The Houston Rockets are in the spotlight right now. Everybody thought they were heady to just blow it up and hit the rebuild button after yet another failed playoff run. Then again, it seems like team owner Tilman Fertitta has other plans in mind.
The Rockets managed to part ways with Russell Westbrook but seem reluctant to trade James Harden. Moreover, they made a couple of interesting additions in the offseason and could still be poised for another playoff run next season.
That will depend on whether they’re able to hold on to Harden or not, but for now, they look like a team that could get a top-5 seed in the West. If you don’t take our word for it, let’s break it down and talk about the projected lineup for the 2020-21 Houston Rockets.
Bench: Chris Clemons, Eric Gordon, David Nwaba, Sterling Brown, Mason Jones, Brodric Thomas, Ben McLemore, Jae’Sean Tate, Gerald Green, KJ Martin, Bruno Caboclo, Kenny Wooten, DeMarcus Cousins
Point Guard: John Wall
No one can deny John Wall’s talent, athleticism, speed, playmaking, and impact. Then again, we’re talking about a guy that hasn’t played NBA basketball in two years, although those who have worked out with him claim that he’s back to his former self already.
It may take a while before Wall gets his legs back under him but when healthy, he’s one of the best two-way point guards in the league, that’s for sure. Then again, we’ve already seen Harden play with a very similar player in Russell Westbrook and the outcome was kind of subpar.
Shooting Guard: James Harden
As of today, it doesn’t seem like the Houston Rockets are going to trade James Harden before the start of the season. But whether he finishes the year as a member of the team is yet to be seen, as the situation seems to be unsustainable for both parties.
It goes without saying that James Harden is one of the greatest, most dominant, and most explosive scorers of all time. He can do it all with the rock on his hand and his defense has improved significantly over the years. The league is watching and eager to know his next steps.
Small Forward: Danuel House Jr
Danuel House Jr became famous – and later infamous – around the league last season. He blossomed into an impressive 3-and-D player and his ability to lock down opposing wings and guards came pretty handily for the Rockets for most of the year.
Then, his cheating scandal and being thrown out of the bubble raised some questions about his future with the team, but it seems like that’s just water under the bridge right now. Hopefully, he’ll play by the rules this season and continues to prove his worth.
Power Forward: PJ Tucker
If the Houston Rockets were to start a rebuild, then PJ Tucker would be their most valuable asset not named James Harden. He’s become one of the best and most versatile defenders in the league and he’d be a major addition to any contender.
PJ Tucker is strong and athletic enough to hold his own vs. most centers despite being undersized. He’s also one of the best corner-threes shooters in the league, and his ability to guard one through five makes him the biggest X-Factor on the Rockets.
Center: Christian Wood
Christian Wood showcased his talents last year with the Detroit Pistons and made sure to get paid big time this season. He’s a bit of a late bloomer, for sure, but he’s already proven to be versatile and dominant on both sides of the glass.
Nonetheless, we can’t ignore the fact that he’s going to have a fully-healthy DeMarcus Cousins looming around and eager to take some minutes away from him. Boogie has missed some time with career-threatening injuries but could still find his way to the starting lineup at some point in the season.
Next
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Boston Celtics
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Brooklyn Nets
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Chicago Bulls
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Dallas Mavericks
The 2020-21 Projected Starting Lineup For The Denver Nuggets
