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The 2020-21 NBA season is a few weeks away and training camp is underway. The Houston Rockets did the unthinkable and swapped Russell Westbrook for John Wall this offseason. There will by a new one-two punch in Houston’s backcourt and some legitimate bigs ass well in Christian Wood and DeMarcus Cousins. Can this new team make a deep run in the Western Conference, or will the Los Angeles Lakers continue to reign supreme.
Here we’re going to take a look at the Rockets’ offseason, plus look ahead to the 2020-21 season.
2020 offseason
Key additions
John Wall, PG (trade)
Christian Wood, PF (free agency)
DeMarcus Cousins, C (free agency)
Sterling Brown, SG (free agency)
Key losses
Russell Westbrook, PG (trade)
Robert Covington, SF/PF (trade)
Austin Rivers, PG/SG (free agency)
Jeff Green, PF/C (free agency)
2020-21 odds
Title odds: +3000
Win percentage: O/U
James Harden MVP odds: +1600
Russell Westbrook MVP odds: +6000
P.J. Tucker DPOTY odds: +15000
2020-21 roster
Depth Chart
PG: John Wall, James Harden, Chris Clemons
SG: James Harden, Ben McLemore, Sterling Brown
SF: Eric Gordon, Sterling Brown, Ben McLemore
PF: Christian Wood, P.J. Tucker, Kenyon Martin Jr.
C: P.J. Tucker, DeMarcus Cousins, Christian Wood
Roster battles
Backup SG: Ben McLemore vs. Sterling Brown
6th man: DeMarcus Cousins vs. Ben McLemore
Fantasy basketball
Best Sleeper
Christian Wood — Wood got to show what he’s really made of last season after Andre Drummond was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and could be a legit 20-10 big man who can stretch the floor by rattling home an occasional three. He should emerge as Houston’s third-best player and could average a double-double play alongside two elite pick-and-roll ball handlers.
Likely Bust
Eric Gordon — Gordon averaged less than 15 points per game for the first time since 2014 last season and Houston has gotten even more talented on offense by adding Wood and Cousins. While health issues affected his play in 2019-20 I don’t see him being an impact player because of Houston’s boost in scoring talent in the frontcourt.