One sign and one slash, the Rockets upgraded to 13+2 grand formation! Taobao defensive champion + bet Shepard to make up for his shortcomings

With one sign and one plagiarism, the Rockets have once again upgraded to the 13+2 grand formation! While successfully using a two-way contract, Taobao defender is also betting that second-year Tanhua Shepard can fill the shortcomings of substitute point guards in the new season.

One sign and one leverage

According to the official announcement of the Rockets, the team completed one sign and one leverage, and signed forward Cameron Matthews, and cut off Genesen Williams. The Rockets' operation to sack Jennerson Williams is expected, as the team needs to free up more salary space and place in the official roster to continue Taobao in the free market.

As the Rockets used the middle-class special case to strengthen the team, the team has triggered a $195.9 million hard salary cap. Before cutting Geneson Williams, the Rockets could not even use the veteran's basic salary to sign.

And the contract worth $2.27 million will be converted to guarantee after the opening game of the 25-26 season. As the Rockets cut him, Houston also released a veteran's basic salary signing space.

The simultaneous cut of Geneson Williams can be said to have no effect on the Rockets. Although Geneson Williams has been playing for the Rockets in the past few seasons and has obtained a formal contract, he is not in the Rockets' regular rotation.

is more about preparing for the Rockets' Development League team Vipers, so the Rockets' cuts off him does not mean that Genesen Williams will leave the Rockets.

Currently, he is still on the Rockets' Summer United roster. Houston can determine whether to sign a two-way contract with him or E10 contract to continue the inspection based on subsequent strengthening, signing and performance.

While cutting off the wing of Genesen Williams, the Rockets signed forward player Cameron Matthews.

Matthews is 2.01 meters tall and weighs 106 kg. He is a 25-year undraft. During his college years, he mainly gained a foothold with top defensive abilities. He is the steal king in Mississippi State's team history. He has also been selected into the NCAA Division I Southeast League's best defensive first team twice.

He has averaged 2+ steals per game in the past two seasons, and is a real defensive player. However, his offensive ability is limited and he averaged only 7.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in his last season of college. The roster of

13+2 is still luxurious

Of course, the Rockets cannot expect a player with a two-way contract to play a big role. It is more of a Taobao-style choice just like signing Williams before, and it is likely to be selecting players for the Vipers.

And after the offseason adjustment, the Rockets' 13-man core rotation is already luxurious enough. The success of the treasure dig will not affect the Rockets' overall competitiveness.

Potential starters: Van Jordan, Amen, Durant, Jar Jerry and Shinkyung;

8 substitutes: Shepard, Finney Smith, Ethan, Capela, Adams, Jeff Green, Holiday, Tate;

2 two-way: Kevin Harris and Cameron Matthews.

Betting on Shepard to make up for the shortcomings

It is not difficult to see from the lineup roster that the Rockets have further completed the upgrade of the inside and forward line, and the inside has three starting players, Shin Kyung, Adams and Capela.

The forward line even introduced Durant, and successfully signed substitute Finney Smith after Dillon left the team. With the growth of young players such as Jay and Ethan, the Rockets' forward and inside depth are terrifying.

In contrast, backcourt rotation has become the Rockets' only obvious weakness, and even if Van Jordan and Holiday have successively lowered their prices to stay in the team, there are still hidden dangers. The Rockets' plan is obviously to look forward to Shepard's further growth and play a bigger role in the new season to fill the shortcomings of insufficient backcourt rotation.

However, since Xia Lian's performance so far, Shepard's performance was lower than expected, especially in the second game, Shepard made only 6 of 19 shots, 1 of 7 of his best three-pointers, scored 18 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 steals, and also made 6 turnovers and 4 fouls, with a plus-minus value -26 the lowest in the game.

The only good news is that Shepard's confrontation and defense have indeed improved, so I can only expect him to find the rhythm in the future.