top players are occasionally used as comparisons for the young talent within the team`s new practice facility.
For example, it has been observed that Green`s career statistics are quite similar to Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker`s numbers over his first four seasons. However, Booker had already established himself as a premier scorer by that age, albeit on a struggling team. Green is currently criticized for inconsistency and inefficiency, but Booker`s development shows the progress a high-volume shooting guard can make in these areas as they mature.
“I`m not sure you can acquire another shooting guard with his potential or talent level,” VanVleet said about Green. “Perhaps Anthony Edwards in Minnesota. I wonder if Booker possesses more talent than Jalen, or is he just more skilled, polished, experienced, and older?… I don`t know what Jalen will be like at 26, 27, 28, after experiencing playoff series. That`s the upside, which potential makes exciting. He has the talent. There`s no reason he shouldn`t reach that level. He needs to go through these experiences; he needs to face setbacks.”
Sengun`s statistics at age 22 bear resemblance to three-time MVP Nikola Jokic`s numbers at the same age. However, opposing scouts and executives consider three-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis a more realistic comparison among the league`s high-scoring, playmaking big men.
“His standout plays and flair, everything is noticeable,” VanVleet commented on Sengun. “His errors are evident, and his successes are evident. Once he becomes more consistent, hitting his stride daily, I believe his potential and level of play will continue to rise.”
Rockets front office personnel sometimes question whether the 6-foot-7 Thompson, whose shooting is still developing significantly, could eventually perform many actions Russell Westbrook did in his prime. The Rockets haven`t frequently assigned Thompson point guard duties yet, but they haven`t ruled out that possibility for the future.
Coach Udoka demonstrated this trust in Thompson by calling his number in the clutch moments of their January 27 game against the reigning champion Boston Celtics. Thompson attacked All-Star wing Jaylen Brown in isolation, creating enough space in the paint for a game-winning floater to cap his 33-point performance.
“He`s already established himself as a very good NBA player,” Stone stated. “He should improve significantly next year compared to this year, and that progression should continue for the foreseeable future. He`s a great person, works extremely hard, and is very intelligent. Everything we`ve requested of him, he`s accomplished. He`s done it quickly and sometimes remarkably easily.”
Sheppard is sometimes mentioned in the same context as Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash, another smaller guard who played limited minutes as a rookie. At 6-2, 185 pounds, Sheppard faces a considerable adjustment period to the NBA, particularly on a competitive roster, but the Rockets remain optimistic about his potential to become a star.
“I believe Reed is simply a remarkably talented player,” Stone said. “Very few people shoot as proficiently as he does. Very few people pass as skillfully as he does, and even more than passing, he reads the offense with such clarity and ease. That level of understanding isn`t really something that can be taught. We think he has the potential to be truly exceptional.”
After Houston`s season concludes, the team`s leadership will have a clearer understanding of how close the Rockets are to being serious contenders. This will influence the front office`s offseason decisions, but the Rockets will be hesitant to make moves that could shorten the franchise`s potential window for competing for championships.
“This league and the basketball business are highly emotional,” Patrick Fertitta observed. “There`s the joy of winning and the pain of losing, and it`s crucial not to make significant or even minor changes based solely on emotion.”
The Rockets` leadership – Stone, Udoka, and Patrick Fertitta – share the goal of allowing this young core to develop together. Nevertheless, it is expected that internal discussions will occur this summer, at a minimum, regarding potential pursuit of star players via trade.
Does Kevin Durant, entering his age-37 season, make sense for the Rockets considering the cost of acquiring him and extending his contract? How aggressively would Houston pursue 30-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo if he eventually seeks a trade from Milwaukee? What about younger stars who align better with Houston`s timeline? Is Zion Williamson`s significant potential worth the associated risks? Perhaps Ja Morant, if he becomes a trade possibility?
“Making a transaction that significantly alters things is a very high standard,” Stone commented to ESPN, highlighting the optimism that the current young players` improvement can drive the Rockets` continued rise.
Patrick Fertitta was the senior Rockets executive who told ESPN the organization was “comfortable being uncomfortable” after James Harden, the longtime franchise cornerstone, requested a trade during the 2020 offseason. The quote was initially anonymous but Fertitta is proud of it.
Those three words summarize the patience the Rockets have demonstrated over the past five years.
The statement specifically referred to managing Harden`s aggressive dissatisfaction while negotiating a trade the Rockets believed could position them to eventually open another championship window. Houston`s leadership decided to prioritize a historic collection of first-round picks from the Brooklyn Nets over the Philadelphia 76ers` offer centered around then-All-Star guard Ben Simmons. This decision was criticized at the time but has proven to be highly beneficial.
Patrick Fertitta and Rafael Stone had to persuade Tilman Fertitta, a billionaire who bought the team when the Rockets were among the NBA`s elite, that intentionally performing poorly was Houston`s most realistic route back to contention. They also had to convince Tilman to stick with the plan at times during the subsequent three seasons when Houston won only 59 games combined.
Nearly five years later, the Rockets` roster is filled with direct and indirect benefits from the Harden deal. Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson were added with high lottery picks obtained due to the Rockets` poor records during that three-year period. Tari Eason, like Smith a valuable defensive-minded role player, and Reed Sheppard were selected with picks received from Brooklyn.
In a separate transaction last summer, Houston gave Brooklyn back control of the Nets` first-round pick in the next two drafts in exchange for another set of picks. As a result, the Rockets now own the Suns` 2025, 2027, and 2029 first-round picks, along with the Dallas Mavericks` 2029 first-rounder. Houston also retained the right to swap first-round picks with the Nets in 2027.
These assets would enable the Rockets to participate in discussions for acquiring a superstar via trade this summer – if the team chooses that path. This is far from certain, regardless of Houston`s playoff performance.
“Although it can be exciting to feel potentially close,” Patrick Fertitta commented, “it`s important to proceed with the same patience that brought us here and ensure our decisions are always based on the future, not just the present. We never want to value the short term over the long term. If the right opportunity arises where we believe we can significantly improve, we will always evaluate if it`s the correct action. However, ideally, we would love to see this group develop together as they have been and become contenders in the league. If everyone can individually and collectively improve, we think that this current group has the capability to compete in May and June – hopefully sooner rather than later.”