The Olympics are in the rearview mirror and NBA teams are beginning to prepare for training camps. We turn our attention to an ascending Rockets squad who pieced together an 11-game March winning streak to finish on the cusp of the play-in a year ago. In these previews, we will take a look at each team’s key acquisitions, fantasy stars, and predicted finish.
Key Acquisitions
The Rockets added Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard with the 3rd pick in the draft whilst Steven Adams is set to see his first action as a Rocket having been acquired from Memphis at last year’s deadline.
Sheppard enters the year as one of the Rookie of the Year favourites having showed out during Summer League.
In his one year at Kentucky, Sheppard averaged 12.5 ppg and 4.5 apg shooting 52.1% from three on over four average attempts.
Adams meanwhile has not played an NBA game since January of 2023 having missed all of last season with a knee problem.
One of the league’s best rebounders, Adams offers the Rockets a fierce paint presence when healthy with his team’s defences regularly better with him on the floor.
Fantasy Stars
Alperen Şengün (16th overall, 7th C) is coming off a year in which he averaged 21.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and 5.0 apg on 58.5 TS% to finish top three in Most Improved Player voting.
He did however miss the final month of the season with an ankle issue with the Rockets winning the first nine games through that stretch.
In his first year as a Rocket, Fred VanVleet (46th overall, 18th PG) averaged 17.4 ppg and 8.1 apg shooting 38.7% on 8.0 threes per game.
Projected Finish
Houston will like their chances of securing at least a play-in berth this season, but it will be the continued growth of their young core which will determine how high they can rise.
Şengün, Sheppard, Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Cam Whitmore all enter the season aged 22 or younger and will have a steady enough veteran presence around them to nurture their development.
If the teams above them who look ready to fall do so, Ime Udoka’s squad will be waiting patiently to move several slots up in the standings.
