The Rockets might be overmatched in the West
Considering where the Houston Rockets finished this season, you could make the case that the team will enter next season as the sixth or seventh best team in the Western Conference. Add in two or three teams in the Eastern Conference, you could make the case that the Rockets are just the ninth or 10th best team in the NBA.
Generally, teams within that range have little-to-no chance of winning an NBA championship. Knowing how the Rockets do business if there’s really no chance of winning a championship over the next couple of seasons, what point would it be to continue down this road?
The Rockets might’ve missed their opportunity to win a championship and (in my opinion) that door was completely shut when they traded Paul for Westbrook. Nevertheless, Houston has some big decisions to make.
If the Houston Rockets really want to make a splash, it will almost certainly have to begin with placing James Harden on the trade block. At this point, however, it still feels like James Harden is still in the plans of the Rockets. Though, as is always the case in the NBA, that could change on a dime.