5 Rockets who should have just played their last game with the franchise

The smoke has cleared. By some measures, the Houston Rockets failed to launch.

That said, the 2024-25 season should be counted as a success. Sure, it would have been nice to advance in the playoffs. A 52-win season has a way of raising expectations.

Now that we're here, we should readjust those expectations retroactively. The Rockets are a young team. Most of their key players were in the playoffs for the first time. A seasoned dynasty like the Warriors is supposed to beat them. If anything, taking Golden State to 7 games counts as an accomplishment.

In 2025-26, the bar will be higher. The Rockets will need to win a playoff series or two to accomplish their goals. To do that, there may need to be some roster changes.

Here are 5 Rockets who should have played their last game with the franchise.

1. Jeff Green

Uncle Jeff wasn't a problem in the first round. He wasn't anything. Green played just 1.7 minutes per game against the Warriors.

That's no surprise. We're talking about a 38-year-old. Green has been in the NBA for so long that he's had teammates who played in black and white.

OK, fine - that's a slight exaggeration.

Still, Green's time has come. Retirement must be looking appealing. Even if he plans on staying in the league, the Rockets shouldn't waste a roster spot on him. His tutelage has been valuable, but he's outlived his usefulness in Houston.

2. Aaron Holiday

Holiday saw his minutes decrease against the Warriors as well. He saw 9.0 minutes of action per game.

It was 9 minutes too many.

I don't mean to be harsh. Holiday is a solid hand. He's a combo guard who can manage the ball, plays defense, and hits open threes. Holiday is fine.

He's not good enough to be this team's best reserve guard. Holiday was a third-string guard masquerading as a primary backup in 2024-25. The Rockets need to put a better player in that position in 2025-26.

It could be Reed Sheppard. Shedding Holiday to make room for his development would be wise. Alternatively, the Rockets could look for an outside hire to pilot their second unit. Either way, they need to make better use of the backup point guard spot in 2025-26.

3. Jock Landale

Another third-string veteran. At least Landale wasn't treated like a primary backup for much of 2024-25. That said, he was paid like one.

Shedding Landale's hefty $8 million contract slot this summer is imperative. It also won't be difficult. His contract is non-guaranteed up to June 29th. All the Rockets have to do is decline his option, and he hits the open market.

Landale could etch out a career as a backup elsewhere. He has some skills. As it stands, he's not nearly on Steven Adams' level. That makes him expendable to the Rockets. This is a mediocre player making too much money.

That should change ahead of 2025-26.

4. Cam Whitmore

Finally, we're getting into some more substantive stuff. It's easy enough to shed low-usage veterans. It's a bit tougher to advocate for dropping promising young players.

That said, it's time to drop Whitmore like a bad habit.

Statistical analysis is somewhat moot here. I could go into Whitmore's pitiful assists per 75 possession stats again. We could track his passes per game and marvel at how rarely he gives up the ball. It would be beating a dead horse.

Whitmore isn't ready to play team-friendly basketball. He's got no shortage of potential, but he won't meet it in Houston. Whitmore needs to be on a rebuilding team that can extend him a longer leash.

The Rockets should find him a new home this summer.

5. Jalen Green

You knew this was coming.

Green was an unmitigated disaster in the first round. He averaged 13.3 points per game with a True Shooting % (TS%) of 48.2%. He contributed nothing.

This front office may feel encouraged to give him another chance. The Rockets won 52 games. Green is young. You could make the case that seeing if Green develops with another summer of work is the right decision.

I'll make a different case.

Green is four years into his NBA career. There's no meaningful evidence that he'll improve. Hanging onto an asset until it depreciates to nothing is the wrong move. Another first-round exit led by another horrendous performance from Green would knock the Rockets off their upward trajectory.

Heading into 2025-26, they should be looking for a go-to perimeter scorer. The Rockets should wish Green the best and send him to his next NBA home.

It could be the move that helps them launch to the next level.