The Rockets are out of the playoffs, and these three positions should be accurately matched in the offseason!

Learned from the first round after being eliminated, the Rockets aimed at three key positions during the offseason to strengthen

In the first round of the just-concluded 2025 NBA playoffs, the Houston Rockets lost to the Golden State Warriors with a total score of 3-4, and stopped in the first round. Although the Rockets ranked second in the West during the regular season and showed strong competitiveness, some of the team's problems were magnified in the high-intensity confrontation in the playoffs, and the offseason was imminent. Combining the team's existing lineup and game performance, the following three positions have become the top priority for the Rockets' reinforcement.

1. The front line

Rockets lack a stable scorer and defensive player in the front line position. In the series with the Warriors, the team's forward players seem to be unable to do it whether they create opportunities for their teammates on the offensive end or defend the opponent's core players.

Judging from the potential goals in the market, Kevin Durant is undoubtedly the most attractive choice. He has comprehensive and unsolvable scoring ability, and is particularly good at mid- and long-distance shooting, and has rich experience and big heart performance on the playoff stage. Although he is 36 years old, his competitive form remains at a high level. If the Rockets can successfully win Durant, he will become the absolute core of the team's offensive end, open up space for teammates, and take over the game with his personal ability at critical moments, increasing the team's upper limit. However, introducing Durant requires a high price. Whether it is player trading chips or the allocation of salary space, it is a matter that the Rockets need to carefully weigh.

In addition to Durant, players like Tobias Harris are worth considering. Harris has comprehensive skills, can be both inside and outside, has a variety of offensive methods, and has certain organizational capabilities, which can enrich the Rockets' offensive tactics. On the defensive end, he can also use his excellent physical fitness and awareness to effectively limit his opponent's forward players. More importantly, compared with Durant, the cost of getting Harris may be relatively low, and the pressure on the Rockets is also less than that of Durant.

2. Inside

The Rockets' inside core, although Shin Kyung was selected as the All-Star and showed comprehensive skills and excellent support skills, he has shortcomings in frame protection and confrontation. When facing the Warriors' tough inside defense, Shin Kyung's weaknesses were fully exposed, which also affected the team's performance in rebounding protection and inside defense.

In order to improve the strength of the inside, Zion Williamson is a very potential target. Zion, in a healthy state, averaged 24+7+5 per game, and his inside finishing ability is top. His impact and explosive power can greatly enhance the Rockets' inside offensive threat, attract opponents' defensive attention, and create more offensive opportunities for teammates. However, Zion's injury risk is a factor that the Rockets must carefully evaluate. He has missed a large number of games due to injuries in the past few seasons. If he cannot guarantee health, then this deal will be a big risk to the Rockets.

In addition, an experienced center like Brooke Lopez is also a good choice. Lopez has excellent frame protection and three-point shooting ability, and can build a solid barrier in the inside, while also opening up space for the team and forming a good complement to Shin Kyung. Moreover, Lopez's performance in the playoffs is also very stable, and his experience and leadership are particularly important for the young Rockets.

3. Guards (scoring guard/point guard)

Although Van Vleet's performance in the late playoffs is remarkable, the team still needs further strengthening on the back line. Although Jaylen Green has outstanding talent, his performance in the playoffs is ups and downs, and his psychological quality and decision-making ability at critical moments still need to be improved.

Devin Booker is an ideal shooting guard candidate. He averaged more than 25 points per game, had stable shooting ability, and his three-point shooting percentage was between 33%-46%. Booker has a variety of scoring methods, and has strong lethality whether it is mid-range shooting or three-point shooting. At the critical moment of the game, he dared to take action and had excellent key ball handling skills. If Booker joins the Rockets, he will form a powerful backcourt double gun with VanVleet to increase the team's offensive firepower.

If the Rockets want to upgrade at the point guard position, Damian Lillard is also a goal worth pursuing. Lillard has excellent organizational skills and scoring skills, and his long shots and key ball abilities are well-known in the league. Lillard can control the rhythm of the game and create more offensive opportunities for his teammates. At the same time, when the team needs to score, he can also stand up with his personal ability. However, Lillard is paid a high salary and there is still uncertainty about whether the Trail Blazers are willing to trade him, which makes it more difficult for the Rockets to pursue him.

For the Rockets, this offseason will be a critical period for the team to reshape their strength. The team needs to make careful trade-offs and operations in various aspects such as salary space, trading chips and player adaptability, and improve the overall strength of the team through reasonable reinforcement. Only in this way can the Rockets stand out in the highly competitive Western Conference and move towards higher goals. Let's wait and see what surprises the Rockets management will bring to fans this offseason.