The Houston Rockets officially arrived in 2024-25, but their season ended with a reminder that there’s still work to do. After finishing second in the loaded Western Conference (52-30) and pushing the battle-tested Golden State Warriors to seven grueling games, Ime Udoka’s young squad earned league-wide respect.
Alperen Sengun blossomed into a first-time All-Star center (19.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 4.9 APG), Amen Thompson looks like a future face of the franchise (14.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.8 APG), and the Rockets’ defensive toughness became their calling card. But blowing Game 7 at home exposed their flaws just as clearly: they lack that second gear of star power, and they’re still figuring out which young pieces are keepers and which might be better used as trade chips.
Jalen Green’s postseason meltdown is the elephant in the room. After a strong regular season, Green’s scoring dried up under playoff pressure, leaving his future in Houston under real question marks. Posting 13.3 points per game when the Rockets desperately needed an offensive answer against Golden State was simply unacceptable.
Can he still be part of a contending core, or is it time to flip him while his value remains high? Meanwhile, the Rockets’ depth, a strength all year, got a little shaky against elite competition, with bench shooters and backup bigs struggling to hold up in the postseason spotlight.
It’s clear that if Houston wants to make the leap from nice story to legit contender, they’ll need to sharpen the roster, upgrade the star power, and clean up the depth chart. The good news? This team has the assets, cap flexibility, and front office aggression to do it.
In this offseason plan, we’ll lay out exactly how Houston can rise to the next level in 2025-26, from potential blockbuster trades to smart signings that fit Udoka’s tough, defensive culture. With the right moves, the Rockets can blow the door open and emerge as a real force in the West.
Complete A Blockbuster Trade For Kevin Durant
Proposed Trade Details
Houston Rockets Receive: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns Receive: Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Cameron Whitmore, 2027 First Round Pick (PHX), 2029 First Round Pick (DAL/PHX)
If the Rockets want to crash the Western Conference hierarchy right now, there’s no bigger swing than landing Kevin Durant. With Phoenix heading into an offseason of soul-searching after another early exit, Durant’s time in the desert is clearly coming to an end.
There have been reports that Durant and Houston have mutual interest and it helps that the Rockets have the ideal mix of assets to make the Suns listen. Sending out Jalen Green (who struggled badly in the postseason but dropped 21.0 PPG in the regular season), Jabari Smith Jr. (whose development has stalled a bit, posting 12.2 PPG and 7.0 RPG), and high-upside wing Cam Whitmore (9.4 PPG) gives Phoenix young talent and control of future picks, including Brooklyn’s 2027 selection and a valuable 2029 pick.
For the Rockets, this trade signals they’re ready to win now.
Durant may be 36, but he still posted 26.6 PPG (52.7% FG, 43.0% 3-PT FG) this season, and can space the floor, draw defensive gravity, and bring championship DNA to a young locker room. Pairing him with All-Star Alperen Sengun and rising star Amen Thompson would give Houston a terrifying offensive trio: Sengun’s inside craft, Amen’s slashing and defense, and KD’s all-time shot-making.
With Durant under contract through next season ($54,708,608), this isn’t a one-year rental but a one-year tryout before extending him with another two-year deal before retirement. The Rockets would become instant contenders alongside Denver, OKC, and Minnesota.
Yes, it’s a heavy price to pay. But in this league, the teams that win big are the ones who go big. Just like they did trading for James Harden over a decade ago, Houston would be betting that Durant’s greatness can elevate a promising young core into a legitimate title threat.
Re-Sign Fred VanVleet On Team-Friendly Contract
Fred VanVleet proved exactly why Houston paid him big in 2023, but now, they need him to buy into the next phase of the plan. By declining his massive $44.8 million option and re-signing Fred to a more cap-friendly three-year, $60 million deal, the Rockets can free up space while keeping their floor general in place.
It’s a win-win: VanVleet stays as the emotional leader of the team while allowing the front office flexibility to add Durant and veterans. Fred was critical in the Rockets’ seven-game war with Golden State, averaging 18.7 points, 4.4 assists, and hitting big shots to steady a young team in the clutch.
His veteran toughness and playoff experience were invaluable against Steph Curry’s crew, especially as Jalen Green crumbled under pressure. VanVleet is still the engine that keeps Houston organized and competitive in high-stakes games, and there’s no clear replacement on the roster if he were to leave.
Locking in Fred now would also send a strong message of stability amid big changes. While Durant’s arrival would shift the power dynamic, VanVleet’s voice in the locker room and presence at point guard ensure there’s continuity. For Ime Udoka’s system, keeping Fred is absolutely essential.
Re-Sign Steven Adams On A Long-Term Deal
If there was a playoff x-factor for Houston this year, it was Steven Adams. Acquired midseason and fresh off injury rehab, Adams dominated his minutes against Golden State, using his sheer strength and savvy to bully smaller lineups.
He averaged 5.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and countless bone-crunching screens in the series, giving the Rockets the interior toughness they needed. Re-signing him to a two-year deal keeps this vital backup center role solidified behind Sengun.
Adams is the strongest player on the team at 6’11” and 265 lbs, and maybe in the league, and his value goes beyond stats. He sets the tone physically, protects the paint, and gives Houston lineup flexibility.
When Sengun sits, the Rockets can stay big and mean with Adams anchoring the second unit. For a team that got outmuscled at times by Denver and Minnesota during the regular season, keeping Adams is non-negotiable if they plan to go deep next year.
A reasonable two-year pact (think something like $18 million total) would reward Adams while keeping costs controlled. Given his chemistry with the young guys and his leadership presence, it’s the kind of savvy veteran retention move that good teams make.
Prepare Contract Extension For Tari Eason
While Jabari Smith Jr. gets traded in the Durant deal, Tari Eason quietly becomes the forward Houston must lock up long-term as the player enters the fourth year of his rookie-scale contract, making $5,675,766 next season before a $8,014,181 qualifying offer becomes available. The youngster posted 12.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this season.
Eason is a two-way wrecking ball, showing flashes this season of becoming one of the best perimeter defenders in the West. His athleticism, length, and nonstop motor make him a perfect fit next to Durant and Sengun, and his offensive game is starting to catch up. At just 23, he’s the kind of role player who wins playoff games with energy plays and defensive stops.
This summer, the Rockets need to get ahead of the curve and prepare an extension for Eason before his price skyrockets. A deal in the range of four years, $60-70 million would be fair value now and could look like a bargain down the road.
Losing Jabari Smith in the KD trade means Eason’s role only grows: he’ll be tasked with guarding stars, crashing the boards, and filling the gaps that make lineups work. Ime Udoka loves versatile, tough-minded wings, and Eason fits that mold perfectly.
Plan To Develop The Bench In Offseason
One of the clearest lessons from Houston’s playoff exit: the bench needs polish. Rookie and No. 3 overall pick Reed Sheppard barely saw the floor, but insiders say the Rockets are high on his long-term potential.
Sheppard shot only 33.8% from deep in limited action but is widely considered the best pure shooter on the roster, exactly the type of weapon this team will need, flanking Durant and Sengun. He is also making $10,603,560 next season before a $11,108,880 team option becomes available.
The plan this summer: get Sheppard in the gym, bulk him up, and prepare him to play real rotation minutes in 2025-26. Elsewhere, there are deeper questions to answer. Aaron Holiday ($4,901,400 team option), Jae’Sean Tate (free agent), and Jeff Green (free agent) had their moments this year, but didn’t consistently move the needle in the playoffs.
Houston must either develop them further or look for veteran upgrades in free agency, particularly shooters and backup wings who can hold up defensively. Udoka’s system demands two-way toughness, and right now, the second unit is a little too shaky when the stars sit, especially with two key players heading to Phoenix in the proposed Durant trade.
