Are Houston Rockets Biggest Threat to OKC Thunder?

The NBA offseason brings renewed hope as teams reset their records and work to improve rosters for the upcoming season. As the offseason progresses into August, it's time to evaluate the winners and losers.

The Houston Rockets are highlighted as one of the biggest offseason winners. They acquired Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Clint Capela, while losing Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. The team also anticipates significant improvement from young players Amen Thompson, Alperen Şengün, and Jabari Smith.

Houston won 52 games last season, earning the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors in seven games. Their postseason struggles exposed a lack of a reliable go-to scorer.

The Rockets believe they have addressed this need by adding the 36-year-old Kevin Durant. Despite his age, Durant remains an elite scorer, averaging 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game last season with efficient shooting percentages (52% FG, 43% 3PT, 83% FT). Houston's proven regular-season capability should allow them to manage Durant's workload to keep him ready for the playoffs, making them a formidable playoff team.

Other additions are also significant. While past his prime, Dorian Finney-Smith is expected to contribute as the Rockets' third or fourth-best defender, focusing on being a defensive pest without excessive responsibility. He also provides shooting, hitting 41% from three-point range last season, including 45% from the corners and 40% on catch-and-shoot attempts.

Under coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets are expected to navigate the integration of their new roster quickly. Despite potential early challenges managing a crowded frontcourt rotation, they are projected to solidify as legitimate contenders by season's end.

Looking at the Western Conference hierarchy, the Oklahoma City Thunder enter as reigning champions and favorites. However, the Denver Nuggets, bolstered by their own offseason moves and led by Nikola Jokić alongside players like Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, are positioned as the primary challengers to the Thunder and the second-best team in the West.

While not yet on the Thunder's level as the top rival, the Rockets are firmly placed as the third-best team in the Western Conference among realistic championship contenders, alongside the Thunder and Nuggets.