Projected Houston Rockets Depth Chart, Starting Lineup, and Rotation Heading into the 2024-25 Preseason

The 2023-24 season was kind to the Houston Rockets. A.500 finish had them generally surpassing expectations. Heading into 2024-25, the bar has been raised.

A .500 season would qualify as a mild disappointment. Is that unfair? Perhaps. Welcome to life in the NBA. Nobody wants to be a treadmill team. The Rockets have to make progress.

They'll largely be banking on internal development to make that progress. The Rockets haven't made any big splashes this summer. Their largest acquisition was No. 3 overall pick Reed Sheppard.

Unless you count Steven Adams, that is. The Rockets added the injured big man at last year's deadline. If he can return to his previous form, he'll greatly add to this rotation. Otherwise, we'll see if players like AJ Griffin and N'Faly Dante can crack the Rockets' rotation.

We're sure neither will be in the starting lineup.

Projected Houston Rockets starting lineup

Point guard: Fred VanVleet

Shooting guard: Jalen Green

Small forward: Dillon Brooks

Power forward: Jabari Smith Jr.

Center: Alperen Sengun

We're assuming the Rockets will roll 2023-24's starting lineup back out to begin the year. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll close the year with the same lineup.

If any reserve threatens to usurp a starter, it's Tari Eason. With him returning after an injury, neither Dillon Brooks or Jabari Smith Jr. should feel safe.

It's also a pivotal season for Jalen Green. If he can't find a modicum of consistency this year, he could be relegated to reserve duties - if not traded altogether. Sheppard, Amen Thompson, and Cam Whitmore could all threaten him for his spot.

By contrast, Sengun's spot in the starting lineup is the most solidified. If Adams is his previous self, he'll be among the best backup big men in the NBA. Still, the Rockets can't spare Sengun's offense - unless they traded him for a superstar, that is.

Broadly speaking, a lot of eyes will be on Sengun and Green this year. The Rockets have bucked conventional wisdom this summer by refusing to offer Sengun a rookie scale max extension, even as he's outproduced some of his well-compensated peers.

It largely seems to be a cap-related issue. The Rockets are trying to preserve Sengun's modest cap hold for next summer. Still, it stands to reason that if they were certain of him as a cornerstone player, they'd extend him.

Let's table that. As it stands, Sengun is the undisputed starter.

Who is this team's sixth man?

Houston Rockets Bench Rotation

Sixth Man

• Amen Thompson

Thompson is an interesting case. As a rookie, he already looked like a starting-caliber player. With a Box Plus/Minus (BPM) of 1.8, he was one of the Rockets' most impactful players last year.

Yet, his positional versatility is likely to keep him on the bench for one more season. Thompson could force his way into the starting lineup in 2024-25, but his ability to play point guard in addition to both forward spots makes him an optimal sixth man for now.

Key Bench Players

• Tari Eason

Eason's relentless pursuit of extra possessions makes him another key reserve. He injects the lineup with a burst of energy that's difficult to replicate.

Like Thompson, Eason may be a starting-caliber guy. The Rockets are deep. We'll see if he usurps either starting forward as the season wears on.

• Reed Sheppard

Sheppard won't shoot 52.5% from long-range as a rookie as he did for the Kentucky Wildcats last year. He still has a chance to be the best shooter on the Rockets' roster.

What else can he do? That's the key question for Sheppard this year. If he can competently handle the ball at the NBA level, he'll earn more minutes this year. It also remains to be seen if Sheppard's active hands can outweigh his diminutive size on the defensive end of the floor.

• Steven Adams

On one hand, the Rockets spent four second-round picks on Adams. We can assume that they want him to be part of the rotation. On the other hand, their best player in 2023-24 was a big man.

How often will Adams see the floor? His minutes may be situational. When the Rockets need some toughness on the interior, he may see more floor time. It'll be worth keeping an eye on how the space he creates with his monstrous screens and his elite offensive rebounding impacts the other four players on the floor with him.

Full Houston Rockets Depth Chart

Point Guard

1. Fred VanVleet
2. Amen Thompson
3. Reed Sheppard

Shooting Guard

1. Jalen Green
2. Reed Sheppard
3. Cam Whitmore

Small Forward

1. Dillon Brooks
2. Cam Whitmore
3. Tari Eason

Power Forward

1. Jabari Smith Jr.
2. Tari Eason
3. Amen Thompson

Center

1. Alperen Sengun
2. Steven Adams
3. Jock Landale