The Rockets beat Green for Durant, and Tanhua renewed his contract at a low price. Can the new lineup really win the championship?

Recently, the Rockets made a big move, signing several key players in one go, and using Jaylen Green for Durant. This matter is quite interesting. After all, Jaylen Green was the second best player three years ago. Now he is directly sent away as a bargaining chip. He is replaced by a 36-year-old veteran. Many fans think the Rockets are crazy. But looking at the contract and team plans carefully may really make sense.

The Rockets first signed Jabbarry Smith for five years and 122 million yuan. The child is only 22 years old. He averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds per game last season, and his shooting percentage is about 35%. The contract looks pretty cost-effective, because his salary is only 12 million next season, and it will slowly rise in the next few years, and by the fifth year it will only be more than 20 million. If he can make further progress, the contract will be profitable. Then they renewed their contracts with VanVleet and Adams. VanVleet has 50 million in two years and Adams has 39 million in three years, both of which are cost-effective choices.

The most important thing is to exchange Jaylen Green and Dillon Brooks for Durant. Jaylen Green has a three-year contract of 100 million. The Rockets directly get rid of this burden and get a super scorer who averages 26 points per game. Durant is 36 years old, but his shooting percentage can still remain above 50%, and his real shooting percentage is close to 65%, which is better than many young players. If the Rockets can keep him, it should be fine to play in the playoffs next season.

The Rockets' starting lineup will probably be Van Vleet, Thompson, Durant, Smith and Shin Kyung. Substitutes include veterans like Adams and Jeff Green, plus young people like Ethan. This lineup has a good defense, and Durant's offensive ability can make up for the defense weaknesses of the front line. However, Durant is old and whether he can stay healthy is a question. If he is injured, the Rockets may be in vain. The Rockets are also planning to renew their contracts with role players like Tate and Holiday. If Durant is willing to cut his salary, they can sign another point guard. The free market has not yet opened, and the Rockets have done so many operations, and there may be some actions later. However, the team has a lot of money on the books now. After all, it has thrown away Jaylen Green's big contract. Next, it depends on whether you can find a suitable reinforcement goal. If the Rockets lineup can be well matched, they should have a chance to play in the top four in the Western Conference next season. But Durant is old after all, and whether Smith can improve is also a question mark. The Rockets are now betting on Durant's peak in the last few years, and with the growth of young players, can they get together to achieve good results?