"Even before it landed Kevin Durant, Houston had embraced a surprising strategy for escaping the depths of despair. It paid above market value for NBA champion point guard Fred VanVleet, invested in a veteran wing in Dillon Brooks, and prioritized size and versatility from thereon out-ultimately resulting in 52 wins and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference."
"The obvious concern is that the Rockets will struggle to find playing time for five different starting-caliber forwards. It's an especially alarming possibility when one considers that both Durant and Thompson are star-caliber talents who will command significant minutes on their own. Much as Houston has found a way to navigate the challenges of a forward-heavy rotation, however, Toronto has an opportunity to do the same."
Toronto invested heavily in size and wing versatility, raising concern that the team may struggle to create cohesion and allocate minutes effectively. Houston pursued a similar plan, paying premium value for Fred VanVleet, adding Dillon Brooks, and prioritizing larger, versatile players, which helped produce 52 wins and a No. 2 Western Conference seed. The Rockets will enter 2025-26 with a surplus of forwards including Kevin Durant, Tari Eason, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson, creating playing-time challenges. Toronto can emulate Houston’s rotations to manage a crowded forward group while keeping strong starters productive.
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