Do Rockets Have Best Future in NBA?
The Houston Rockets have made a lot of moves this offseason as they hired a new coach, drafted two high-profile players, signed two big-name free agents and were runner-ups in the Summer League.
Next season will look a lot different, but there are questions about how the players from last year's team will mesh with the new talent.
The Rockets have the seventh-youngest roster in the NBA, including six important pieces that are 22-years-old or under: Jalen Green (21 years old), Amen Thompson (20), Jabari Smith Jr. (20), Cam Whitmore (19), Tari Eason (22), Alperen Sengun (21).
SB Nation compiled a ranking of the 11 best young cores in the NBA. The Rockets landed at the No. 4 spot.
Ricky O'Donnell, the author of the rankings explained that Houston has "the greatest volume of intriguing young talent in the NBA," but he's unsure if they can compete for the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
"The only question is if there’s someone in the mix who one day projects as the best player on a championship team," O'Donnell said. "I’m a bit skeptical there, and it’s why the Rockets only rank No. 4 on this list. Still, the sheer number of impressive young players on this roster is enough to give Houston as bright of a future as any bottom-feeding team in the league."
O'Donnell had a lot of good things to say about each member of the young core, but the one main critique was scoring.
This is a fair assessment as the Rockets finished last season with the NBA's third-least points per game (110.7). As each member of the young core develops their scoring into next season, this won't be a problem.
To help with the young guns' shooting, Houston signed a ton of NBA veterans this offseason. O'Donnell believes that this could make a big difference.
"The hope is that more veterans will help keep this team organized and professional as the young core grows into its own," O'Donnell said. "The Rockets might not have many wins to show for it just yet, but they really do have a bright future."
You can follow Hunter De Siver on Twitter @HunterDeSiver.
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