Rockets must make painful Kevin Durant decision before it costs them

A theme of the playoffs was injuries. Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet missed all of the playoffs, and VanVleet missed the entire regular season as well. Kevin Durant only played one playoff game.

With those injuries in mind, the Rockets front office has already come out and said that it wants to see what a healthy team looks like before making any drastic moves. That is understandable. Houston never got a real chance to see its full roster in the postseason. It is also the wrong approach.

The Western Conference is loaded with talent, and even a healthy Rockets team may have too many flaws to seriously compete for a championship. The most commonly cited weaknesses are shooting and offensive creation. The Rockets have opportunities to fix those weaknesses this offseason. They should take those opportunities if available, even if that means breaking up part of their young core.

The Rockets should not consider trading everyone

Houston’s young core is exciting, but each player is different. Amen Thompson should be untouchable. His defense, athleticism, versatility, and improving offensive game make him the most valuable young player on the roster. Players with his ceiling do not become available often. The Rockets should not move him unless something completely outrageous falls into their lap.

Alperen Sengun is in a slightly different category. He is an outstanding young player, but his ceiling is lower than Thompson’s. That being said, he should only be traded if the package is perfect.

Sengun is an All-Star center, and his passing gives Houston a unique offensive foundation. Trading him just to shake things up would be a mistake. But if the right superstar-level move became possible, the Rockets would at least have to listen.

Reed Sheppard should not be considered untouchable in the same way. He has not shown the same upside as Thompson or Sengun. However, his skill set addresses exactly what Houston needs. He is a fantastic shooter and an improving offensive creator. Sheppard should only be moved if the Rockets are getting back a better, more proven version of the same archetype.

Houston cannot afford to be sentimental

Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, future picks, and even Durant should be on the table in the right deal. That does not mean Houston should rush to trade any of them. It simply means the front office cannot afford to be overly attached. The Rockets are trying to build a title contender, not protect every interesting piece on the roster.

There is a benefit to seeing what a healthy Rockets team can accomplish. Houston should not blow up the core just for the sake of doing something. A healthy VanVleet would help organize the offense. A healthy Durant is one of the best players in the league. Adams is a trusted veteran option. But these players do not fix everything.

Even at full strength, this roster still needs more shooting, more offensive creation, and a better balance between scoring and defense. Any Ime Udoka team will have an identity built around toughness and defense. The team needs enough offense around that identity to compete against the Thunder and Spurs.

Durant is going into his age-38 season. The Rockets should either move pieces around him to create a more balanced roster, or consider selling high before Father Time finally wins his battle with Durant.

The worst option is waiting to see what happens. The Rockets have the assets, young players, and veteran talent to reshape this roster. They have to be willing to make some difficult decisions if they want to win now.

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