The Rockets signed five marginal players in one breath, including three players who participated in the league for the Rockets and two marginal players with certain strength. For the Rockets, their main reinforcement goal seems to be no longer an inside player such as a power forward or a center.
Look at the five new players signed by the Rockets. Williams is a defender and can also be a guest small forward. Generally speaking, he is an outside player. German small forward Orbisi is a standard small forward and he is also an outside player. The players Samuel, Mel and Hinton who participated in the summer league for the Rockets are basically small forwards or outside shooters. That is to say, the five new players signed by the Rockets are all guards+forwards. For the Rockets, there are actually enough backcourt players, especially front players, but there are not many players in the inside position.
Next season, the main center of the Rockets should be Shen Jing, while the main power forward of the Rockets is jabari Smith. In addition, the backup center of the Rockets should be Jock Landale, a big man from Australia. These three inside towers should be the pillars of the Rockets’ inside. Besides the three towers, Ethan of the Rockets can be the power forward, and all-rounders like Tate and Whitmore can also make guest appearances as power forwards in a small lineup, and they have achieved quite good results in both the regular season and the summer league.
Although the Rockets don’t have many center players, it has to be said that the inside players of the Rockets are very comprehensive, and Shen Jing can be both a center and a guest power forward. Smith is a standard power forward/center swingman, and Landale is also a swingman. Although his main position is the inside guard, his position in the Rockets should be very flexible.
Shen Jing has low singles and beautiful passing skills, while jabari Smith is the best space three-pointer of the Rockets and an excellent basket protector. Although Landale’s shooting ability is average and his technique is rough, he is good at fighting and is a rare "destroyer" in the Rockets’ interior.
The Rockets signed five outside players at once, which proves that in the view of the management of the Rockets, their inside players are enough, three towers are the leading players, and some forward players can guest play inside positions. Moreover, Days, the two-way contract forward of the Rockets, is also a surprise soldier. If necessary, Days can play the role of the third striker/center of the Rockets.
At present, the Rockets’ inside line has no short board for the time being, and they can attack and defend against low singles and pass the ball. The outside line is the position that the Rockets have always wanted to reinforce, which is why the Rockets signed five players at once. Through the screening of training camp, I believe that the Rockets will eventually leave the players they need. To say the least, even if five players are not suitable, the Rockets have nothing to lose by giving them up.