Rockets: Updated roster, rotation with training camp around the corner

Before we know it, the Houston Rockets will be heading to Lake Charles for training camp, as they prepare for another NBA season when training camps begin throughout the league on October 3rd.

The Rockets' current roster of contracted players now sits at 20, including the three players on two-way deals. The Rockets will have to get the roster down to 15 players by October 23rd, so they'll have to make some roster cuts in order to trim down their roster.

In addition, the NBA allows teams to carry two players on two-way spots after that date.

Here's a quick glance at the roster with training camp around the corner. The depth chart is largely an unknown, as we don't know what newly-hired head coach Ime Udoka will do, so I'm speculating a bit.

Centers

Alperen Sengun
Jock Landale
Jeff Green

Power Forwards

Jabari Smith Jr.
Jae'Sean Tate

Small Forwards

Dillon Brooks
Tari Eason
Cam Whitmore
Darius Days (two-way)
Jermaine Samuels (two-way)
*Matthew Mayer (Exhibit 10)
*Joshua Obiesie (Exhibit 10)

Shooting Guards

Jalen Green
Kevin Porter Jr.
*Nate Hinton (Exhibit 10)
*Jeenathan Williams (Exhibit 10)

Point Guards

Fred VanVleet
Amen Thompson
Aaron Holiday
Trevor Hudgins (two-way)

An early look at the Houston Rockets' roster with training camp around the corner

With this roster, several players will be interchangeable as it pertains to either of the guard positions and the forward positions. For example, Tari Eason could slot in at the power forward or small forward position.

Ditto for Kevin Porter Jr., as his days as the starting point guard are over, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he got some run there. To that point, Porter Jr. could even slot in some at small forward. And although Jeff Green is listed as a power forward, the Rockets clearly brought in him and Jock Landale to be reserve centers, after the Brook Lopez situation left them desperately looking for alternatives.

My starting lineup is a bit different than what's been theorized by Yahoo Sports' senior NBA insider Jake Fischer, as he floated the idea of a starting five consisting of VanVleet, Green, Porter Jr., Brooks, and Landale, which would be criminal.

The Rockets' payroll currently sits at just over $143 million ($143,722,597, to be exact). It remains to be seen how the Rockets will fare in year one under Udoka, but one thing is clear after the Rockets' spending spree in free agency: they are tired of deing a doormat in the Western Conference.

We'll see how many wins this group can cook up.