Houston Rockets Fantasy Basketball Season Recap

Recaps from previous teams: DET, WAS, POR, CHA, SAS, TOR, MEMORY, UTA, BKN, ATL, CHI

In one look :

Record: 41-41 (11th, West)

Offensive rating: 113.7 (20th)

Defensive rating: 112.8 (10th)

Net rating: 0.9 (18th)

Pace: 99.59 (13th)

2024 draft picks: 3, 44

After three consecutive seasons at the bottom of the ladder, Houston was back to competitive basketball this season. They finished with a .500 record, five games into the highly talented Western Conference Play-In tournament. They had an 11-game winning streak in March that put them right in the mix for the final Play-In spot, but they followed that up with a five-game losing streak, which destroyed any chance of making the playoffs . However, the measures taken this summer have clearly benefited the team. They hired Ime Udoka and signed Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks in free agency. Combining that with developing stars has made Houston a competitive team, but it takes a lot more to make the playoffs in the West.

They should have hope of moving forward. They landed the No. 3 pick, which was one of the first they acquired when James Harden was shipped to Brooklyn. With plenty of other young studs, the Rockets can either add to their roster of talent or package players for a star. They have already been linked to Donovan Mitchell and reportedly put together a package for Mikal Bridges at the trade deadline. Don’t be surprised if the Rockets are aggressive this summer, and they have the assets to do so. There were several aging teams ahead of them in the standings, and if things go as planned, Houston could overtake a few of them and bring playoff basketball back to H-Town.

Standout fantasy: Fred VanVleet

After spending the first seven years of his career in Toronto, VanVleet received a huge salary to move to Houston and help change the culture of the Rockets. He was a big part of why the team had its best season since James Harden forced his way out of town. He’s now on the wrong side of thirty, but he still has a few good years left.

FVV provided top-25 value for the fifth straight season in 9-cat leagues, and its numbers haven’t changed much despite the change in scenery. He averaged 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks and 3.1 triples in 36.8 minutes per game. He played 73 games, which is the most he has played since becoming a full-time starter. His steals were down slightly, but his blocks were also up slightly. Many of his blocks came on sweeps that could have resulted in steals, and that was corrected in the second half of the season. VanVleet’s shot attempts and points were down a bit, but he made up for it by setting a new career high in assists. FVV is the veteran on a young team, and he should continue to be an elite fantasy asset for at least a few more seasons.

Fantastic revelation: Alperen Sengun

Sengun showed a lot of flashes in his first two seasons, but he took a step further in year three. His scoring increased from 14.8 points to 21.1 per game, and he also added 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.7 blocks and 0.5 triples while shooting at 53.7% from the floor and 69.3% from the line. He’s had his fair share of struggles this year, leading to him being benched on several occasions. However, there were games where everything seemed to click for him, and his potential was on full display.

Just before an ankle injury sidelined him for the final month of the season, Sengun had a few big games, including one with 45 points and 16 rebounds, and another with 23 points, 19 rebounds and 14 assists . This type of all-around production from a center is what helped him earn the nickname Baby Jokic, and if he can replicate the production of a three-time MVP, he will be an elite fantasy option for the years to come. . He is by far the most valuable dynasty asset in Houston, and he should be considered a top 20 player in dynasty formats.

Fantastic Disappointment: Tari Eason

Eason played well when he was on the court, which made his season even more disappointing. He was expected to miss the first few weeks of the season, but he ultimately only played 22 games, and he did not play again after January 1. When he suited up, he was on a pretty strict minutes restriction for the first month, meaning we only got about 10 productive games out of him.

However, it was an elite stop for Eason. He played 26.2 minutes per game in those 10 games and averaged 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2.6 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.0 triples , which was in the top 50 9-cat leagues during this period. He didn’t start at all, but he was still a top-100 player during the season with just 21.8 minutes per game. Assuming he’s healthy, Eason will likely play a significant reserve role next season and be an elite fantasy option in class leagues. He will certainly have a chance to lead the league in steals if he plays enough minutes.

Fantasy recaps/anticipations

Jabari Smith Jr.:

After a strong rookie season, Smith made major improvements in year two. He averaged 13.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.8 triples while shooting 45.4% from the floor, 81.1% from the free throw line and 36.3% from beyond the arc. His minutes only went from 31.0 to 31.9, but aside from blocks, he improved in every category. Smith even slightly improved his turnovers from 1.3 to 1.2 per game. He hasn’t made major progress, but he has taken at least a small step forward in all areas. If he can take a big step forward in at least one or two categories next season, he will advance to the elite level of dynasty assets. He may not see his usage increase with the amount of talent around him, but he can improve his efficiency, rebounding and defensive production.

Amen Thompson:

The Rockets made Thompson the fourth pick in the draft last summer, even though his career didn’t get off to the best start. After not producing much in their first four games, he missed 19 of their next 20 games. With VanVleet at point, Thompson was stuck in a reserve role for most of the season, although various injuries allowed him to start the final month of the season. In 23 starts, he averaged 13.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Due to the amount of talent they have, Thompson could be a year or two away from becoming a full-time starter. However, when that happens, he will become elite in fantasy hoops.

Green Jalen:

It was another frustrating fantasy season for Green. He didn’t improve his shooting percentages and his scoring dropped slightly, which was expected with the additions they made. However, it wasn’t all bad, that’s what made it frustrating. During their 11-game winning streak, Green was one of the best players in fantasy basketball and put up elite numbers every night. He’s scored at least 25 points in eight straight games and had two 40-point games during that stretch. He also played in all 82 games, which is always a nice boost for fantasy. Green has all the upside in the world, but he will continue to be a fantasy option until he can play at the level he is capable of for more than a few weeks at the end of the season.

Cam Whitmore:

The projected top-five pick fell to Houston at 8 p.m. on draft night, which was a surprise to fans across the league. However, he demonstrated the offensive firepower that had him in discussion for a top pick and averaged 12.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 triples per game as a rookie. Whitmore certainly has a high ceiling, which he has displayed this season. Still, he will need to improve as a playmaker if he wants to become a full-time starter in the league. It was a great first year in the league, and there’s no denying that the Rockets got one of the steals of the draft.

Dillon Brooks:

Brooks signed with the Rockets this summer and immediately accepted a smaller role on the offensive end, something Memphis fans had been begging him to do for years. His usage rate of 17.6 was the lowest of his career, and it was a massive drop from 28.9 two seasons ago. However, his shooting efficiency improved compared to the previous season, which allowed him to finish in the top 200 in 9-cat leagues. Brooks isn’t an exciting fantasy option, but he should continue to play a big role in their rotation, as he is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.

Restricted free agents: Jermain Samuels, Jeenathan Williams, Nate Hinton

Unrestricted free agents: Reggie Bullock, Aaron Holiday, Boban Marjanovic

Team options: Jeff Green, Jae’Sean Tate