Rockets' latest roster move proves that the rotation is set in stone

The Houston Rockets have made another roster move.

This one won't send shockwaves around the NBA. The Rockets are done with league-altering decisions for the foreseeable future. Now, it's time to tinker around the margins.

It seems that recent decisions have spelled the end of Jock Landale's tenure with the team. The Rockets recently released him.

That was the right call.

Rockets cut ties with third-string big

That's not to say Landale doesn't have an NBA career ahead of him. He should find a place as a useful, low-minute rotation big somewhere. The Rockets simply outgrew him. When they acquired Clint Capela, the writing was on the wall.

It's worth noting that Landale's Box Plus/Minus (BPM) of 0.4 was stronger than Capela's -1.0 in 2024-25. That's not an indictment on Capela. He was a starter on a far weaker Hawks team, whereas Landale was mostly playing against second and third-string players for a 52-win Rockets squad. Still, it does indicate that Landale can be a solid contributor elsewhere.

If you want to compare the two, it's more useful to look at the counting stats where the Rockets want production. Capela averaged 14.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per 75 possessions to Landale's 10.0 and 0.75. Capela is the better rim protector and rebounder, and that's all the Rockets care about from a third big.

That said, the implications of this move extend beyond next year's rotation. Landale's non-guaranteed $8 million salary can no longer be used in a trade:

That means the Rockets' rotation is almost certainly solidified.

Rockets won't make any more major moves

That's not to say they won't make another trade.

All indications suggest that the Rockets are shopping Cam Whitmore. At this point, it would be more surprising than not if he was on the roster to begin 2025-26.

Whitmore's rookie scale contract will be difficult to move for an impact veteran, because most impact veterans make more money. Landale's deal could have been used to match salaries. Now that it's off the books, it's virtually guaranteed that Whitmore will be flipped for "non-draft assets".

Could that be a mistake?

Rockets could have plugged some holes

Time will tell.

The Rockets are certainly light in the backcourt. Some will suggest that it 3doesn't matter. The team clearly intends to give wings significant time at the 2, so the rotation is solidified.

Sure. Still, this roster wants for secondary ball-handling. The Rockets won't be able to flip Whitmore for someone who provides it. They're likely to simply land 2 or 3 second-round picks for the talented young wing.

That's fine, but it may be an imperfect use of their resources. Flipping Landale and Whitmore for a rotation caliber guard could have really put the Rockets in an opportune position. That said, fans should still be very optimistic ahead of 2025-26:

The moves they've already made warrant it.