Can the Houston Rockets, now entering Year 2 of the Kevin Durant era, find their footing as a perennial Western Conference threat?
It's a question that seemed just out of reach for the 2025-26 team, whose season ended in a whimper following a season of point guard questions, rumors and a 4-2 series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.
The answer could come in the form of one of the veteran acquisitions this offseason. Perhaps it will come from on-court continuity between Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun and availability from Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams.
Regardless, the West's landscape has significantly shifted this summer, and Houston has something to prove if it wants to be in the conference's upper tier. ESPN's staff of experts is looking back at the offseason and taking an early look at the 2026-27 season for all 30 teams, with 30 pieces -- one for every team -- rolling out each weekday through Sept. 18. We're answering the biggest looming questions, evaluating X factors and much more for all 30 teams.
Let's dive into the Rockets, whose young roster was bolstered with experience this summer:
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Offseason at a glance
Key additions: G Marcus Smart, G Bogdan Bogdanovic Key retentions: F Tari Eason Key subtractions: F Dorian Finney-Smith, G Josh Okogie
After suffering a first-round postseason exit for the second consecutive season, the Rockets resisted the temptation to jump into the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes after adding former MVP Durant last summer. General manager Rafael Stone and coach Ime Udoka will instead lean on growth from the team's collection of young talent acquired in recent years, not to mention the continuity that comes with those players developing together over multiple seasons.
Houston signed Tari Eason to a five-year, $81.5 million extension over the summer. But outside of that, the Rockets focused on bolstering depth by bringing aboard veterans Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic. The club also brought in renowned shooting coach Chip Engelland from Oklahoma City. Engelland spent more than a decade with the San Antonio Spurs, winning two titles. -- Michael C. Wright
Zach Kram's offseason grade: B+
Some shine has come off the Rockets because of their dispiriting playoff defeat against the short-handed Lakers, but they enjoyed another solid offseason, nonetheless.