Houston Rockets: 3 biggest questions this offseason

The Houston Rockets enter the 2021 offseason with more questions than answers. An unsurprising development for a team coming off a season where they posted the worst record in the league.

Rockets’ owner Tilman Fertitta has let it be known that general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Stephen Silas’ jobs are safe, for now. While the decision-makers in Houston won’t be changing this offseason, the roster remains another story.

Going in the Rockets’ favor are their three first-round picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, Christian Wood’s team-friendly deal, and Kevin Porter Jr. flashing big-time potential in his brief stint in Houston. On the other end of the spectrum, the Rockets have the overpaid and aging duo of John Wall and Eric Gordon, whatever is left of Danuel House, and only eight players under contract for next season.

The Rockets are in the midst of a rebuild and have tough questions to answer all throughout their organization. The franchise looks poised for a youth movement, but holdovers from the previous regime will be difficult to move on from.

However, with the backing of ownership, the front office has been empowered to take the long view to reemerge from the wreckage of a lost season. It was only a year ago the Rockets were asking themselves how they could build a Finals contender around James Harden. In the year since, the franchise has lost Harden, Russell Westbrook, Robert Covington, P.J. Tucker, Daryl Morey, and Mike D’Antoni.

The most successful teams constantly ask the right questions. If the Rockets are going to get back to the playoffs, sooner rather than later, these are the three biggest questions the Rockets need to answer this offseason.

Next: Question #3