Houston’s path to contention requires mimicking recent champions by prioritizing elite bench depth over locker room vibes, replacing end-of-roster liabilities with versatile playmakers who deliver immediate impact.
Depth is becoming increasingly more important for winning in the NBA. Whether it’s due to the pace of play, the high number of AAU games, or any other number of factors, the league has been changing.
The New York Knicks just reached the pinnacle of an NBA season and played 10 guys in the biggest series of their lives. We’re not just talking about garbage minutes either. Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, and Jose Alvarado just earned themselves multiyear deals.
Even a smaller, non-defensive guard like Jordan Clarkson just got minutes and made big plays in the Finals. They re-signed him as well, in hopes of regaining some of the depth that was poached from them.
Not too dissimilar from the NBA Champs in the season prior. The Oklahoma City Thunder won it all in 2025 and went back to the Western Conference Finals this year. A large part of that success this season was due to their depth.
They dealt with their fair share of injuries, but it feels like everyone on their team can contribute. Kendrich and Jaylin Williams will come in after barely playing and actually make a difference.
It was a coin toss whether Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins would play in any given game, but they could always have an impact when they did get their number called.
Looking at the depth for the Houston Rockets, they were much less prepared to deal with their injury-plagued roster. We saw Clint Capela get played off the court, while Jae’Sean Tate and Jeff Green got some action.
There’s an obvious discrepancy when comparing players at the end of the bench. The best teams in the league have guys who come in and contribute right away. The Rockets have guys who might not get another NBA contract.
Why not take a page out of the reigning champ’s book and go after some better depth pieces? If it’s the same minimum contract regardless of the player, what’s the attachment to guys who don’t contribute?
I understand locker room vibes with Jae’Sean Tate and potentially even Jeff Green re-signing, but at some point you need guys to give you something on the court. It seems like this team is just holding themselves back by not building out the roster more.
I’m not even positive that Bogdan Bogdanovic will get consistent minutes, as he’s only played 77 games in the past two seasons. He could very well be another guy relegated to the bench if his shot isn’t dropping, or if he’s not healthy.
It’s easier said than done, but the Rockets need to try to secure some legitimate NBA talent at the end of the roster, and not just questionable veterans who could easily be out of the league.
