JALEN GREEN ADMITTED he wasn`t fully prepared for the demands of the playoff stage.
For Green, the lights at the Toyota Center seemed exceptionally bright for Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors, a team featuring multiple future Hall of Famers with extensive playoff experience. This marked the postseason debut for Green and several other key young players for the Houston Rockets, a franchise whose challenging rebuilding phase, initiated by the James Harden trade, is just beginning to show significant progress.
“The court looked huge,” Green remarked a few nights later, reflecting on the initial game. “I couldn`t really get a chance to settle in. My legs were a little shaky.”
The 23-year-old Green`s inefficiency in that game mirrored his nerves. He managed only seven points on 3-of-15 shooting in Houston`s 95-85 defeat. That playoff opener underscored a common perception around the league: the Rockets, despite being a surprising and resilient No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, are still missing a crucial piece to be genuine title contenders.
“They trippin`,” Green declared after bouncing back with a 38-point performance in Houston`s Game 2 victory, a display that highlighted the 2021 No. 2 pick`s potential. “I`m gonna go out and handle business at the end of the day. The ball is gonna be in my hands in the fourth quarter, and we`re gonna make something happen.”
However, the series hasn`t consistently followed that script. As the series shifted back to Houston with the team on the verge of elimination, Green scored in single digits in both losses in San Francisco and was a bystander during the critical final minutes of Game 4, which came down to the wire, culminating in Alperen Sengun missing a tough contested shot.
The fundamental question persists: How will the Rockets acquire the elite offensive engine that is essential for truly great teams?
Houston`s primary hope is that this player will develop organically from within their current roster.
“We are not in the business of predetermining ceilings for our players,” General Manager Rafael Stone told ESPN.
Nevertheless, Plan B would involve utilizing the valuable assets the Rockets have patiently gathered over the past five years to accelerate their timeline through a significant trade.
Green serves as Houston`s leading scorer and represents one of several “bets,” as Stone describes them, that the Rockets are making on current players evolving into the All-NBA level talent required for a championship pursuit. Sengun, a skilled center, earned his first All-Star selection this season at age 22. Amen Thompson, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, quickly established himself as a formidable defensive presence and is only beginning to unlock his offensive potential. Reed Sheppard, the No. 3 pick who hasn`t consistently featured in a deep rotation as a rookie, is regarded by some within the Rockets` decision-making ranks as perhaps the most naturally gifted offensive talent on the roster.
“We`re all aligned regarding our organizational strengths and wanting to see the growth potential of these young guys,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka recently commented to ESPN. “When you have this many high draft picks, you want to see who develops into what. I understood upon taking the job that we would focus on developing these players and see how far we could get. I believe they have all demonstrated growth and potential. The next step is identifying who can emerge as that consistent leader for us.”
“Therefore, attempting to expedite the process by immediately acquiring one piece would be somewhat counterproductive to what we initially discussed. That remains our vision, and I believe this year`s playoffs will provide a clearer picture, placing players in diverse and high-pressure scenarios to observe their responses.”
The assessment of the young Rockets stars` initial playoff experience will be a critical factor in those internal discussions. A major trade would necessitate parting with some of that young talent, although Houston has communicated to other front offices that Amen Thompson is considered essentially unavailable.
“There`s no doubt in my mind that there are multiple players on this roster currently who, given their age, could potentially become the top player on a championship-caliber team,” Patrick Fertitta, the 30-year-old son of owner Tilman Fertitta and ownership`s representative in basketball operations, stated late in the regular season. “You don`t often see players at this age reach that status yet, but I am very confident that one, if not a few, of these players can evolve into that. That being said, whenever a player of that elite level becomes available, it would be negligent not to perform our due diligence.”
THE ROCKETS` LEADERSHIP has constructed a team reflecting their coach`s tough-minded identity. The additions of seasoned veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, alongside the development of Houston`s young core, propelled the Rockets to a significant improvement last season, followed by another leap to a 52-30 record this season.
Udoka`s Rockets succeed through resilience and physicality, ranking first in the league in rebounding and fifth defensively, compensating for a middling offense. However, this approach, without a true superstar, has a defined limit.
“We understand that in the playoffs, sometimes it ultimately depends on having a player who is unstoppable in the final five minutes and can close out the game,” VanVleet shared with ESPN. “We possess everything else. It`s not as though some savior is needed to resolve all our issues, but rather, do you have a player you can consistently rely on in the critical final moments of a playoff series to secure wins when they matter most? I believe that if we had that type of player, we would be considered more likely title contenders. While success in the playoffs is still possible, it`s simply more challenging. The margin for error is narrower.”
VanVleet himself hasn`t been that singular game-closing player, but he is an exceptional leader who figures into the Rockets` future plans, whether his contract option for next season is exercised or he is signed to a longer-term agreement. He also agrees with Coach Udoka and the front office that potential superstars may already reside within the team.
Indeed, within the team`s modern practice facility, comparisons are occasionally drawn between the Rockets` young prospects and some of the league`s premier players.
For instance, it has been noted that Jalen Green`s career statistical output through his first four seasons is quite comparable to that of Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker, although Booker had established himself as an elite scorer by this point in his career (albeit on a less successful team). Current criticisms of Green center on his inconsistency and inefficiency, but Booker`s trajectory demonstrates the progress a high-volume scoring guard can achieve in these areas as they gain experience.
“I`m not sure you can easily acquire another shooting guard with his potential or talent level,” VanVleet commented on Green. “Perhaps Anthony Edwards in Minnesota. I question whether Booker possesses more inherent talent than Jalen, or if he is simply more skilled, refined, experienced, and older. I don`t know what Jalen will look like when he is 26, 27, 28, having been through multiple playoff series. That is the exciting aspect, where potential can be captivating. He possesses the talent. There is no inherent reason for him not to reach that level. He must navigate the process; he must experience setbacks.”
Sengun`s statistics at age 22 bear resemblance to those of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic at the same age. However, rival scouts and executives often suggest a comparison to three-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis as a more realistic benchmark among the league`s skilled, high-scoring big men with strong passing abilities.
“His highlights and moments of brilliance, everything is impactful,” VanVleet said of Sengun. “His errors are noticeable, and his successes are notable. Once he becomes more consistent in making effective, simpler plays daily (`hitting the singles`), I believe his potential and overall game level will continue to expand.”
Rockets front office staff members sometimes rhetorically ponder whether 6-foot-7 Amen Thompson, whose jump shot remains a work in progress, could eventually perform many of the actions Russell Westbrook executed during his prime. The Rockets have not frequently given Thompson the reins of the offense to operate as a primary point guard yet, but they certainly have not dismissed that possibility for the future.
Coach Udoka demonstrated this belief in Thompson by trusting him with the ball in a critical situation during the final seconds of a game against the defending champion Boston Celtics in January. Thompson attacked All-Star wing Jaylen Brown in isolation, creating sufficient space in the lane for a game-winning floater, capping off a 33-point performance.
“He has already developed into a very good NBA player,” Stone stated. “He should be significantly better next year than this year, and that progression should continue for the foreseeable future. He is an excellent young man, dedicates himself to hard work, and is highly intelligent. Everything we have asked of him, he has accomplished. He has done so quickly and, at times, surprisingly effortlessly.”
Reed Sheppard is occasionally mentioned in comparisons to Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash, another smaller guard who saw limited playing time as a rookie. At 6-2 and 185 pounds, Sheppard faces a steep adjustment curve to the NBA, particularly on a team aiming for competitiveness, but the Rockets remain highly optimistic about his potential to develop into a star.
“I believe Reed is simply an exceptionally talented player,” Stone commented. “Very few individuals shoot the ball as well as him. Very few individuals pass the ball as well as him, and even more impressively than his passing, he understands and reads the offense with remarkable clarity and ease. That level of court vision is not easily taught, certainly not at the level he possesses it. We believe he has the potential to be truly special.”
Once Houston`s season concludes, the team`s leadership will have a more precise understanding of their proximity to being genuine contenders. This assessment will influence the front office`s offseason decisions, but the Rockets will likely be cautious about making moves that could shorten the franchise`s potential window to compete for championships in the long term.
“This league and industry are inherently emotional,” Patrick Fertitta observed. “There is the exhilaration of victory and the anguish of defeat, and it is important not to implement drastic changes, or even minor adjustments, solely based on emotion.”
THE ROCKETS` LEADERSHIP — Stone, Udoka, and Patrick Fertitta — are united in their ambition to allow this young core to grow and mature together. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that internal discussions, at the very least, will occur this summer regarding potential pursuits of star players through the trade market.
Questions arise: Would acquiring Kevin Durant, who will be entering his age-37 season, make strategic sense for the Rockets, considering the significant cost of trading for him and the need for a contract extension? How aggressively would Houston pursue 30-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo if he were to eventually request a trade from Milwaukee? What about younger stars who might better fit Houston`s established timeline? Is Zion Williamson`s immense but injury-prone potential worth the associated risks? Perhaps Ja Morant, if he were to become a trade possibility?
“It`s a significantly high bar to execute a transaction that fundamentally alters the team`s trajectory,” Stone commented, emphasizing the optimism that the continued improvement of the current young players can fuel the Rockets` ongoing ascent.
Patrick Fertitta was the high-ranking Rockets executive who famously told ESPN that the organization was “comfortable being uncomfortable” after James Harden, the long-time face of the franchise, demanded a trade during the 2020 offseason. While the quote was initially given under the condition of anonymity, Fertitta is now proud of the statement.
Those three words encapsulate the patient approach the Rockets have adopted over the past five years.
The statement was specifically relevant to managing Harden`s forceful discontent while negotiating a trade that the Rockets believed could position them to eventually reopen a window for championship contention. Houston`s leadership made the deliberate decision to prioritize an unprecedented package of first-round picks from the Brooklyn Nets over the Philadelphia 76ers` offer, which was centered around then-All-Star guard Ben Simmons. This choice was criticized at the time but has since aged exceptionally well.
Patrick Fertitta and Stone had to convince Tilman Fertitta, a billionaire who purchased the franchise when the Rockets were among the NBA`s elite teams, that intentionally finishing at the bottom was Houston`s most realistic path to becoming a contender again. They also had to persuade Tilman to remain committed to the plan at times during the subsequent three seasons when Houston achieved a combined total of only 59 wins.
Nearly five years later, the Rockets` roster is richly stocked with direct and indirect benefits derived from the Harden transaction. Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson were added with high lottery selections obtained as a direct result of the Rockets` poor records during that three-year period. Tari Eason, a valuable, defense-focused role player like Smith, and Reed Sheppard were selected with picks acquired from Brooklyn.
In a separate transaction last summer, Houston returned control of the Nets` first-round draft picks for the next two years in exchange for another set of draft capital. As a result, the Rockets currently possess the Suns` 2025, 2027, and 2029 first-round picks, as well as the Dallas Mavericks` 2029 first-rounder. Houston also retained swap rights on the Nets` 2027 first-round pick.
These substantial assets provide the Rockets with the means to participate in any potential superstar trade discussions this summer, should they opt to pursue that direction. However, taking that path is far from guaranteed, regardless of the outcome of Houston`s current playoff run.
“While it can be exciting to feel as close to contention as we might be, it`s crucial to proceed with the same level of patience that allowed us to reach this point and to ensure that our decisions are always based on the long-term future, not solely on immediate results,” Patrick Fertitta concluded. “Because we are committed to never valuing the near term over the long term. If the right opportunity emerges where we believe we can significantly improve the team, we will always conduct thorough analysis to determine if it is the appropriate course of action. But ideally, we would prefer to witness this current group develop together, as they already have, and collectively become contenders in this league. And if everyone can improve individually and as a team, we believe the group we have today has the capability to compete in May and June—and hopefully sooner rather than later.”