Depth and Experience Signs Added

Rockets GM Raphael Stone cast the summer moves as a quest for “more skilled” options, hoping for players who could dribble, pass, shoot and defend. Marcus Smart, a 13‑season veteran with roughly 25,000 minutes, and Bogdan Bogdanović were added to fill gaps left by Dorian Finney‑Smith, who was traded away. Smart, entering his 13th year, commands just over $6 million a year and appeared in 62 games last season—the most in his last two seasons combined.

Earlier in the playoffs Smart posted eye‑catching numbers against Houston while with the Lakers: 61 points, 25 assists, 11 steals and an 8‑of‑16 three‑point shooting line across Games 1‑3. The Rockets are counting on that postseason form, viewing him as a low‑usage secondary creator who raises efficiency and can space the floor. His defensive reputation—“an eye for causing turnovers”—adds a needed baseline for a squad that finished dead last in 3‑point shooting at 30.2 %.

Bogdanović brings additional shooting depth, while Smart offers playoff experience and a defensive ceiling that could lift the team’s overall efficiency. Both arrivals aim to address the depth shortage that became glaring when injuries sidelined key pieces like VanVleet and Durant. The veterans are expected to provide a stabilizing influence while the youthful core learns to handle playoff pressure.

Young Core Remains the Foundation

Despite the veteran infusion, Houston’s timeline still leans heavily on its young players. Third‑year guard Reed Sheppard is poised to see expanded minutes, and rookie Bruce Thornton’s solid Las Vegas showing suggests he could contribute early. Alperen Şengün’s 8th‑percentile performance in points per shot attempt signals a need for higher‑efficiency creation, possibly through increased three‑point attempts.

Amen Thompson’s 24 % corner shooting rate highlights a glaring weakness that will require work if he is to serve as a reliable floor spacer. Supporting pieces Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason are encouraged to act more as playmaking hubs from the elbows and to capitalize on transition chances. The group’s growth is described by Stone as “the backbone of our team,” with their development directly tied to the franchise’s success.

VanVleet’s return is critical; the GM reports he is on track for full camp participation, a key piece for maintaining stability. The older guard’s workload will likely be managed carefully after an ACL injury, but his presence remains essential to offset the lack of an efficient plan B. The young core—including Şengün, Thompson, Smith, Eason and Sheppard—must elevate to give the team a realistic chance against Western Conference contenders like Denver, Minnesota, San Antonio, Oklahoma City and the Lakers, who eliminated Houston last postseason.

Stone emphasized that none of the improvements will be fully realized until training camp and the regular season, warning that the roster’s fate hinges on the development of these emerging talents. If Durant can serve as a ceiling raiser, it is the younger players who must raise the floor. Their progression will decide whether the Rockets move beyond “good enough” and become true contenders in the loaded West.