When you are a rebuilding team like the Houston Rockets, the here and now aren’t as important as the future. The Rockets, of course, are all about the future, with four first-round picks playing for the team at different points this year. The later in the year it gets, especially after the trade deadline, you start to see rebuilding teams play their younger players more and more.
The Rockets drafted Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Usman Garuba, and Josh Christopher. Two of these players have played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets’ G- League affiliate. Christopher has played well enough to have a role on the Rockets and only played a few games.
Garuba had been out with an injury but wasn’t getting a lot of time with the Rockets because of the current log jam at center. This, however, isn’t the only young prospects the Rockets should be keeping their eyes on this upcoming season. There are 32 more games left in the regular season for the Vipers and plenty of opportunities to watch some of their young talent.
