Where does everyone fit in?
If you’re an avid reader of The Dream Shake, you’ve probably seen us tier the Houston Rockets roster based off of performance before. This shouldn’t be anything new, but I am adding a twist to the tier system in this season’s preliminary tier. Since it’s still only the preseason and there’s not much to gauge performance off, today, we’re going to be tiering the roster based on role expectations for this season.
Without further hesitation…
Alpha Tier
N/A
Think about this tier as your standard S Tier. It’s for the cream of the crop, someone who is a true alpha dog and worthy of being a franchise-level player. While the Rockets have a lot of individuals that are talented enough to rise here, claiming a spot on top of the hierarchy will be incredibly tough. The level of excellence that is required to be here will require consistency, domination, and an acknowledged sense around the league that this player is a bonafide star.
Lean on me Tier
Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet
Consider this as the A Tier. If you polled NBA personnel, fans, knowers of the game etc., chances are they’d say one of these three guys is the best player on the team. The tape doesn’t lie. Each has played a major role in their time with the Rockets and team success is dependent on them keeping the ship afloat.
Green and Sengun are the obvious candidates for raising their play to the alpha tier, but VanVleet has shown the ability to rise to the occasion when needed. VanVleet wasn’t brought to Houston to be the face of the franchise, but he’ll need to continue to play above average ball if the Rockets intend to continue upon this upwards trend.
Burgeoning Tier
Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore
Everyone in this group is fresh faced and on the cusp of making a big leap. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the names here make a case that they have “lean on me” potential, but we know that can’t be the case given that there’s only one ball. However, significant contributions can be made elsewhere. Defense, playmaking, rebounding will all lend to creating a strong and well-balanced infrastructure that Houston needs to prosper.
If anyone can step up to the next group this year, all eyes should focus in on Smith. He’s quietly getting better and while he may not be the focus of the offense, his combination of size and shooting provides a set of traits that are unique for this team.
Thompson and Whitmore are candidates for upward movement as well, but it’s okay if they linger in this tier for what is only their second seasons.
Glue Guy Tier
Steven Adams and Dillon Brooks
This is self-explanatory. These guys are here for defensive toughness. There’s no need to overcomplicate things. Adams is the big that will relieve the pressure off Sengun’s back, and Brooks’ role is to make life tough for the oppositions’ best player. If Brooks can live within his means, he will continue to pay off as a good investment.
Break in Case of Emergency Tier
Jeff Green, Aaron Holiday, Jock Landale and Jae’Sean Tate
It’s not as if Ime Udoka will hesitate to use members from this group, in fact, he will likely rely upon them heavily, but it’s clear that these are depth pieces. The players in the burgeoning tier have been drafted to ultimately take the minutes from this group, it’s just more of a question about when.
With that being said, in the circumstance that the Rockets have injuries or Udoka prefers a veteran presence, any one of these guys is eligible for glue guy consideration.
On the Bubble Tier
N’Faly Dante, Nate Hinton, Thon Maker, Jack McVeigh, Markquis Nowell, Jermaine Samuels Jr. and Nate Williams
This tier is legitimately the bubble tier. With 14 players already having solidified spots on the roster, these guys are fighting for the last spot on the bench. That last spot is the difference between being on the big club and trying to make it the G-League. Samuels, Hinton and Williams have the inside track after spending time with the team last year, but training camp and preseason will give the newcomers their best opportunity as a dark horse.
So there you have it, our first tier of the season. We’ll check in midseason to see what has transpired and readjust from there.