Houston Rockets: Projecting the starting five for 2017-18
Arrogance. Depending on which Houston Rockets fan you talk to, I’m an expert on the topic. Those with stiffer spines, however, acknowledge that the application of strict standards and objectivity is not arrogance but, instead, just a question of expectations.
Houston Rockets fans — consider Carmelo to Oklahoma City a failure of those expectations.
Carmelo Anthony is in Oklahoma City for a package centered on Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a 2nd round pick. That’s it. The package delivers to Oklahoma City a starting five of Russel Westbrook, Andre Roberson, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, and Steven Adams. Not bad for a team that Houston was laughing off just a week ago.
Houston’s task in the West just got more difficult. Oklahoma City just entered the Houston Rockets stratosphere of competition – on paper at least. While it remains to be seen whether Russel Westbrook can coexist with players, let alone star players, it’s only fair that Houston Rockets fans who are bullish on Chris Paul and James Harden extend the same benefit of the doubt to the Thunder.
Before the trade, Houston’s biggest assignment was countering the Golden State Warriors. With the Thunder’s deal, Houston just got another factor to consider. Why? Well, simply arrogance.
Houston refused to offer up more than Ryan Anderson. In doing so, a subpar package from the Thunder and the toxic environment in New York became more palatable to the Knicks than doing Melo a favor. Including a piece like Gordon or Ariza would have upped the trade value and required New York to give up a player like Courtney Lee in addition to Anthony.
Make no mistake, the addition of Courtney Lee to offset losing a Gordon or Ariza would have been more than enough to make up for the net loss. In passing up on such a construction, the Houston Rockets lost a player capable of adding multiple wrinkles to the offense and taken the burden off needing to have Paul or Harden on the court at all times.
That’s neither here nor there anymore, though, that was purely therapeutic for me. Let’s look at Houston’s projected starting five for the season.