Steven Adams Season Ending Ankle Surgery (2025-2026)

Thank you - but it is semantics to my point, it put the Rockets up against the apron and limited what they could do going forward. He just isn't a good player anymore. Maybe I will be proven wrong and Capela will prove to be a defensive anchor for the Rockets - but what I have seen is a lesser version of the rebound hungry version of Dwight Howard right before he was out of the league.

 

I think this was true earlier in the year. But Clint has worked to get himself in more shape and he has the experience that helps him compete as a defender. He is a serviceable back up 5, though having a center with a jump shot would do wonders for this offense.

 

I hope Adams gets well, it was a risk to sign him longer term, at his age and injury history - let him heal and lean into Sengun and Capela who has about the same rebounding rate and is a better shotblocker so probably fits with Reed and Amen a bit better.

Sucks to be losing guys, but this is what happens when you sign older players, not surprised at all.

DD

 

At any size, age or level

 

Maybe I’m crazy but I still think Adams would have value to other teams for next season. Clint is not a viable replacement. We really do need to make a move for a center.

 

Maybe someone will want him - his performance FAR exceeded contract value in his most recent stint but the "deal" Houston got was because he has a recent injury past and came with the risk that he could get injured again as an aging player...and that's what happened here.

Similar to Robert Williams III, the price comes with a pretty huge caveat of limited availability and in Steven's case - his age assumes he likely will continue to decline. A 33yr old who has played in 1.5 of the last 4 seasons is probably not a player worth much - even if he is still awesome when he is healthy.

At this point teams who want him fit into a very narrow lane of "has better centers on the roster with more availability and can use Stevo as a 'break glass in case of emergency' type of player". His days of being a team's #1 center option(like us) are likely over.

 

A RIM RUNNING SHOT BLOCKING one.

DD

 

If our playoff hopes rested on Steven Adams in 2026, then they were already doomed…

 

This sucks on so many levels. Rockets have no choice now but to completely change their identity.

I think the main thing they need to do is transition to a long, athletic rotation with Jabari at the 5.

I get it that Sengun is on this team, and you gotta start, play through him, and scheme to hide him on defense. However if there is the opportunity now to use Adam's salary with Sengun to go get Giannis I think you gotta go for it now, and really remake this team around a versatile, long, athletic, defensive team who can switch everything while punishing you on offense with that athleticism.

I love Sengun.... he's so much fun to watch, and so easy to root for. I just am super doubtful that a team can win at the level we want to with him as your 5, and when he refuses to shoot the ball.

 

Spoiler

KWD: 2y/90M
FVV: 2y/50M
JSJ: 5y/122M
SFA: 3y/39M
DFS: 4y/53M
CNC: 3y/21M

 

Can this be Jabari? As long as Tari stays healthy (can't believe I just typed that) I think the extra minutes for those two can more than fill the hole left by the Adams injury....Yeah, and maybe I’m a Chinese jet pilot.

 

Week to Week until the Offseason weeks.

 

Was at the game when he got hurt. It was obvious then he fractured something

The ankle sprain diagnosis really surprised me and now I see why

 

Yeah with all those hyper athletes we have like Jalen Green and Cam Whitmore it just makes sense...wait.

Who are the lob threats outside of Amen exactly? And if he's catching the pass, who's throwing it? We don't have the roster for uptempo basketball any more, unless you believe the myth that Reed has vertical within 1 inch of Ja Morant (spoiler: He doesn't.)

 

Not surprised. Especially seeing those Nike running shoes he wears every game. Was inevitable.

 

NOOOOOOOO!!!






That is all.

 

Did no one here Google at the time of the injury "Grade 3 ankle sprain, torn ligaments"?

I already knew he was gonna be out for the season.

 

How serious are the Rockets about waiting for Steven Adams to be back?

Do you risk it and try to run it back one more time in 2026–27? He wasn't able to play in B2B and may never be able to do that again. Next season, he won't be able to play without a minute restriction.

It seems to me that Stone needs to think long and hard about whether we've reached the end of this professional relationship. Adams is a true pro's pro, but if he can't play, he's not helping us achieve our goals. Stone should listen to any offer that would let us use Adam's salary to swing a deal.

 

FVF, DFS, and CNC straight up just stealing money…Jabari looking like an accomplice at times too

 

Season to season.