Revealing the Rockets plan this summer: Cultivate non-selling Amen to the peak Westbrook and pursue the four major stars with caution

On May 1, ESPN famous reporter McMahon wrote an article to reveal the Rockets' offseason plan and return to the playoffs, making them more convinced that the team needs a superstar. In addition, regarding the training of several young people in the team, executives will also give different attitudes through evaluation. For example, Amen Thompson is already a clear non-selling product, and some people may be ready to leave.

Jaylen Green admitted that he was not fully prepared to welcome the playoff stage. For Green, the spotlight was more dazzling than ever in the first series between Toyota Center Arena and the Warriors. The opponents have several future Hall of Famers members who have outstanding results in the playoffs. And this is the playoff debut of Green and several other young core members of the Rockets. Since trading Harden to start a painful reconstruction journey, the Rockets have finally begun to reap fruitful results.

"The court looked extremely wide," Green said a few days later. "I couldn't find the rhythm at all, and my legs were trembling." The tension was revealed to Green, 23, and also led to his poor performance in the game. In the G1 game where the Rockets lost 85-95, he made only 3 of 15 shots and scored only 7 points. This playoff debut further confirmed the general view of the league: the Rockets, the second-seeded West, is still a key step away from becoming a true championship contender.

"They were wrong," Green scored 38 points in Game 2 to help the Rockets win, showing the potential of the 2021 second-tier show. "At the end of the day, I will do my best to play the game well. The fourth quarter will be handed over to me, and we will definitely make a difference."

However, the trend of the series did not go as he wished. In the two losses in San Francisco, Green scored again but failed to double the score. In the fourth game, he could only watch from the wall. In the last few seconds of the game, Shin Kyung made a single-player dream and failed to hit the key ball. A sharp question remains unsolved: How should the Rockets get the elite offensive core that all top teams need? The Rockets once hoped that this key player could be born from the lineup he trained.

"We don't set a cap for players," General Manager Raphael Stone told ESPN. But the alternative is to use some of the assets the team has patiently accumulated over the past five years to accelerate the championship process through a heavy trade.

Green is the Rockets' scoring champion and one of the "potential stocks" that the Rockets have high expectations for. The team looks forward to him growing into an All-Star player who can lead the team to the championship. Shin Kyung, a center with comprehensive skills, is 22 years old this year and is selected as an All-Star for the first time this season. Amen Thompson, 22, is the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft. He has grown into a defensive gate and has begun to make his mark on the offensive end. Rockets management believes that although this year's No. 3 pick and defender Shepard has not yet gained a foothold in the rotation lineup as a rookie, he may be the most talented offensive player in the team.

"The idea is consistent with the team's existing lineup and what we want to see these young players grow," Rockets head coach Uduka recently told ESPN. "When you hold so many high picks, you naturally want to see which players stand out. When I took over this job, I understood that we have to work hard to cultivate these young people and see what results can be achieved. I think they all show growth and potential. The next step is to Find out who can become our stable leader. "

" Therefore, introducing a star through trading now to accelerate the process, to some extent, is contrary to our initial vision. This is our philosophy. I think this year's playoffs will give us a clearer understanding of the team, and also allow players to be trained in different high-stress situations to see how they will react. "

The evaluation of the first playoff performance of the Rockets young stars will become an important part of the team's internal discussion. Although a heavy deal may mean that the Rockets will give up some young players, the Rockets have made it clear to other team management that Amen Thompson is a non-sale product.

"I firmly believe that with their age, many players on the team may become the core of the championship team," said Patrick Fertita, the 30-year-old son of the team owner Tillman Fertita, to ESPN at the end of the regular season. "Although I can't see players of this age becoming such a role, I am very confident that one or several of them will definitely do it. Having said that, if a top star enters the trading market, if we don't conduct a comprehensive assessment, it will be a dereliction of duty."

The Rockets coached by Udoka have gained a foothold with tough and physical confrontation, ranking first in the league in rebounding rate, and fifth in defensive efficiency, making up for the shortcomings on the offensive end. But this style has an upper limit in the absence of superstars.

"We know that in the playoffs, sometimes the game will be based on whether there is a player who is unprepared to finish the game in the last five minutes," Van Vleet told ESPN. "We have everything else. I don't think anyone can be the savior to save us, but the key is, in the last five minutes of the playoff series, do you have a trusted player who can win the game for the team at the most critical moments? ”

"I think if we had players like this, the call for championship would be higher. Of course, there would be more difficult and the error tolerance rate would be lower." ”

VanVleet has not proven himself to be such a player, but he is an excellent leader, and he will play a major role in the Rockets' future regardless of whether the team executes his $44.9 million team option next season or signs a long-term contract with him. He also agrees with Uduka and the management, believing that there are players in the team who have the potential to become a superstar..

Nearly five years later, the Rockets' lineup has benefited directly or indirectly from Harden's trade. Jaylen Green, Jabbarry Smith Jr. and Thompson were all selected with high picks in the three seasons when the team had poor record. Like Smith, Tari Ethan is also a highly valued defensive role player, and he and Shepard were selected with the draft picks they received from the Nets.

Last summer, in another deal, the Rockets returned the Nets' first-round picks for the next two years in exchange for more draft picks. Therefore, the Rockets have the Suns' first-round draft picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029, as well as the Mavericks' first-round draft picks in 2029, and retain the right to swap first-round picks with the Nets in 2027.

If the Rockets choose to chase superstars this summer, these assets will be their bargaining chips for participating in trading negotiations. However, no matter what the playoffs are, this is far from a foregone conclusion.

"Although it is exciting to feel that the team is getting closer and closer to success, it is important to maintain the patience that brought us to this point in the first place, and make sure that we make decisions not only focus on the present but also on the future," Patrick Fertitta said. "Because we must not sacrifice long-term development for short-term gains. If a great opportunity arises that can greatly improve the team's strength, we will definitely evaluate carefully and judge whether this is the right choice."

"But ideally, we want to see this team grow together as before and become the champion contender in the league. If everyone can continue to improve on their individual and team levels, we believe that the Rockets today have the ability to compete in the playoffs in May and June, and hope this day will come soon."