LeBron James' recent move means one less player Houston has to worry about

Well, it is official: LeBron James will be joining the Philadelphia 76ers on a 2-year contract for his 24th year in the NBA. While LeBron in Houston was never realistically in the cards, it does open up an interesting discussion about how the West will now shape out this upcoming season.

For many Houston Rockets fans this past offseason, LeBron and his Los Angeles Lakers are a painful reminder of what was a very disappointing playoffs, being that the Lakers beat the Rockets in the first round 4-2.

LeBron leaving the West opens up more opportunities

LeBron staying in the Western Conference did have potential, with teams like the Golden State Warriors or the Minnesota Timberwolves making pitches. At the end of the day, though, he is gone, and the Lakers team he leaves behind is very different.

Houston’s defensive approach could be dangerous to a team like the new-look Lakers, which opens room for the Rockets to make a deeper postseason run. The biggest question that remains is where Houston actually stacks up against the rest of the West.

As of now, teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are still the teams to beat. Players like back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in OKC or Victor Wembanyama, coming off a Finals loss with the Spurs, are stars that Houston has not shown it can top.

If Houston wants to be successful in the 2026-27 season, health will be key; losing players like Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet to injury last season left a huge void. Depth is what carries playoff teams these days, and the Rockets will need everyone healthy to field a deep rotation.

LeBron's new team is stacked with talent

Reminiscent of when Charles Barkley joined Hakeem Olajuwon and Scottie Pippen on the Houston Rockets, LeBron decided to go with the best team available for him - and I can’t blame him. Players like Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid make a dangerous starting lineup in the East, and that’s not even including having guys like Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade coming off the bench.

The NBA is no guarantee; teams can be great and not win a championship. We truly won’t know what happens next season until, well, the end of said season. All in all, I’m glad Houston wouldn’t have to match up with this Philly team in a playoff series before the Finals; next season is going to be one to remember.

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