NBA: Grading every team’s 2023 offseason through the draft, free agency

Houston Rockets

Biggest offseason moves: Drafted Amen Thompson, signing Fred VanVleet, signing Dillon Brooks 

The Houston Rockets moves this offseason have left them as one of the more polarizing teams from the summer. On one hand, you can’t fault the Rockets for trying to improve the roster and successfully doing so during the offseason. On the other hand, you can’t help but wonder if these additions that they made this offseason will drastically raise their ceiling in a way where it will be looked back at as a worthwhile summer.

In a vacuum, the addition of Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks should help the Rockets win more games. There’s little to argue about that. Could they end up stunting the growth of some of their young talent? Perhaps, and that has to be the concern heading into the season. The Rockets have one of the most talented young rosters in the league, though, and adding Amen Thompson will only make their future that much brighter.

The Rockets at least tried and that’s something I’m never going to fault. The good news is that even if the VanVleet and Brooks signings flame out, they still have their young core to fall back on.

Grade: B-