Rockets News: A starry front office addition and an obvious front office decision

The Houston Rockets always find a way to keep busy.

Sure, the NBA Finals are underway. Most fans have an eye on the Thunder and the Pacers. Game 1 offered a compelling matchup.

Still, the Rockets are working around the clock to prepare for the 2025-26 season. They'll have lofty goals. The front office will be looking for a way to vault this team into title contention.

It seems they've added a familiar face to help them achieve their goals.

Rockets add veteran point guard to front office

That would be former Rockets point guard D.J. Augustin.

Young, Rockets-focused fans may have the wrong idea about Augustin. They'll only remember him for his contributions to Houston's first two post-Harden seasons. In 2020-21, Augustin averaged 10.6 points while shooting 38.6% from deep for Houston.

It was far from Augustin's best NBA season. In 2013-14, he averaged 14.9 points per game and shot a hot 41.1% from long range. As a former lottery pick, Augustin came into the league with lofty expectations. He earned a long career by being a high-feel player who was a safe bet from three-point land.

His role with the organization is unclear. Still, if Augustin's on-court intelligence translates to the front office, the Rockets made a great decision here.

Perhaps Augustin can help them make the right decision on a pressing matter.

Rockets seeking to retain veteran big

Steven Adams exceeded expectations as a Rocket this year. He was integral to the team's success.
He's also due for free agency this summer. According to The Athletic's Kelly Iko, the team wants to bring him back (subscription needed).

Few Rockets fans would disagree if you said Adams needs to be brought back. Adams averaged 15.0 rebounds per 75 possessions. He also boasted a league-best 21.8 Offensive Rebound %.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of his season was Adams' ability to co-exist with Alperen Sengun. The two don't make for a conventional pairing. Their combined inability to space the floor should have made them a poor fit.

They made it work. Adams and Sengun overwhelmed opponents with size. They put opposing squads in a bind. Should they assign their 4 to keep Sengun from scoring, or Adams off the glass? Adams and Sengun created space by screening for the Rockets, and defensively, they thrived in a zone formation.

It's something Houston could build on next year. Adams became part of this team's identity, and the team should bring him back. Here's hoping they can find a mutually beneficial agreement.

Perhaps D.J. Augustin will help with negotiations.