The Houston Rockets are currently in a peculiar situation. The team demonstrated its commitment to the rebuilding process this summer when it signed Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet, paying them a combined salary of over $63 million this season and signing them to contracts worth a total of over $214 million.
It sends a message about what to expect going forward when two players in their late 20s and 30s, respectively, make that kind of commitment.
The Rockets’ strong pursuit of Mikal Bridges, the outstanding player for the Brooklyn Nets, indicates that they are undoubtedly in the mood to pick up speed.
However, pivoting off the rebuilding path also means – eventually – sacrificing young assets, of which Houston has plenty. That, in itself, offers some challenges.
Assuming for a second the Rockets do indeed acquire Bridges this summer, the team is likely looking to cash in whatever chips they have left to make a proper push towards to top of the Western Conference.
Does that mean Jalen Green, Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith are open to business?
Heck, does it mean even Alperen Şengün might be available?
Firstly, the Rockets need to unearth whether it makes sense to retain parts of their youth core when they’re seemingly looking at players in their prime to help them compete. Logic dictates that pairing a handful of young players with win-now veterans will make for an awkward fit.
