ClutchFans Rocket Fuel mailbag is back!

Who in the Rockets summer games looked impressive in person?

Any player looked more physically different in person than on TV.
(taller, bulk/skinnier, thicc (Nix?))

 

Who are the free agents left that might make sense for the Rockets to sign with the MLE in hopes of flipping for a FRP at the trade deadline? Would the Rockets be interested in trying to do that?

 

If Durant is traded to a contender, are there any young players that the Rockets might be interested in obtaining by giving Brooklyn back a pick(s)/swap(s) as a third team? I like Bridges from Phoenix, but he's probably the oldest I would look at.

 

1) Will Jabari really be able to stay in front of NBA-level guards as easily as he has 90% of the summer league players or are we getting over-hyped and probably should temper our expectations?
2) What's wrong with Jabari's shot? As in, why is it so flat, and is that the issue with him missing early on? Is he having to adjust for distance from college?
3) Name some things you saw that you didn't like from Jabari and Tari and they'll need to correct?
4) Is either TyTy or Daishen the answer based upon what you saw? If so, what was the question?
5) Any opinions on Trevor Hudgins or is he "just a body with a 2-way contract"?

 

Biggest hole is at backup 5. Did summer league do anything to resolve that?

 

1. Is there any insight into how the Rockets coaching staff responsibilities will be broken down next year?

John Lucas is in the lead assistant role, but he's much more of a player development guy, rather than a playcaller, and is not a head coaching candidate at 68 years old.

Lionel Hollins has pretty much done it all at this point, having been a head coach and has already won a championship with the Lakers. Why did he choose to join a super young team who is ostensibly going to be horrible on defense and horrible on the court?

After the old guys, you have two very young and hungry coaches in Higgins and Abdelfattah, who both could feasibly see themselves taking over as Head Coach in the future. Could we see a bit of a rivalry develop between these guys? Both of them need to burnish their resumes to make themselves attractive candidates; Higgins obviously is higher in the pecking order since he got to coach the SL team and had his contract renewed, but Abdelfattah probably has some significant backing from management.

Finally, I have no insight as to anything about Batiste, other than the fact he got suspended for going into the stands last year. No idea as to what his role will be on the team.

2. Since you're wrapping up in Vegas, a bit of a non-Rockets question: If the rumored league expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas happens, which team would you move to the East to balance the conferences at 16 teams apiece? Minnesota is geographically the furthest west, but is also the furthest separated from the rest of the teams in the conference, and it feels like they'd fit in well with the current Central teams. Memphis is the furthest east, but it feels the most like a western conference team with established history and rivalries. And New Orleans is geographically closest to the Texas triangle, but it sort of feels like it has no real team history, with the new Hornets taking the old glory days, and the bad exits of Chris Paul and Anthony Davis sapping the memories of their success in the west. Additionally, their current young franchise duo in Ingram and Zion are most closely associated with the Carolinas.

 

should the Rockets sign Dwight Howard?
















sorry. couldn't help myself

 

The return of Clutch Mail?

 

We can envision 4/5 of the starting lineup - KPJ, Green, Smith Jr, and Sengun.

But who do you guys predict to start at SF? Gordon, Tate, Matthews, KJ Martin, or even rookie Eason?
Who do you believe SHOULD start and is the best fit with the four locked in starters I mentioned.

 

After watching Josh Christopher shine as far and away the best player of the summer league, how do you think the Rockets will retool around him? Are Jalen and Jabari a good fit around Christopher?

 

JC and Dwert would be almost like having J Smoove back

 

Who do you think should be in the rotation this year?

specifically, who are the odd men out as currently constructed?

I would’ve preferred a Tate trade but that’s off the table now. Is KJ out? Nix? I am hopeful tyty and Eason are at least backup players. If not, that will be disappointing. I am also afraid EG will start at the 3.