Rockets could be in for a major disappointment despite savvy offseason signings

As the Houston Rockets made a number of moves this offseason, including bringing back veteran center Steven Adams and signing Clint Capela to a multi-year deal, voices around the league largely praised them for their ability to provide their new core with additional depth.

Yet, as the season wears on and that depth is tested, especially by the outside possibility of an injury to Alperen Sengun, it could be seen that neither Adams nor Capela is capable of taking on the minutes needed of them, leaving the Rockets in a nightmare scenario.

Therefore, although Houston seems to have one of the deepest rotations in the league, it remains to be seen how that depth will hold up when it is truly needed.

Clint Capela and Steven Adams aren't capable of taking over the starting center role if needed

By all accounts, bringing back Adams, who played an integral role in the team's success last season, was a necessary move. Although he averaged only 3.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists on the season, his size and physicality allowed the Rockets to deploy their infamous double-big lineup on a frequent basis.

The Capela move, meanwhile, was slightly more questionable. After beginning his career in Houston, Capela spent five effective, but injury-limited, seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. At the height of his powers, he was an elite defensive big man, but, as he has aged, both his offensive production and his defensive reliability have slowly declined.

In order for a team to have reliable depth, those players need to remain healthy. Last season, Adams was limited to just 58 games (and has only played more than 70 once in his past six seasons), and Capela was limited to just 55.

The good news for Houston is that, in all likelihood, this depth will not be tested in the most disastrous way possible. Sengun, who is entering his fifth season in the NBA, has maintained an excellent bill of health thus far, only missing significant time in 2023-24 due to a combination of leg injuries.

Yet, if it is ultimately tested in this manner, and Capela and Adams need to step up into bigger roles, it is highly likely that neither of them is capable of taking on the resultant minutes load. If this is the case, the Rockets could be left with essentially no depth at all in the worst-case scenario, and the worst-case scenario is typically why you would bring in a third center.