Project Rocket Revealed! Reinforcements are to make room for the No. 2 rookie
The MLB trade market is over, and the Rockets and other teams have nothing to gain and they didn't take any action the day before the trade deadline, so Rockets management now thinks it's perfectly okay to make a fuss about this lineup. While reinforcements may help the Rockets compete for a playoff ticket, the Rockets are better off in the absence of a good trade partner, as the Rockets don't necessarily have to make the playoffs this season, and if star players are put on the shelf this summer, the Rockets can chase them with plenty of chips.
However, the Rockets' record this season should also be taken into account, after all, the Rockets were aiming to make the playoffs at the beginning of the season, and now the Rockets seem to be getting further and further away from the playoffs. However, with 31 games to go, if the Rockets can play their best defense in the NBA as they did at the start of the season, then the Rockets could return to the top 10 in the West and get a playoff ticket.
The Rockets don't make a move on the trade market, but they could do something on the free agent market. According to Rockets reporter Jonathan Fagan, the Rockets may sign some free agents, but the Rockets are expected to remain silent in the buyout market because the Rockets need to give young players more opportunities and playing time, so the Rockets may be more cautious about signing free agents. Here are the latest plans for the Rockets.
Fagan said the Rockets have decided not to add short-term rookies who could affect the playing time of two rookies, Amen Thompson and Whitmore, unless they can bring a significant boost to the Rockets. In other words, Amen Thompson and Whitmore are guaranteed playing time in the remaining 30-odd games of the season, and the Rockets could sign a free agent, but only if the free agent's playing time does not overlap with that of the two rookies.
The Rockets are not going to make such a signing, which would affect the playing time of two rookies. Jonathan Fagan also makes sense when he says the Rockets could be calmer in the free agent market; In fact, with VanVleet and Tarikhsen back at the moment, there is absolutely no need for the Rockets' 18-man roster to be added, with 3-4 available players at almost every position.
The Rockets' own rookies don't get playing time, and even if they sign free agents, the Rockets can't afford to give them much playing time. In this way, the Rockets' salary cap space and cap salary space will also be filled, and instead of forcing free agents to join, it is better not to sign, and trusting the team's young players is the best policy. Stone probably won't make a difference in the free agent market.