When the Rockets open training camp next month, they will have at least five new faces on the roster, with at least four of those players expected to play significant roles during the season. It’s now the third consecutive offseason during which the team has made major personnel changes, though this year, the additions are largely by way of draft picks acquired through trades.
The Rockets made four first-round picks last month, selecting guards Jalen Green and Josh Christopher, forward Usman Garuba and center Alperen Sengun. Such a large haul would have been notable for any NBA team, much less one that in recent history had made a practice of trading away its pick each year, either for established players or as part of salary dumps for financial concerns.