The Houston Rockets have high hopes for their young team heading into 2024-25 thanks to the core of Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, and rookie Reed Shepard. Along with veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, the Rockets youngsters need to show improvement on both ends of the court with a playoff appearance in sight. We break down the Rockets roster into six tiers to understand how good their depth chart is right now.
Tier 1: Superstars
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Tier 2: All-Stars
Alperen Sengun
Alperen Sengun has emerged as the most promising young star for the Rockets, showcasing his diverse skill set as a center. In the 2023-24 season, Sengun averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, demonstrating his ability to score, rebound, and facilitate from the post. As a dynamic offensive talent with a high basketball IQ, Sengun is expected to lead the Rockets both offensively and defensively as he continues his development into an All-Star-caliber player. We anticipate the Turkish star reaching another level in the 2024-25 season and becoming an All-Star in terms of impact and possibly with a selection.
Tier 3: Fringe All-Stars
Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green
Fred VanVleet is the steady veteran presence in Houston’s backcourt, bringing leadership, playmaking, and perimeter shooting. Last season, VanVleet averaged 17.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, providing stability and experience to a young Rockets team. Known for his tenacity and clutch shooting, VanVleet will play a crucial role in guiding the team’s young players and helping them compete at a higher level. As a fringe All-Star with an All-Star appearance on his resume in 2021-22, the point guard will always have an impact with the ball in his hands.
Jalen Green is a dynamic scorer with elite athleticism and the potential to be an All-Star in the near future. In the 2023-24 season, Green put up 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, continuing to grow as an offensive threat. The shooting guard needs to start showing he can be a dominant offensive player consistently and his all-around game will need to follow for him to possibly become an All-Star someday. As he works on his efficiency and defensive impact, Green’s development will be key for the Rockets as they aim to climb up the Western Conference standings.
Tier 4: Key Role Players
Dillon Brooks, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, Steven Adams
Dillon Brooks is a tenacious defender and emotional leader who adds grit and intensity to the Rockets’ lineup. He averaged 12.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game last season, primarily known for his perimeter defense and ability to guard multiple positions. Brooks’ defensive toughness and ability to knock down shots when needed will be crucial for Houston’s success on both ends of the floor. The Rockets are hoping that Brooks can become an All-NBA Defensive Team performer for the first time since 2022-23 and can make more than 35.9% of his threes.
Reed Sheppard, the rookie guard, has already impressed with his basketball IQ, shooting, and ball-handling skills from what we have seen so far. As a highly-touted prospect and No. 3 overall pick, Sheppard is expected to contribute immediately, providing a combination of scoring and playmaking off the bench. His ability to adapt to the NBA level quickly will determine how significant his impact will be in his first season. However, expect Sheppard to make the All-Rookie First Team with the chances he will get to play.
Jabari Smith Jr. continues to develop as a versatile forward capable of stretching the floor and defending multiple positions. Last season, he averaged 13.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, showcasing his potential as a two-way player. Smith’s ability to knock down perimeter shots and defend will be key to his growth and the Rockets’ overall success because the franchise is developing the youngster patiently.
Amen Thompson, another young prospect, brings elite athleticism and playmaking ability to the Rockets. As a second-year player in 2024-25, his role will primarily involve using his athleticism to create plays in transition and provide energy off the bench. Thompson’s development will be closely watched as he brings a unique skill set to Houston’s lineup following averages of 9.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.
Cam Whitmore is a young forward with significant upside, particularly as a scorer and rebounder. Known for his versatility and physical tools, Whitmore will be looking to establish himself in the Rockets’ rotation. His ability to contribute on both ends will be essential as he grows into a more prominent role, and we expect similar individual numbers in 2024-25 (12.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game) from the No. 20 overall pick in the 2023 Draft.
Tari Eason is a strong, defensive-minded forward who contributes with his hustle and rebounding ability. Last season, he averaged 9.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, often making an impact with his energy and effort plays. Eason’s knack for doing the dirty work and his defensive presence will be valuable assets for the Rockets. Eason is yet another player who will compete for minutes on the Rockets and it is interesting how much young talent the franchise has.
Steven Adams will provide the Rockets with much-needed veteran leadership and toughness in the frontcourt. Known for his rebounding and screen-setting, Adams averaged 8.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in 2022-23 after missing the entire season last year. His experience and ability to anchor the paint defensively will help guide the younger players on the roster.
Tier 5: Supplementary Pieces
Jeff Green, Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday, Jock Landale
Jeff Green, at 38 years old, is a seasoned veteran who brings versatility and leadership to the Rockets. In the 2023-24 season, he provided solid minutes off the bench, averaging 6.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. Green’s experience and ability to play multiple positions make him a valuable depth piece for Houston.
Jae’Sean Tate is a hard-nosed forward known for his defensive versatility and hustle. Last season, he averaged 4.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, making his presence felt on both ends of the floor. Tate’s energy, defensive prowess, and ability to guard multiple positions make him a key rotational player for the Rockets although his minutes will be limited considering the amount of young talent on the roster.
Aaron Holiday is a reliable backup guard who provides steady minutes off the bench with his shooting and defensive skills. He averaged 6.6 points and 1.8 assists per game on 38.7% from deep last season, offering a solid presence in the backcourt. Holiday’s experience and ability to step up in different roles will be valuable for Houston’s depth.
Jock Landale is a solid, hardworking center who adds depth to the Rockets’ frontcourt. He averaged 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last season, contributing as a reliable presence off the bench. Landale’s size and ability to defend the post will be important for the Rockets when facing larger lineups.
Tier 6: Bench
AJ Griffin, Nate Hinton, Jermaine Samuels
AJ Griffin is a young wing with potential, looking to carve out a role in the rotation. Although he didn’t see significant playing time last season with the Atlanta Hawks (8.6 MPG), his shooting ability and athleticism could earn him minutes in the right situations.
Nate Hinton is a defensive-minded guard who brings energy and effort whenever he steps on the court. While his role is currently limited, his ability to impact the game defensively could provide him with opportunities in spot minutes. He only had 15 appearances for the Rockets last year so the player is hoping he can appear more often this season.
Jermaine Samuels is another young player on the Rockets’ bench, focusing on his development after making only 14 appearances last year. He has shown potential in his rebounding and defensive abilities, and his growth will determine if he can carve out a larger role moving forward.
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