Mid-Season Report Card: Rockets

It looks like Houston is headed towards the lottery, and Oladipo's future is unclear. The James Harden effect has put them in sell and rebuild mode.

Houston's struggles prove Christian Wood is essential

Their roster is not good enough to compete in the Western Conference even with Christian Wood, but the Rockets are losers of 13 straight headed into the All-Star break.

Christian Wood gave them a lot of strength and his output translated into some wins for the Rockets, and when he went out, the Rockets couldn't ascend the atmosphere of winning basketball games.

His averages are 22 points and 10 boards per game, and his athleticism and offensive skill set showed even when Harden was playing for them early this season. Injuries plagued the Rockets during the entirety of this season so far, but none were as damning for them as Wood's.

John Wall's future

The future of John Wall on the Rockets is very up in the air, considering his drop off in athleticism and production. In the direction Houston is headed, Wall is not going to be instrumental for them, and will probably be dealt soon if they look to rebuild.

He has proven a continued ability to score, but is averaging 30% less assists than his career numbers. Maybe he can head to a real contender for the first time in his career.

Deadline

PJ Tucker will definitely be headed to a contender before the trade deadline whether in a buyout situation or a trade for future picks. Eric Gordon hasn't been mentioned as much, but similar to Wall, should be dealt to a contender.

The Rockets have a bright future ahead of them with Wood and KPJ, but won't be good for a few years.

Grade

D