The Houston Rockets succeeded in kickstarting the oft-cited 'Phase 2' of the franchise's rebuild in 2023-24. Taking the next leap forward in the Western Conference in 2024-25 is a trickier task.
There's the temptation this time of year for fans of eliminated teams to put on their general manager hats and look to the trade market, June's draft and July's free agency as avenues to add talent. For Houston GM Rafael Stone, the biggest pieces he adds this summer may already be on the roster.
Houston, when healthy, already faces something of a roster crunch for 2024-25.