The Houston Rockets’ best-laid plans to blend accomplished veterans with their young core of players crumbled before last season even began when point guard Fred VanVleet suffered an offseason knee injury.
Now, with VanVleet and center Steven Adams, who was limited to 32 games last season, back in the fold, the Rockets will open the season on Wednesday against the visiting Dallas Mavericks, presumably ready to fire on all cylinders.
VanVleet and Adams join Kevin Durant as experienced hands working alongside the quintet the Rockets drafted or acquired: Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard. Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic signed in the offseason, lengthening the Rockets’ bench and further providing veterans capable of myriad duties.
“I would say the excitement is having the full group back,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “The injuries last year, we went into the season with some unknowns and some different things we hadn’t planned initially. But to have the full group back and the additions and the development of the young guys, it feels like we’re more whole.
“We can now hit the ground running as opposed to figuring it out on the fly.”
Udoka plans to utilize a 10-deep rotation early this season. That should allow Houston to capitalize on its depth and ease VanVleet and Adams back into a heavy workload. The Rockets were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, and their loaded roster was constructed to accomplish far more when the postseason rolls around.
Injuries will alter the Mavericks’ rotation at the start of the season, particularly in the frontcourt. Forward Santi Aldama (knee) and center Dereck Lively II (foot) remain sidelined. The Mavericks waived veteran stalwart Dwight Powell on Monday, allowing rookie Morez Johnson Jr. a chance to maximize the playing time he might get alongside Daniel Gafford and Moussa Cisse in the frontcourt rotation.
Johnson was limited by a lower-body injury during the preseason, but his energy and rebounding prowess were difficult to ignore when he did play. Youthful vigor and a penchant for defense could enable Johnson to join the fray and contribute to a deep collection of options.
“I’m not worried about him; he’s going to play well,” said first-year Mavericks coach Dusty May, who coached Johnson at Michigan last season. “He’s capable of getting double-digit rebounds with minutes consistently.”
Of course, the Mavericks’ foundation is set by second-year phenom Cooper Flagg, whose otherworldly rookie season set in motion the organization’s plan to surround him with complementary talent, preferably younger players whose timelines align with those of Flagg.
That could make for an odd fit with three-time All-NBA guard Kyrie Irving, who will play his first regular-season game since March 3, 2025. Irving turns 35 in March, and despite his unquestioned talent, he might not be an ideal partner for the 19-year-old Flagg.
The Mavericks took a flyer on Zaccharie Risacher this offseason, trading for the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft following two disappointing seasons in Atlanta. Flagg, Irving and P.J. Washington are likely locked in as starters, leaving room for Risacher to make the most of his second chance.
“He’s going to be a major rotation piece and play a lot,” May said of Risacher. “I don’t know what the starting lineup is going to be quite yet. We’ll know as we get closer to game time.”
