Veteran NBA reporter David Aldridge, now with The Athletic, has certainly witnessed his share of rebuilding projects over many decades covering the league. In that context, it appears that he’s a big fan of the work being done by Rockets general manager Rafael Stone in Houston.
In his latest offseason power rankings, Aldridge ranks the Rockets at No. 1 among all 30 NBA teams. Here’s part of his explanation:
This is a haul from GM Rafael Stone and his front office; they got a lot of picks and took a lot of big swings. …
Houston’s strategy, less than a year from turning the page on the Harden Era, is clear and looks promising: The defensive possibilities down the road are mouth-watering. The Rockets’ rookies this year, along with young holdovers Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr., and Jae’Sean Tate, can and will grow in tandem with second-year coach Stephen Silas. Check back in 2023. Things could be lovely in Clutch City.
Three days, 30 teams: I conclude my 1-30 rankings of every NBA team’s offseason with the top 10, including the big moves by the Lakers, Nets, Clippers, Bulls and Heat – none of whom got the top spot. In @TheAthleticNBA: https://t.co/056294feeg
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) August 25, 2021
Aldridge writes that many around the NBA view No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green as the most talented player in the 2021 draft, with “superstar potential” on the court and “face of the franchise” potential off it.
In addition to Green, the Rockets drafted Turkish big man Alperen Sengun, Spanish forward Usman Garuba, and Arizona State guard Josh Christopher at No. 16, No. 23, and No. 24 in the first round, respectively.
In free agency, the Rockets acquired veteran big man Daniel Theis and re-signed swingman David Nwaba. Both are extremely well regarded for their defense, which should fit well with the defensive culture that Stone and Silas are clearly trying to build with their offseason moves.
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