When Can the Rockets (realistically) Expect to Make the Playoffs again?

Harden’s selfishness and arrogance set this city and team back a decade.

 

I am too old to do any prediction about the future.

 

Summer 2023 should be loaded with cap space so I voted 2023-2024. Bad contracts will be off the books (Gordon, wall, and wood)

 

I like to think the organization plans on tanking while we own our own picks through next season. We have to at least try tomato the playoffs in 2024 when we don't own our own pick. the summer of 2023 we happen to have a lot of cap space with all and gordon coming off the books. I think they'll make some short sighted moves to be as good as possible that season and through the next couple of years while OKC owns our picks. I don't think a summer of free agency with cap space is enough to take the worst team in the league into the playoffs. a lot depends on JG's development and how well they draft in 22 and 23.

short answer. I think the plan is to be back in the playoffs by 2024, but its far from a sure thing.

 

We'll all be dead before it happens.

 

I think around 2025. We'll lose in the first round but show great potential. During the offseason, LTS and Cash Considerations become the most important players in the owner's eyes and a team of potential falls apart. Ex-Rockets go on to compete against each other for the next 12 NBA championships.

 

Looking at other drought teams, last been in playoffs.

Hornets (5 years, 2015-16)
Bulls (4 years, 2016-17), likely to break that streak this year
Cavs (3 years), likely to break this year
Pelicans (3 years)
Pistons (2 years)
Spurs (2 years)
Rockets/Pacers/Raptors/Thunder/Magic (1 year)
Kings (15 years)

30 teams. 14 of 30 don't make the play-offs each year. 46.667 % of total teams.

If we say 3 years for the Rockets, with 1 year already gone... 2023-24 is a projection maybe.
2020-21 - year 1 no playoffs
2021-22 - year 2
2022-23 - year 3
2023-24 -

Also near end of Silas' tenure by then, so maybe. Right now doesn't seem like it, because this team is terri-bad. Honestly, could be after 2024.

 

If they did draft Chet I'd think he would play the same role he plays with Timme now. Sengun playing the Timme role.

I still think Jabari is the safest pick, if by a miracle we win the lottery.

 

chet holmgren

 

Wut are playoffs? Welcome to mai fap the next years.

 

I think a safe guess is predict when u think the Texans will ever get into afc championship, Rockets will do It before then.

 

Doubled in tripled teamed

 

“2 years from being 2 years away” One of the best quotes ever. Sadly I don’t even think we are there.

 

If you count the play-in, 2023-24. If not, then 2024-25. It's so hard to tell right now because we still don't know what this team's true core looks like, and I'm not sure we will know until the summer of 2023 when Wall and Gordon are off the books, and the Rockets have money to spend.

But, gun to my head, I think we see a pretty big bump in that 2023-24 season as this group of rookies will either sink or swim in their third years and we should see a nice infusion of talent from the cap space. I think they hover around .500 that season and lose in the play-in, but then crack the real playoffs the following year.

 

If we get Chet, I think we will have a chance at play-in next year. The following year we will be challenging for playoffs as we add some significant vets via trade or FA.