The Houston Rockets have been in a rebuilding state since Harden left. It's also a year or two now, and last season's Rockets focused on swinging badly, thinking of diving into the top pick, and if they can get a Wembanyama for nothing, then they will take off directly. Secondly, it's about taking the time to give the players to practice.
After the Rockets drafted Shin Kyung, Jabari Smith Jr., and Jalen Green in quick succession, their goals for this season have changed. Stone, as the team's general manager, fired Silas, who had previously been inactive, and instead hired Udoka, who once built the iron-blooded Celtics, to take the helm. In the offseason, Jordan VanVleet and Dillon Brooks were signed with high salaries, using veterans to bring newcomers to let the Rockets slowly play in the direction of good.
Now All-Star Weekend has arrived, but the results are not as good as they could be. Currently, the Rockets have a 24-30 record, ranking 12th in the West, 3 years shy of the Golden State Warriors in the play-in zone5 wins. Considering the strength of the Rockets' current roster, it is very likely that they will miss the playoffs again this season. And the Rockets are in a state where the top pick is unlikely, and the playoffs are unlikely.
And the core of the Rockets' rebuild, Jalen Green, has also been reduced to a trade object before. The Rockets once offered the Nets a first-class offer to use Jalen Green as the core, plus a first-round pick, in exchange for Bridges, but they were rejected. To be honest, the Rockets were wrong to start with Green as the cornerstone of their rebuild.
Green has started to go downhill, averaging 17. per game in the 21-22 season3 points and 42 percent from the field6%, 34 three-pointers3%。Last season, he averaged 221 point and 41 percent from the field6%, 33 three-pointers8%；This season, he averaged 18 points per game and shot 41 from the field1%, 30 three-pointers7%。And Jalen Green's offensive efficiency is the lowest in the league. And Kevin Porter Jr., who was sent away by the Rockets, is a little better than him.
In the game against the Raptors some time ago, the Rockets finally lost by three points. And that day happened to be Jalen Green's birthday night. But he only had 7 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist, played 22 minutes, and had a plus/minus of -23. Every minute on the pitch, the team loses by one point, that's the reality.
The defender, who was once known as Jordan and Kobe, was actually booed by the fans on his home team. To be honest, the reason why the Rockets haven't improved year after year is that Jalen Green needs to take responsibility. During Silas's tenure, the Rockets gave Jalen Green two seasons of unlimited rights, focusing on developing Jalen Green. But instead of growing into an All-Star caliber player, he became a liability.
Udoka's coaching philosophy is that it's the defense that earns playing time. As a result, Jalen Green became the player who played the least amount of minutes and was DNP the most in the fourth quarter among the Rockets' starters. The offensive ability is average, and the defense is still pulling. He went to Sexton for the Jazz, and he had to add a first-rounder.
Udoka had an initial plan to trade Green, but it didn't go through. But this summer, action is expected. The reason why Green is still allowed to continue to play, so that he can brush up on some good-looking data and sell it for a good price in the future. The core of the Rockets is Shin Kyung, Jabari Smith Jr., and Whitmore and Eason will also be the mainstays.
Hundreds of spectators