The Houston Rockets are entering a pivotal offseason where they have to make a decision on a few of their key contributors. GM Rafael Stone has to strike the right balance between winning in the present and in the future. Despite being a 50-win group in the Western Conference, the Rockets are still a young and inexperienced team that is one piece away from true title contention.
To upgrade the roster to lift themselves up to the upper echelon of championship favorites, the Rockets have to nail their offseason decisions on who to retain, let walk, and trade. Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported on Tuesday that one of the top priorities for Houston is to sign Steven Adams to a contract extension.
"But the Rockets are operating under the assumption Adams wants to return — and will continue to speak with his representation about a possible extension, team sources said."Kelly Iko, The Athletic
Adams emerged as a crucial part of Houston's playoff rotation after playing sparingly throughout the regular season. The 31-year-old center made a huge impact with his offensive rebounding, rim protection, and physical presence, playing over 22 minutes per game against the Warriors. The two-big lineups alongside Alperen Şengün provided the Rockets with their most successful lineups in the series.
That is why it is understandable that the Rockets would want to keep Adams. The pending free agent will likely draw some attention on the open market, so how expensive he will be to bring back remains to be seen. He is finishing a two-year, $25 million deal, and an annual salary around that range may be required to keep him in Houston.
Not only is the New Zealander still impactful on the court, but he also remains one of the best veterans and locker room leaders on the team. Houston's young core can certainly benefit from having Adams' leadership as they look to take the next step in their evolution.