4 Rockets players who have 27 games to prove they deserve a permanent roster spot

The Houston Rockets have made a habit of improving.

Last year, they were the most improved team in the NBA. In 2024-25, you could make the case that they again deserve that distinction - although Pistons fans will have something to say. Either way, the Rockets keep getting better.

In 2025-26, that will once again be the goal. The Rockets will be pleased to make the playoffs this year. Next year, they must look positioned to win a series or two. Here are four players with 27 games left to prove they deserve to be part of the movement.

1. Steven Adams

If Adams' season had continued the way it started, he wouldn't be on the list. It would be irrefutably true that the Rockets needed to upgrade their backup 5.

Luckily, he's made strides. Adams has been the player the Rockets wanted - when he's on the floor. His Offensive Rebound % of 22.7% would lead the NBA if we're removing any minutes-based qualifiers.

Yet, that's where the problem lies with Adams. Next year, the Rockets may want a backup big who can manage more than 12.6 minutes per game. They'll certainly want one who can regularly play in back-to-backs. Adams has 27 games to prove he can be reliable, or else the Rockets could look elsewhere to fill his role in 2025-26.

2. Aaron Holiday

Plenty of Rockets fans wanted to see Holiday's spot upgraded this year. He's not a bad player. Holiday is a steady hand as a backup point guard. He's shooting a passable 34.3% from deep, and he's a capable defender.

Passable. Capable. These are not inspiring words. A Rockets team that's light on ball-handling could have stood to add a more dynamic playmaker at this year's deadline.

Holiday's best quality is his defense. Since he's a smaller guard, that's suboptimal. It's going to be difficult for him to establish himself as this team's definitive long-term backup point guard, but he's got 27 games to do it.

3. Jae'Sean Tate

Tate is the Rockets' energizer bunny. That's not strictly a reference to his high-energy brand of basketball. Every year, Rockets fans think he'll get traded, and he just keeps on going (with the team).

This year, his role is modest. Tate is playing 11.9 minutes per contest, the lowest of his career. He still needs to prove that those dozen minutes a game would not be better designated to somebody else.

This is a 6'4" wing who's shooting 30.0% from long-range this year. The Rockets don't need to break the bank on the lowest-minute wing in their rotation, but somebody like Torrey Craig, John Konchar or Nicolas Batum would be an improvement.

If Tate can't raise his three-point percentage, the Rockets should be making calls about guys of that ilk this summer.

4. Cam Whitmore

Yes, I saved the hottest take for last.

Some would have included Reed Sheppard. It's too early. He's a rookie - even a win-now team like the Rockets shouldn't be relitigating his value yet. They could move him this summer, but it would have to be in a superstar trade.

By contrast, Whitmore will be heading into his third year. He's still a young player with ample room to improve, but the Rockets' window is officially narrow enough to consider moving on if they don't see sufficient improvement. They're surely aware of the 1.9 assists per 75 possessions he's averaging in 2024-25.

Whitmore needs to be quicker to move the rock. He needs to focus on defense. The Rockets are not a rebuilding team with the patience to develop Whitmore's game. They're good enough to justify moving him for a rotation piece who will play the way they want:

After all, they're only looking to improve.