3 Rockets whose stock are fading fast, 2 that are skyrocketing

The Houston Rockets started 0-3 before winning three straight. They spent in free agency and want to contend for a playoff spot this season. Houston has plenty of young talent, but can they make the pieces fit together to make a push? There could be more upgrades before the trade deadline, but how is the team performing thus far?

Things looked bad after three games. Getting blown out by the Magic on opening night and quickly losing in overtime to the Spurs created some early-season panic. The Rockets winning three straight, including two victories over the Kings, has restored some faith. They are playing well and could be a surprise team.

Who has stood out through their first six games and which players need to pick it up? Here is a look at whose stock is changing after the opening two weeks of the 2023-24 regular season.

Stock fading: Reggie Bullock

The Rockets signed Bullock this summer after he was traded by the Mavericks and waived by San Antonio. They jumped at the chance to add a quality 3-and-D wing on a minimum contract. Houston figured he would be part of their rotation and provide some veteran depth to their young roster.

Through six games, Bullock is having the worst season of his career. He has played in just four contests and is averaging 0.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per game. All five of his field goal attempts have threes thus far, and the 6’5 wing has made just one of them.

Reggie Bullock is a notoriously slow starter, but he won’t last in the rotation unless his play improves. The Houston Rockets want to get their young talent minutes. Reggie Bullock must sink open shots and pick up his defense if he wants to play. If things do not improve, the 32-year-old may be searching for a new home in February.

Bullock’s struggles have given others more time to shine, and one newcomer is taking advantage.

Stock skyrocketing: Dillon Brooks

The Rockets were ridiculed by the national media for signing Dillon Brooks to a four-year $86 million contract this summer. Memphis let the 27-year-old walk in free agency, despite being one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Nobody expected him to get $20-plus million per season, but the Rockets had money to spend and a desire to contend. 

Brooks has been worth every penny through six games where he has averaged 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals in 34.0 minutes per game. The 6’7 wing is shooting 59.3 percent from the field, 56.5 percent on his 3-point attempts, and 93.8 percent from the line. The shooting percentages are unsustainable, but the defense and scoring could be here to stay.

The 27-year-old is in his prime and eager to prove he was miscast as a 3-and-D wing in Memphis. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka wants his team to play stout defense, so expect Brooks to get all the minutes he can handle. Houston needs him to continue to make shots and score efficiently if they plan on returning to the playoffs.

Dillon Brooks' stock is way up right now. He needs to keep up his on-court play and avoid the antics. The 6’7 wing only helps the Houston Rockets if he is on the floor, so avoiding technical fouls and trash-talk is a key to his success. How long can he keep up his early production?

Stock fading: Jock Landale

The Rockets gave Landale a four-year $32 million contract in free agency, but only the first season was fully guaranteed. They hoped he would take a step forward and be a key contributor on both ends of the floor, but things have not gone to plan in the early going.

Landale is nearly invisible in most games. He has only played in four of the team’s first six contests and is averaging 3.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.8 steals in 14.0 minutes each night. The 6’11 big man is shooting 30.8 percent from the field and 25.0 percent on his 3-point tries.

The Houston Rockets hoped to get an impactful backup center behind Alperen Sengun, but so far it has not happened. Landale has a 0.0 value over replacement player (VORP) and his win shares per 48 minutes is 0.035 with 0.100 being the league average. The 28-year-old has been replacement level and below-average to begin the year.

If they had to make the decision right now, the Rockets would likely cut Jock Landale free from the final three years of his deal and look for a replacement. Can the 6’11 big man get back on track and be an impactful rotation piece for Houston moving forward? That is the goal.

Stock skyrocketing: Alperen Sengun

Fans were hyped about the 6’9 big man coming into the season, and he even drew some Nikola Jokic comparisons. Sengun is an outstanding passer and improving talent, but few expected him to be this good to begin the season.

The 21-year-old is averaging 18.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.0 steal in 31.5 minutes per game through the first six contests. He is shooting 57.3 percent from the field and putting up stat lines most big men can only dream of.

Alperen Sengun has been the Rockets' best player by win shares per 48 minutes and value over replacement player (VORP), which is no small feat. Houston has a two-time All-Star on their roster and several young talents who were selected higher than Sengun. The 6’9 big man has a unique skill set and continues to improve. He is putting the league on notice and is just getting started.

Sengun has been significantly better on the defensive end of the floor under new head coach Ime Udoka, which is massive. This could be his breakout season, and the 21-year-old looks like a blossoming young All-Star through six games. The Houston Rockets need him to keep it up if they are going to end up in the playoffs. So far, so good.

Stock fading: Fred VanVleet

The Rockets signed FVV to a three-year deal worth $128.5 million this summer in free agency. Landing the two-time All-Star was a key piece of Houston’s plan to jump back into contention. They need him to be their star, but things have not gone according to plan.

VanVleet is offering leadership and dishing out a career-high 8.2 assists per game, but his production is down in several key areas. The 6’1 guard is shooting just 37.6 percent from the field and creating just 0.5 steals per game. He has produced a career-worst defensive rating and his value over replacement player (VORP), effective field goal percentage, and win shares per 48 minutes are his lowest since his rookie season in 2017.

He has been hot and cold to start the year, but it is no coincidence that he has produced a positive plus/minus in the team’s three wins and a negative one in their losses. The Rockets need Fred VanVleet running their offense and playing like a star. He simply has to be better moving forward if Houston plans on making the playoffs.

The 2023-24 season is just two weeks in, and the Houston Rockets have 76 regular season games remaining. It is still early. The franchise has shown improvement, but can the Rockets get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020? Stay tuned to find out.