The Dream starting 5 for the Rockets 5 years from now

The Houston Rockets plan to exit their rebuild and return to contention. After three straight years with 22 or fewer wins, the Rockets added another lottery pick and one with a massive ceiling before signing Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jeff Green, and Jock Landale in free agency. Houston made bold moves (subscription required), but will they mesh with their young talent to make the Rockets a playoff team?

Houston’s rebuild began by trading James Harden, but it netted them a plethora of developing talent. The Rockets want to help those players reach their potential while adding in some veterans. New head coach Ime Udoka should help with development and maturity. Is that enough to make them an annual playoff team?

How different do the Rockets look in five years? They will be gearing up for the 2028-29 season, and hope to be title contenders with a roster full of players in their prime. Houston’s dream scenario features a ton of development and a bit of free agency luck to round out their roster.

Houston Rockets dream starters 5 years from now

PG: Amen Thompson

The fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft already has fans excited. Thompson is an elite athlete with size and ball-handling ability. The 20-year-old will push the ball in transition and fans will be wowed by his athleticism. Thompson could become an elite two-way player who locks down the opposition’s best scorer and runs the offense.

Fans should not expect too much from him in year one, but Amen Thompson will be 25 years old in 2028 and entering his prime. If he improves his jumper and blossoms into an elite defender and playmaker, Thompson could be an All-Star and building block that every team covets.

At worst, his elite athleticism should make him a rotation piece that defends well and runs the offense. The Rockets want and need more from Thompson if they plan on being title contenders in five years.

Having a 6’6 point guard gives the Houston Rockets options, but how do they round their roster?