Rockets must keep an eye on massive moves by conference rivals

The Houston Rockets have had one of the best summers in the NBA. They still need to pay some mind to what the Lakers are building - they're a threat.

Throughout NBA history, it's been a general rule that the team with the best two or three players is the team in the best position. If that's true, the Lakers have an advantage on Houston. Most would agree that at this stage of their careers, Luka Doncic is a better player than Kevin Durant. Durant has an edge over LeBron James, but it's a narrow one.

Where do Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson fit into that equation? That's a pivotal question. Either could be better than James next year, but neither is assured that status. If the Lakers have the best and third-best players in this series, they could be a problem:

After all, they've been working to bolster their depth.

Rockets' rivals make meaningful roster additions

It's been a busy summer for the Lakers as well. They added Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart.

Some will say that neither is a great addition. Ayton is a former number one pick, but he's been underwhelming in the NBA. Poor effort and conditioning have been the culprit.

Nobody can question Smart's effort, but his conditioning came under fire last year. For whatever reason, he had a subpar 2024-25 season. Smart played just 20.0 minutes per game across 34 contests.

So, this is much ado about nothing, right? The Lakers are no threat.

Think again.

Lakers already a problem for the Rockets

Reminder: the Lakers have Luka Doncic and LeBron James. They also have Austin Reaves. Even marginally positive additions should concern the Rockets when the Lakers were already this dangerous. Any addition to this roster counts.

Ayton could be tailor-made to play with Doncic. He's a lob-catching big man whose efficiency should spike next to such a gifted playmaker. If he can give minimal defensive effort, he should be a factor.

As for Smart, it's possible that his conditioning waned on a floundering Memphis team and an awful Wizards squad. If the recent Defensive Player of the Year is reinvigorated playing alongside Doncic and James, he could be a huge addition.

A huge positive for the Rockets is that their acquisition of Dorian Finney-Smith came at the Lakers' expense. He's a subtraction from their roster as well as an addition to Houston's.

More broadly, the Rockets do project to be the better team. Their depth remains substantially superior. That said, if these pieces gel for the Lakers, they'll be formidable. For the last time:

Luka Doncic and LeBron James.