Landale, who has a $32 million contract, has already faced an awkward situation with the Rockets. The interior center barely contributed anything positive to the team, shooting a low 346%, which is a terrible performance. Such data makes one wonder if he deserves such a high salary. Luckily for him, though, Stone gave himself a way out when he signed Landale. While Landale's contract is valued at $32 million, only the $8 million salary for the first year is fully guaranteed. From the second season, Landale's salary was no longer guaranteed. This means that the Rockets can cut Landale at the end of the season and give him up completely without any additional responsibility. This has some "value" for teams that want to clear salary space and are ready to mess up. It's also a fitting fit for Stone to sign a series of seemingly premium contracts, giving the team more room for error and avoiding contracts that would shackle the team's development.
And the current situation of the Rockets is not optimistic. Three consecutive losses have dropped their win percentage below 50 percent, and their standings have dropped to 10th in the West, making the outlook for the season even more uncertain. Considering the sheer schedule and the injuries that could come with it, the Rockets are not in a good position. This has also prompted the team's management to start thinking about upgrading the squad and improving its strength. According to reports, Rockets management has begun to consider using Jock LandaleOladipo, JeffGreenand some in the futureDraftright as a trading chip. The decision was not unexpected, except for Jeff, after allGreenOutside, Landale andOladipocan all be counted as "garbage contracts", and they can't contribute much to the team, both in terms of performance and salary. Discard these players and combine someDraftright, the Rockets can get higher quality returns, which can bring stronger immediate combat power to the team.
However, it is not easy to get the desired results in the trading market. The Rockets currently face two key challenges. The first is the lack of stars at the level. In the game against the Lakers, the Rockets couldn't matchJamesand top stars like Thick Eyebrows to respond effectively. The current roster of the Rockets includes even VanVleet, Shin Kyung and JalenGreenand other players are unable to adequately resist the opponent's attack. InBullsWith what seems to be an imminent disbandment, the Rockets could consider pursuing a star like DeRozan to bolster the team's strength and competitiveness.
The second is the lack of substitutes. The Rockets have a certain problem with roster depth and lack effective bench players. This is also one of the problems that the team management needs to solve urgently. Increasing the depth of the squad and ensuring that the team can have better rotation and rest arrangements during long games is an important and difficult task.
In summary, the Rockets need to upgrade at the star level and roster depth in order to return to the playoff stage. Although the current situation is not optimistic, Stone's worries when signing players have made the team not helpless in the face of difficulties. By making good use of retreats and chips, the Rockets can find better opportunities in the trade market and bring new energy and hope to the team. Only by adapting to the current situation with a proactive attitude and flexible strategy will the Rockets be able to get out of the situation and achieve their goals.