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Rockets have perfect draft asset to find Steven Adams upgrade

The Rockets can use their Nets pick swap to find a more reliable backup center than Adams.
BySwoosh Shrestha
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Dec 29, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (12) walks off the court toward the locker room after getting injured playing against the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Dec 29, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (12) walks off the court toward the locker room after getting injured playing against the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

When he plays, Steven Adams has been a fan favorite in Houston with great impact metrics. Unfortunately, the most important word in that prior sentence is "when": Adams played just 90 total games in his first two seasons with Rockets and has only managed one appearance so far this season. The Rockets need a backup center with more reliable health and fortunately they have a tempting pick swap with the Nets that they can use to acquire one.

Houston needs to make a trade for another backup center

With Adams playing so little this season, the Rockets have been forced to rely on some precarious solutions at the center position. Sometimes, that means playing Jabari Smith Jr in the middle for extended stretches against much bulkier opponents. More often, it's playing Alperen Sengun or Clint Capela more minutes than they should, and even tossing in some Oscar Tshiebwe.

Either way, Adams has not lived up to his role and contract on the team for a while. He's owed $13 million this season, but clearly his impact has been nowhere close thanks to his injuries. Unlike other Rockets who recently signed extensions, Adams isn't giving himself a chance to prove his worth because he's rarely playing.

Adams' injuries aren't necessarily his fault but rather a natural byproduct of being 33 years old and playing a very physical brand of basketball for the entirety of his 14-year NBA career. However, his roster spot is something the Rockets need to correct for their own championship hopes. The whole team would look better with a better backup center option and/or more financial flexibility to make upgrades at other positions.

The Rockets should have some clear targets

Around the league, there are plenty of backup centers making around the same amount as Adams who are much more reliable with their health. By attaching some draft compensation, especially something as promising as the Nets pick swap, the Rockets should have options for their backup center upgrade.

A few that jump out immediately are Jalen Smith from the Bulls, Robert Williams III of the Blazers and Jock Landale of the Hawks. All are solid centers with some standout skills and generally more reliable health-wise than Adams. Williams does arguably rival Adams with his recent injuries, but he's still younger and has been healthy so far this season.

An upgrade at the backup center spot, especially one that brings a different element than Sengun and Capela, could help the Rockets ascend into a higher level of title contention. Having another reliable option at that position would keep Sengun fresher and give the Rockets more options to maintain size on the floor in bench lineups.

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