3 basic salary, leaving 3 veterans? The Rockets create a practical 3-line team, and Manager Stone is very smart

No player of the Rockets was selected into the Best Team this season. Although it was a bit regrettable, it also highlighted that the Rockets' tactical system is basically based on team basketball. Jaylen Green averaged 21 points per game in the offensive end. In the entire league, the average average of only 21 points by the first scorer is a pretty low data, but the Rockets won a lot of games with such a team basketball and finally locked in second in the Western Conference. There is no problem with the tactics like this in the regular season. The Rockets have 7 players who averaged double-digit points per game in the regular season, which means that the Rockets have no major scoring point at all. Instead, whoever feels better will shoot more and score more points. Therefore, the Rockets will not make the offensive end abnormal because of a certain player's poor condition, but in the playoffs, such tactical styles have huge problems - the Rockets lack superstars and no player who can end the score. This is also an important reason why the Rockets are invincible in the regular season but are eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

In fact, the Rockets don't need to think too much about the playoffs next season. The top priority is to consider how to establish a system and lineup that will be effective in the regular season next season. News from the Rockets that renewing Adams' contract and keeping Van Vreet are the two primary tasks. Secondly, the Rockets also need to give two young players, Whitmore and Shepard, more opportunities to play next season, so that they can show themselves. After all, in the playoffs, the Rockets need these talented offensive rookies to score for the team.

In addition, the Rockets need to leave three veterans. Rockets shooter Aaron Holiday, as well as two forwards with expiring contracts, Tate and Jeff Green, are all the targets the Rockets want to stay. Currently, Holiday is in the team option, it depends on whether the Rockets are willing to execute his annual salary of 4.9 million in the second year; and Jeff Green and Jayshaun Tate have expired their contracts and have become free agents.

According to Rockets' team reporter Kelly Iko, although the Rockets will reuse Shepard next season, Holiday is still the player the Rockets need to stay. The Rockets also need to first look at the composition of the lineup and the market trends before making a decision - they may also renew the contract between two veterans, Jeff Green and Tate, but the possibility that these two veterans will eventually get from the Rockets is probably just a basic salary contract.

In other words, Holiday, Tate and Jeff Green are likely to play for the Rockets in the end, but they can only get a basic salary contract. Although Holiday's annual salary of 4.9 million is slightly higher than its basic salary, in this alliance with large contracts, such a contract is almost a basic salary.

Next season, young Rockets players will have more playing time, and Shepard and Whitmore will replace these veterans into the second team, so Holiday, Jeff Green and Tate are very likely to become members of the Rockets' third team. Although playing time may drop significantly, the third lineup they support is also quite practical. In addition to the three, the Rockets' third lineup also includes shooter Ginathan Williams and center Jock Landale. The configuration of this third lineup is in the lead in the entire league's third lineup.

So, Manager Stone is very smart and provides a basic salary contract to Jeff Green and Tate. The Rockets can save about 10 million in salary space, and the overall strength of the Rockets' third lineup will be improved. Once the Rockets' rotation lineup is injured or players are absent, then the players in the third lineup will be able to play a role immediately.