19 Points and 11 Rebounds! Amen Hopes to Replace Van Jordan, Rockets Want to Increase Ball-Handling Points, Bulls Offer Price
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The arrival of Biston has brought a new breeze to Houston.
This new general manager reshaped the Rockets' lineup, changing the old model that relied on star players. He values young players and believes that through patient training, a new dynasty can be nurtured.
The current Rockets are slowly showing the initial results of Stone's strategy. With a record of 12 wins and 6 losses, they are proud of most teams in the West, and fans have high hopes for this young group.
Stone's operations along the way are worth reviewing. In 2020, he made a brilliant move with the Covington trade, as well as the unfortunate deal of Westbrook for Wall. However, what is most praised is that in the 2024 draft year, he successively obtained two rookies, Amen Thompson and Whitmore. This young combination is seen as the key to the future puzzle and is also the most successful part of Stone's "youthification" path.
Stone advocates not pushing rookies into the starting lineup all at once but gradually in actual combat to hone and grow. Amen is the best example. This point guard is eager to replace veteran Van Jordan, but Coach Udoka understands his characteristics and starts from the bench warrior, gradually increasing Amen's playing time. In the last game against Dillon, Amen started in the absence of Van Jordan and scored an impressive 19 points and 11 rebounds.
How do we evaluate the Rockets' current lineup? They lack a definitive superstar, but they have excellent teamwork ability, with an average of seven people scoring in double figures. Stone also shows satisfaction with the current lineup and has no intention of making major changes, but rather continues to cultivate young people along the original path.
However, the Rockets also have a fatal flaw. At critical moments, the team is in desperate need of a "buzzer-beater." Jalen Green was once considered the right candidate for this role, but the effect was poor, and his chemistry with new recruit Shen Jing could not convince the crowd. Some suggest that the Rockets can trade for Kings star Fox to make up for this shortcoming.
Fox is now 27 years old, at his peak, with multiple shooting abilities on the offensive end, and is undoubtedly a "buzzer-beater." He can undoubtedly make the Rockets better, but the cost is not small. To get Fox, the Rockets may have to dismantle their existing lineup and lose potential newcomers like Whitmore. Whether it is worth it is difficult to decide.
Should the Rockets take the fast lane of "introducing superstars"? There are different opinions that they can follow the Suns' "self-cultivation" model, patiently refining and ultimately forging a strong team with championship contention.
Re-examine the Rockets' summer signings. At that time, they had to give up pursuing stars like Mitchell and White to ensure the renewal of the young guards Green and Shen Jing. So far, Green's performance has not met the expectations of both sides at the beginning, which has caused the Rockets management to rethink his valuation.
The Rockets are at a critical turning point. Can Stone's "youthification" path lead to the pinnacle? Or do they need to strengthen their weaknesses while continuing to persevere? I look forward to seeing Stone's new actions in the next trading period, and everything will remain to be seen.
At the end of the article, I hope everyone can speak freely about how the Rockets should operate and whether they should introduce Fox. After all, this concerns the future development direction of the team and directly affects the expectations of our fans. Do you continue to adhere to the "youthification" path or support significantly enhancing strength through major trades? Welcome to the discussion.
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