The Houston Rockets are looking like surefire title contenders for the first time since the James Harden era. After taking significant steps forward last season, the Rockets didn't waste any more time before putting some chips in to upgrade their roster to championship caliber. Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Clint Capela will all help Houston make a deep playoff run, but the Rockets still have a few holes they need to fill.
The biggest need for the Rockets right now is more shooting. Ime Udoka's group winning formula will be elite defense and above-average offense, as the Rockets have a ton of defense-first players. The half-court offense, which was a struggle last season as well, could still be an issue due to the lack of shooting on the roster.
Turning to a familiar face in free agency could help alleviate some of those concerns. Former Rockets sharpshooter Garrison Mathews remains unsigned and would be a decent fit in Houston.
Former Rockets Shooter Garrison Mathews Would Be a Good Fit in Houston
Mathews spent two seasons in Houston between 2021 and 2023, until he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. During his stint, he appeared in 110 games for the Rockets (33 starts) and averaged 7.9 points in 21 minutes per game on 35.5% shooting from downtown. That shooting percentage, however, was a low-water mark for the 28-year-old shooting guard who has a career three-point accuracy of 40.5%.
If Mathews were to hit shots like he has in every other stop in his NBA career, he could be a solid deep bench option for the Rockets. There aren't too many minutes to go around for this deep Rockets team, but there aren't many players on the roster who are as big of an off-ball threat as Mathews. When Houston is in need of spacing or a shooter to run some plays for, Mathews can earn spot minutes off the bench.
Houston currently has two open roster spots, and they would be wise to use those for shooters, preferably in the backcourt. Giving the likes of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Kevin Durant as much space as possible to operate on offense should be a priority when finalizing the roster.