Rockets' priorities become painfully obvious with flurry of roster moves

The Houston Rockets are getting rave reviews for their offseason.

It's been hectic. The Kevin Durant deal should have been a clear indication. The Rockets were ready to assemble a roster that could compete for an NBA title:

That trend continued through the first day of free agency.

The Rockets signed Dorian Finney-Smith. That alone was a major move, but then the Rockets reunited with Clint Capela. This team's objective was clearly to get better this year:

But that wasn't the only goal.

Rockets add an incredible amount of size

The team also got substantially bigger.

Let's start with the trade. The Rockets flipped Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks for Kevin Durant. They added Finney-Smith to effectively replace Brooks. Green is 6'4" with a 6'7" wingspan, while Brooks is 6'5" with a 6'6" wingspan. Durant is 6'11" with a 7'5" wingspan, and Finney-Smith is 6'7" with a 6'11" wingspan.

That is an outrageous increase in height and length. It surely suits Ime Udoka. We've seen that he emphasizes defense. The Rockets' zone will be more difficult to beat now, and they should create constant chaos for opponents in the passing lanes.

It seems likely that the Rockets will use the 2 spot to feature an extra wing. Don't be surprised if most of Finney-Smith's minutes come there. We know the Rockets aren't afraid of size.

Speaking of which...

Rockets will lean on double bigs again

When the team signed Capela, speculation ran rampant. Surely they're gearing up to trade Alperen Sengun for Giannis Antetokounmpo, right?

Well, nobody can rule that out. Still, as the smoke settles, it feels more likely that Houston just really likes size. Capela will be the third-string big, but he should see some time. The idea will be to keep Adams fresh throughout the year.

Besides, each of Houston's bigs offers a different skillset. Sengun is a jumbo playmaker. Adams is a bruising, dominant screen setter and rebounder. Capela is the consummate lob threat and perhaps the best rim protector of the bunch.

That versatility will be key to the Rockets' success.

Rockets can mix and match at will

That said, even Jabari Smith Jr. can man the 5. Houston could conceivably play lineups featuring 5 wings. Imagine a switch-everything defense featuring Amen Thompson, Finney-Smith, Tari Eason, Durant, and Smith Jr.

All told, it's an exciting time to be a Rockets fan. They surpassed expectations with 52 wins last year, and now, they're a better team:

Not to mention a much bigger one too.