The Rockets had significant financial flexibility entering the 2023 NBA offseason when they added several current rotation players such as Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jeff Green and Jock Landale.

The first two in particular played a key role in Houston’s improvement from 22-60 two seasons ago to 41-41 last season and a current 17-9 mark that ranks third in the 2024-25 Western Conference. Beyond their abilities as players, all four veterans are popular in the locker room and have taken on important leadership and mentorship roles on a relatively young team.

But in 2023, there were some fans and analysts who wanted Houston to think even bigger with its spending. While head coach Ime Udoka and the Rockets did their due diligence on the potential stars available, including former franchise icon James Harden, they ultimately concluded that a lower tier made more sense given the Rockets’ position in their rebuilding plan be.