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NBA Future Power Rankings: 22. Houston Rockets
- Russell Schmidt
- Aug 8, 2016
- 2 min read
Houston Rockets: After reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2014-15, the Rockets have fallen from the NBA’s elite very quickly. Say what you will about James Harden, but he is still one of the top 15 players in the league. Harden will only be 27 at the start of the season and has no serious injury history. His presence alone keeps the Rockets from the very bottom of these rankings. Signing Harden to a 4-year $118 contract guarantees that the Rockets will at the very least remain in the playoff race for the duration of his deal. The rest of the Rockets outlook is a total mess. The Rockets finally found the perfect stretch power forward to play with Dwight Howard when they signed Ryan Anderson to a 4-year $80 Million deal. The only problem is the Rockets lost Howard. Howard would have come at a steep price if they re-signed him and considering Howard’s declining athleticism and injury history, I agree with letting him walk. On the other hand, a player like Anderson is only effective when playing next to a center like Howard. Howard is no longer one of the top-10 players in the league, but he is still one of the best rim protectors in the game and good for 15 points and 10 boards a game. The Anderson signing didn’t make sense once Howard left. The Rockets will certainly be in contention for the worst defense in the league, even with many strong defenders in Corey Brewer, Trevor Ariza, Clint Capela, and Patrick Beverley. New coach Mike D’Antoni almost always has a bad defense and James Harden, Eric Gordon (signed to a 4-year $53 Million deal), and Ryan Anderson are three of the worst defenders in the league. Given how much these three are getting paid it is almost unavoidable that they will be on the court together for some of the game. The Gordon signing made literally no sense. Gordon once had a lot of potential, but injuries have limited his growth as a player. Gordon is one of those players where each season the question isn’t whether he will get injured, but when and how badly. Gordon also doesn’t fit next to Harden since both are almost exclusively shooting guards. The Rockets are a mess and will have trouble making the playoffs, even with Harden. General Manager Daryl Morey better make some bold moves fast in order to save his team and his job.
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