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Par Joël Pütz | Journaliste sportif
Houston has made a major splash in the transfer market by signing Kevin Durant, allowing new coach Ime Udoka to field a rather scary starting five at the start of the upcoming season.
For a while, it really seemed like Kevin Durant wasn’t going to leave the Suns, even though he clearly seemed on his way out. Other franchises weren’t exactly lining up to sign him, and even the Spurs eventually turned away from him, deciding he wasn’t a good fit for their project… but that’s when the Rockets came into play for the superstar.
As a result, the forward is moving from Phoenix in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft, and five second-round picks. Eighteen years after leaving the University of Texas, he’s back in the state where he shone on the NCAA courts. All with serious ambitions, as his new franchise clearly intends to be in the title race, after finishing second in the Western Conference this season.
Houston’s new starting five already identified
Of course, there’s still a need to develop a strong team chemistry, but Houston’s potential is more than promising. According to the latest reports, coach Ime Udoka has already decided on his starting five. This should allow him to prepare for the offseason with confidence and, above all, with certainty on the defensive end:
NBA Central (via X): The Houston Rockets are expected to start Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Şengün, per Sam Amick et Kelly Iko : “Team sources said there are early indications Smith will likely return to the starting lineup, with Thompson — who originally replaced Smith last season after Smith broke his hand — slotting into Green’s vacated starting spot.
The Rockets now possess ample length at four starting positions, amplifying the defensive tools Udoka now has at his disposal.”
The least we can say is that this squad has what it takes to scare a lot of NBA teams… especially on defense.
Because with such teammates around him, KD will be much more protected in his own half of the field, and that’s not a bad thing as he turns 37 in September. He will therefore be able to focus on what he does best, scoring, while H-Town lacked a true specialist in this area last year. His duo with a very gifted Sengun at point forward in particular promises to be intriguing.
