How’d We Get Here?

The Rockets pushed all their chips in on small-ball, dealing away Clint Capela and landing Robert Covington. While Houston looked incredibly dangerous at their best, they unfortunately were nowhere near that form in the postseason. Russell Westbrook’s COVID diagnosis and quad strain kept him from finding a rhythm and he was ultimately a destructive force in Houston’s second-round defeat at the hands of the Lakers. Both Daryl Morey and Mike D’Antoni decided not to return and the Rockets are now left with a unique roster that no longer has the guidance of its architects. James Harden’s elite play gives Houston a solid floor but there will once again be plenty of questions to answer.

Unless, of course, Harden wants out. The Rockets hired a bright first-time coach in Stephen Silas but all of the front office turnover, likely brought about by ownership’s financial concerns, have Houston pointed towards a rebuild. Russell Westbrook kicked off the offseason by asking to be traded somewhere where he could play his old top dog role, and Harden started asking about Brooklyn, where he could team up with his superstar buddies, or Philly, where he could reunite with Morey. The Rockets look like a team that wants to rebalance the roster in a more traditional way, dealing Covington before the draft, so all bets are off. Dealing Harden seems unthinkable and still may not happen, but this is where we’re at.

Adding Christian Wood was a glimmer of hope but the Rockets started to tweak it with the future in mind, dealing Westbrook and his ugly contract to Washington for John Wall and his equally ugly contract (with bonus injury risk!) and a first-rounder. And so it begins.

Offseason Moves

Arrivals: John Wall, Sterling Brown, Christian Wood, DeMarcus Cousins, Gerald Green, Jerian Grant, Kenny Wooten (2W)
Rookie Arrivals: No. 52 Kenyon Martin Jr., UDFA Mason Jones (2W)
Departures: Russell Westbrook, Robert Covington, Jeff Green, Austin Rivers, Thabo Sefolosha, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Tyson Chandler
Retained: Bruno Caboclo

Depth Chart and Minutes Per Game

PG: John Wall (30-33) / Chris Clemons (0, 10-20) / Mason Jones
SG: James Harden (35.5-36.5) / Ben McLemore (20-27) / Gerald Green
SF: Eric Gordon (28-31) / Sterling Brown (18-27) / Jae’Sean Tate / David Nwaba
PF: P.J. Tucker (31-33) / Danuel House (26-30) / Bruno Caboclo / Kenyon Martin Jr.
C: Christian Wood (26-32) / DeMarcus Cousins (20-26) / Kenny Wooten

Position Battles

Everything here is going to depend on what happens with James Harden, so keep that in mind. Assuming Harden comes back…

Point Guard: John Wall will take over the starting PG role and it’ll be interesting to see how he takes to a role that requires him to defer rather than engage in some give-and-take. Harden will get some minutes as the lead ball-handler but Chris Clemons is likely to be the nominal backup point guard.

Shooting Guard: Harden’s getting all he can handle. Eric Gordon slots in at SG in certain lineups and Ben McLemore should be checking in to chuck threes as well. Gerald Green might be able to outdo McLemore in that department but after a year on the shelf we’d bet that he’s got to earn anything he gets.

Small Forward: Gordon could be starting but if not, Danuel House is the favorite to handle the role. Newcomers Jae’Sean Tate, Sterling Brown and David Nwaba will be picking up minutes off the bench and all offer some defensive chops, so that could be a battle to see who’s playing every night.

Power Forward: P.J. Tucker will hold it down, as usual, though it’ll be interesting to see what his role looks like now that he won’t be playing center in a small-ball petri dish. House and Nwaba could fit in as options in whatever smaller lineups the Rockets cook up, with Bruno Caboclo available on the fringes of the rotation. It’s also possible that Houston makes a hard pivot and goes with Christian Wood at PF and DeMarcus Cousins at C, though that puts Tucker in enough of an awkward spot that they will probably avoid angering him further.

Center: Wood’s big deal means he’s the answer here, with Cousins settling into a reserve role given his injury history and career trajectory. Caboclo could factor in off the bench, which would be extremely fun, but he hasn’t proven much at the NBA level and probably wouldn’t be a big component of the center rotation while the Rockets are playing games that matter. Two-way contract holder Kenny Wooten is an elite shot-blocker that could fit certain lineups as well.

Outlook

*Note that the fantasy values/games played are indicative of the official fantasy season; they do not include the NBA restart in Orlando

Per-Game Value: 1 / 2 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 1 / 1 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 61

2019-20 Review: Attention customers: James Harden is good. He cruised to the crown in fantasy yet again, and this time he did it while there were some questions surrounding his fit next to Russell Westbrook. The Beard ended up sacrificing a little usage and didn’t lead the league in the category for the first time in three seasons, but everything else was pretty much normal. His rebounds dipped from 6.6 to 6.4 and his assists fell from 7.5 to 7.4, but it was Westbrook whose volume stats took the heaviest hit. Harden, who has always been criticized for his defense, managed 1.7 steals and a career-high 0.9 blocks to boot. Add in league-high marks of 34.4 points and 4.4 3-pointers per game (both somehow decreases from 2018-19), and Harden was once again atop the pile.

This Year: The latest playoff failure led to huge organizational changes and might’ve soured Harden on his future with the Rockets. It’s clear that Harden is definitely not just a product of Mike D’Antoni’s system, but if he ends up in Brooklyn we’ll see what it’s like for Beard playing with two players of his talent and mentality. Whether he stays or goes, it will once again be another season where everyone’s watching for how Harden adjusts to something new. Odds are he’s going to cook just the same, with the superteam outcome providing the least clarity among the options.

Injury History: Harden missed two games with a bruised left thigh and one with a sprained right toe, though that absence came on the second leg of a back-to-back following a 44-point game. Forgive us for being skeptical there.

In 2018-19 The Beard missed three games with a left hamstring strain and one with a neck problem but was otherwise healthy, memorably playing through an eye injury in the postseason. The season before last saw him miss seven games with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He’s one of the lower-risk guys at the top of draft boards, which definitely helps his case as a perennial top pick.

Outlook: The whole trade business makes this less of a slam dunk than usual, but he’s a surefire top-2 pick and probably gets the top spot with Anthony Davis’ rest risk on a short turnaround.

Per-Game Value: 124 / 117 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 87 / 83 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 62

2019-20 Review: After years of monster G League numbers and impressive play in spot NBA minutes, Wood found a situation that allowed him to put his skills on full display. It still took a little while, with Wood initially battling for minutes with Sekou Doumbouya, Markieff Morris and Thon Maker behind Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond, but when Wood got his opportunity he made the most of it.

After many savvy fantasy GMs stashed Wood for the long haul, he crushed in February and closed the season with a full month of top-40 value. Rising into the starting five was like rocket fuel for his stat line; Wood averaged 18.2 minutes, 10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.9 blocks and 0.7 threes on .571 shooting as a reserve and 34.7 minutes, 21.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.6 threes on .560 shooting as a starter.

This Year: Wood agreed to a three-year, $41 million deal with the Rockets, giving Houston’s fans a rare bright spot in an ugly offseason. He’s a true modern forward; capable of stepping out and hitting threes while also showing good rim-protection skills, with athleticism to cover multiple positions. One wouldn’t think that it’s a situation that’s as fantasy-friendly as the bombed-out Detroit roster, but Wood should be getting plenty of minutes and Houston’s one (or two) phone calls away from looking like one of the worst teams in the league on-paper. Sadly, he won’t be sneaking up on most fantasy players this time around.

Injury History: Wood tested positive for COVID-19 and missed two games due to a left knee bone bruise but has otherwise been healthy in his NBA career.

Outlook: Wood’s ADP started insane and could get crazier throughout draft season, but he’s going to get every opportunity to earn that contract and should be able to deliver top-50 output as a pick-and-roll partner for two superstar guards on a team with no frontcourt depth to speak of.

Per-Game Value: — / — (8/9-cat)

Total Value: — / — (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 0

2019-20 Review: Wall didn’t play at all last season, though he said he was feeling good by the end of the year and declared himself 110% by the time the Wizards reconvened for their bubble games. Unsurprisingly, the organization took it slowly with Wall after he tore his left Achilles while recovering from another left heel surgery.

This Year: Wall was back playing 4-on-4 in practices in January and was scrimmaging with the Wizards’ G League affiliate in March, so hopefully he can hit the ground running. It’s tough to say how much Wall will be affected by the surgeries and layoff, as his game is predicated on speed and athleticism. A trade request was granted and landed him in Houston, where he’ll now need to share the ball with James Harden. All due respect to Bradley Beal, but adjusting to Harden takes way more work than dealing with Beal, and Wall’s now going to have to deal with not handling the ball constantly — without his organizational cachet cranking the volume on his voice.

Injury History: Anyone coming off such a significant injury is going to be a major injury risk, and Wall is no different. Wall played through bone spurs in his left heel for much of the 2018-19 season. It had been a multi-year issue but it ultimately became too much to bear, with Wall undergoing season-ending surgery on his left heel. He was given a 6-to-8 month timetable, only to suffer a torn left Achilles in a home accident while recovering from the first procedure.

He also had to get knee surgery for a cartilage tear after the 2017-18 season and has more problems in his history beyond that, including missing a big chunk of 2012-13 after he was found to have “early stages of a stress injury” in his left knee and a left hand/wrist injury in 2014-15. In 2016 he underwent surgery for left knee tendinosis and dealt with a sore quad and a left foot sprain.

Outlook: Wall is a tough fit with Harden in Houston, and while Stephen Silas can stagger their minutes to keep both happy, it’s clear that Wall has no claim to being the top dog like he might’ve had in Washington. Already a middle-round guy at best as a returning member of the Wizards, you can knock Wall down another couple rounds on draft boards. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him go out of the top-100.

Per-Game Value: 123 / 102 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 80 / 68 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 64

2019-20 Review: Tucker always brings it on the court but took a step back in fantasy, where two of his money stats led to a slide down the rankings. The 3-and-D dynamo saw his 3-pointers fall from 1.8 to 1.5 per game and his steals plummet from 1.6 to 1.1, and there were some particularly rough stretches where Tucker ended up outside the top-200. He did close the fantasy season with a more recognizable top-100 spurt of play, and more minutes as a small-ball center did allow Tucker to post a new career-high with 6.9 rebounds per game. The peaks and valleys made it frustrating, but Tucker once again outperformed his ADP — just not to the extent that anyone hoped.

This Year: Tucker, reportedly irate about his contract situation, may get caught in the crossfire of Houston’s potential pivot. While it seems like they want to get bigger, Tucker should still be a key player for them on the defensive end of the floor. His offense is very limited but he brings the Rockets some toughness and swagger, as well as the basic spacing that every team needs. Houston shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken, but maybe they already have by refusing to give Tucker his new deal. If he ends up on the market there will be no shortage of suitors.

Injury History: Tucker hasn’t missed a game due to injury over the last five seasons and missed just eight games over the three seasons prior to that. Absences might start popping up because of how hard he plays and his age, but Tucker’s fairly low-risk.

Outlook: Tucker’s getting up there at 35, and if there’s any hope for him it’s that fewer minutes at center should lead to some more threes and steals. He’s a late-round guy at this point with Houston leaning towards more traditional play.

Per-Game Value: 232 / 232 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 283 / 282 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 34

2019-20 Review: The bottom appeared to drop out last year, as Gordon’s thin stat set finally ran into some poor luck. He began the year in a vicious shooting slump and then got hurt, putting him behind the eight ball even when he was able to return. When the fantasy season stopped Gordon was averaging 14.5 points and 2.7 threes (good) on .370 from the field and .319 from deep (horrid). After knocking down 3.2 triples per contest in each of his first two years with Houston, Gordon fell down to good-but-not-elite territory, which wiped him off the standard-league map considering the poor percentages and lack of production in other categories.

This Year: Gordon should be betting on some positive regression and will still play an important role for the Rockets whether he starts or comes off the bench. Better health should also lead to a less choppy season and hopefully some more consistent performance.

Injury History: Last year saw Gordon miss 22 games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. He also missed three games with a left leg contusion, two with right knee soreness, one with a right knee contusion and one with left hamstring soreness in the original season before missing six games in the bubble with a sprained left ankle.

Gordon missed eight games with a right knee contusion and three with a right adductor strain as his chunk absences in the 2018-19 season, though he missed two other games as a result of knee soreness. In 2017-18 he got dinged up with knee, back, calf and ankle injuries and Gordon also has two finger fractures, a torn labrum and a litany of knee problems from earlier in his career on record. Some absences should definitely be expected.

Outlook: The Rockets will still ask Gordon to score in the second unit but the light may not be as green as it was under Mike D’Antoni. With decreasing volume a safe bet, Gordon’s going to need to do his damage efficiently to stay on the radar. We wouldn’t bother drafting him in standard formats.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: 133 / 105 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 119 / 93 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 58

2019-20 Review: House became a vital part of Houston’s small-ball approach after showing flashes of production in 2018-19. This past season, he was a full-time contributor, making 52 starts in his 63 appearances (47 in 58 in the official fantasy season). House set career-highs across the board with a line of 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.9 3-pointers in 30.0 mpg. Often overlooked for fantasy, House’s 3-and-D game pumped out late-round numbers with decent consistency given how thin the Rockets rotation was at times. Unfortunately his season ended on a terrible note, as he was kicked out of the bubble for breaking protocol and inviting a guest to his room.

This Year: House is signed to a bargain of a contract and should be considered the favorite to start at small forward, depending on how the Rockets retool the roster in the offseason. It might not be a pure 3-and-D think tank anymore, but House’s game fits the modern NBA well, which will hopefully insulate him from things to a certain degree.

Injury History: House missed three games with a back bruise, one with a sore left shoulder, two for an illness and three with a left toe sprain last year. In 2018-19 he hit the injury report with some left knee soreness but didn’t miss significant time.

Outlook: House has a little more competition for minutes this season but it’s not as though the Rockets went out and got some definite wing upgrades, so he should be a viable late-round pick if you’re willing to ride the waves.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: 221 / 200 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 181 / 165 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 63

2019-20 Review: After spending the back half of the 2018-19 season without a job, McLemore thrived as a part of Houston’s 3-point barrage. He jumped over 200 spots in the fantasy rankings year over year, thanks largely to 9.8 points, 0.6 steals and 2.4 triples in 22.8 mpg on a respectable .445 from the field. It was the first season where McLemore shot over .437 from the floor and he set a new career-high in threes to boot, fitting in nicely with a three-centric Rockets offense.

This Year: McLemore will fill a similar gunner role off the bench for the Rockets, and while the new coach might tweak things a bit, there should be plenty of open threes available to him yet again.

Injury History: McLemore missed one game last year for gastroenteritis but was otherwise healthy. A Jones fracture in his right foot pretty much washed his 2017-18 campaign away when it looked like he might start at SG for the Grizzlies. McLemore also broke a finger on his left hand five seasons ago.

Outlook: McLemore’s worth a look if you’re in a deeper league and on the lookout for some cheap 3-pointers. There could be lots of shots to go around.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: — / — (8/9-cat)

Total Value: — / — (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 0

2019-20 Review: Cousins sat out all of last season after suffering a torn ACL in an offseason workout. Initially a member of the Lakers, Boogie was waived opted to sit out the restart to focus on rehab. The last time we saw him on the court he was looking surprisingly spry in the Finals against Toronto despite coming off an Achilles tear.

This Year: Cousins signed a one-year deal with the Rockets as they continued their quest to field a more traditional roster while saving Tilman Fertitta some money. It’s a low-risk deal and while Cousins’ camp always has the media talking about how great he looks, there are significant questions he needs to answer. Boogie has a chance to start at center if he really does look healthy and it’s a situation with crazy upside and minimal risk.

Injury History: Cousins is coming off a torn left ACL suffered in August of 2019, having previously recovered from a torn left Achilles sustained in January of 2018. There are other injuries on the books but they pale in comparison to those two.

Outlook: The name value inflates the draft price, as usual, but the real question is how much Cousins gets to play his style of game next to James Harden and Russell Westbrook — and that’s assuming he’s healthy/mobile enough to carve out a real role. Boogie was a low-cost gamble for the Rockets and that’s what he should be for fantasy GMs too, with top-150 output far from a guarantee.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: 333 / 337 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 300 / 305 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 45

2019-20 Review: Brown was in and out of Milwaukee’s rotation as a backup forward who brought some decent energy to the mix. He averaged 14.8 mpg, down from 2018-19, and shot a career-low .324 from distance, so Brown didn’t do much in the box score.

This Year: Brown signed a one-year deal with the Rockets, who may have a ton of minutes available by opening night. He should be getting bench minutes either way, likely behind the likes of Danuel House and Eric Gordon. There’s some upside but it isn’t totally in Brown’s control.

Injury History: Brown missed four games with an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder last season and missed about a month with a right wrist sprain in 2018-19.

Outlook: Brown’s someone that can fly under the radar a bit and is a nice dart throw at the end of 14-16-team drafts. The wing group in Houston isn’t super inspiring and Brown will have a chance to get consistent minutes for a team that’s trying to cut costs.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: — / — (8/9-cat)

Total Value: — / — (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 0

2019-20 Review: Green sat out all of last season with a broken left foot that he suffered in the preseason. He was cleared to play by June but wasn’t on a team and opted to sit out the restart.

This Year: Green lands back with the Rockets on a one-year deal, where he’s always been a fan favorite as a hometown guy. He’ll come off the bench and chuck up shots like he never left.

Injury History: The broken left foot is the big one. In 2018-19 Green missed four games with separate right ankle issues and five with a strained right adductor.

Outlook: Green’s a deep-league 3-point specialist at his best and isn’t guaranteed to be in the rotation.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: 376 / 356 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 327 / 320 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 41

2019-20 Review: Sefolosha was an end-of-bench contributor for the Rockets but his lack of offensive touch prevented him from being more than a bit player. There was a little deep-league appeal in Sefolosha’s 0.6 steals and 0.3 blocks in 10.6 mpg, but obviously that was only interesting in times of true desperation. He opted out of the league’s restart, so it will have been a long time since his last competitive minutes by the time this season rolls around.

This Year: Sefolosha is a free agent who will try and find work as a situational defender on some team’s bench.

Injury History: No injury report appearances for anything other than illness last year. Sefolosha missed over a month with a right hamstring strain in 2018-19, as well as five games due to suspension. In 2017-18 he missed a big chunk of time with a sprained right MCL and later underwent surgery. The year before that he dealt with groin and knee issues, and he also has a broken leg in his history courtesy of the NYPD.

Outlook: Sefolosha won’t be a fantasy option no matter where he ends up.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: 309 / 290 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 369 / 358 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 20

2019-20 Review: Nwaba made a strong impression in Brooklyn, standing out thanks to his size and competitiveness and earning a spot in Kenny Atkinson’s rotation. Unfortunately a torn Achilles ended his campaign, but Nwaba was able to land on his feet by signing a two-year deal with the Rockets. A low-usage player, he racked up his limited fantasy value thanks to a .521 mark from the field plus 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocks in 13.4 mpg. While he’ll never be known for offense, it should be noted that Nwaba managed 0.6 triples per contest on .429 from deep, showing some improvement.

This Year: Nwaba figures to be brought along slowly as he recovers from his serious injury, though when healthy he’ll be able to fill in as a versatile defensive forward. Maybe like a diet Jeff Green type, with less shooting potential and more defensive numbers.

Injury History: Nwaba’s season was ended by a torn right Achilles. In 2018-19 he missed 18 straight games because of a left ankle sprain and a handful more to right knee soreness. He missed around a month due to a right ankle sprain in the season prior as well.

Outlook: Nwaba doesn’t have the stiffest competition for minutes but will still have to earn a role. He could threaten top-200 numbers if everything (everything) breaks his way but Nwaba isn’t a guy that needs to be on draft boards unless you’re going past 250 players.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: 374 / 355 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 371 / 360 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 27

2019-20 Review: Caboclo failed to build off a solid finish to the 2018-19 season when he was soaking up minutes on a thin Grizzlies squad. He was largely out of the rotation, logging more than 10 minutes in just eight games all year, and was traded to the Rockets at the deadline. There was some hope that he could grow into a small-ball center role but he only appeared in five games with the Rockets prior to the bubble. The per-minute production — 0.4 steals and 0.6 blocks in 8.1 mpg — stayed interesting, though Bruno shot .143 from deep in his limited action. No longer two years away from being two years away, perhaps Caboclo is just permanently away.

This Year: Caboclo re-signed with the Rockets, who might actually have some minutes to offer with the way they’re leaning towards a more traditional model of hoops.

Injury History: Caboclo missed about five weeks with a left knee bone bruise, his first injury of note in pro ball.

Outlook: The Rockets have minutes available and Caboclo could even fill in as a small-ball center. Those of you who can’t resist the siren song can consider Bruno a deep-league flier, but we’re talking 24 teams and beyond unless he’s playing with real lineups in training camp.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: — / — (8/9-cat)

Total Value: — / — (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 0

2019-20 Review: Tate spent last year with the Sydney Kings after four years at Ohio State. He put up 16.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks and 0.7 threes in 27.5 mpg while hitting .658 from the field and .373 from distance with the Kings, drawing praise for his versatility and toughness.

This Year: There’s a lot of unanswered questions in Houston and Tate could be part of the solution on the wings, though odds are he’ll still need to refine his game under the purview of an NBA development staff. He could’ve picked a worse spot in terms of playing time, however, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Tate get a look at some point.

Injury History: Tate has a history of shoulder problems. In high school he underwent right shoulder surgery while he suffered a torn left labrum as a sophomore in college. He would go on to suffer a minor left shoulder sprain as a senior.

Outlook: Tate isn’t a great fantasy option but is someone that GMs in very deep leagues should be familiar with, especially if Houston looks like they’re ready to truly blow it up.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: 398 / 398 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 382 / 379 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 29

2019-20 Review: Clemons was initially on a two-way deal with the Rockets but eventually signed on for three years, thanks in part to some solid performances when Houston was very thin at guard early in the season. The overall numbers aren’t anything to get excited about but he did knock down 1.1 triples in just 8.7 mpg. Clemons did turn it up for Rio Grande Valley, averaging 23.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.8 triples at the G League level.

This Year: Clemons will be facing an uphill battle as the third point guard on a team that’s loaded with two ball-dominant players. That said, it would only take a single phone call to blow it wide open.

Injury History: Nothing significant.

Outlook: Clemons probably won’t be a popular draft target but has some sneaky upside. The Rockets’ move to a more typical rotation should help him out and he could find himself with a ton of usage at certain points.

2019-20 Review: Martin went the prep-to-pro route after leaning on his elite athleticism to post 20.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game last season. Like father, like son, as Martin has incredible bounce and was a force at the rim on both ends of the floor. There are questions about his offensive game (mostly non-existent outside the paint) and how he’ll adjust to pro-level competition after he was relatively inconsistent, even on the prep circuit.

This Year: Martin is going to be a long-term project and shouldn’t play much unless the Rockets go into total tank mode. His game needs serious refinement but the Rockets are going to try and channel all of his sheer athleticism into a finished product.

Injury History: We didn’t find anything significant on Martin.

Outlook: Martin can be left undrafted in just about all fantasy leagues this season and looks like a long-term dynasty stash for the time being.

2019-20 Review: Jones led the Razorbacks in his junior campaign, cooking up 22.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He plays with an attacking mentality, leading the NCAA with 9.1 free throws per game. Jones isn’t the best athlete but used his high basketball IQ to create for both himself and others.

This Year: Jones went undrafted but signed a two-way deal with the Rockets, who could certainly afford to take a closer look at a talented combo guard. He’s unlikely to be in the rotation unless other players get cleared out via trade.

Injury History: Jones enters the NBA injury-free.

Outlook: Jones won’t need to be drafted in any fantasy formats but might be a name to remember for silly season.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: 423 / 416 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 405 / 399 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 26

2019-20 Review: Chandler didn’t fit Houston’s micro-ball attack and set new career-lows with 26 appearances and just 8.4 mpg. He produced the fantasy value to match.

This Year: Chandler’s a free agent and will likely have to settle for third center/veteran leader work.

Injury History: Chandler was healthy aside from illnesses and a short bout of neck spasms last year. In 2018-19 he sat for neck stiffness (eight games), back issues and a toe sprain, as well as more illnesses. He’s fractured his right fibula before and has a long list of knee, back and ankle issues as well. Chandler shouldn’t play enough to incur serious injury risk despite his lengthy career.

Outlook: Even if he signs somewhere, Chandler’s cooked.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: 435 / 452 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 417 / 426 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 21

2019-20 Review: Carroll basically vanished last season, playing in 21 games between stints with the Rockets and Spurs. A three-year, $21 million pact with the Spurs went sideways immediately as he was a DNP-CD on opening night and averaged just 9.0 mpg in 15 games with San Antonio. This was just a year after DC averaged 25.4 mpg in 67 appearances with the Nets, but the fact that he couldn’t even crack the forward rotation for the Spurs is a pretty big indictment. The sample is obviously small but it was Carroll’s worst statistical season since 2010-11.

This Year: Carroll will be looking to land on a roster that gives him a fair shake at playing time. His 3-and-D game should be in demand, but it’ll be a long road back after what he put on tape last year.

Injury History: If there’s any silver lining to last year, it’s that Carroll didn’t play enough to pick up another lower body injury. In 2018-19, right ankle surgery in mid-October cost Carroll the first 11 games of the season. Beyond that there were single-game absences for a right wrist sprain, a left knee hyperextension and left knee soreness (twice). The knee stuff is troubling but not unexpected after Carroll hyperextended his left knee in the 2014-15 playoffs and underwent surgery in January 2016. He’s also dealt with toe and hip problems in the past.

Outlook: Carroll’s decline has been fast and sad and he can be largely ignored outside the deepest of fantasy leagues.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: 474 / 472 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 466 / 467 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 8

2019-20 Review: Frazier, the Most Improved Player of the 2018-19 G League season, ended up on a two-way deal with Houston, playing 8.2 mpg. It’s hard to judge any player who gets so little run, but Frazier managed 0.3 steals and 0.3 triples in that time and put up 14.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.4 blocks and 2.6 threes a night in the G League.

This Year: Frazier will be looking to crack a roster and cement himself as a full-time NBA player. We’ll see if the Rockets keep him around as he’s set to enter restricted free agency.

Injury History: Frazier dealt with a right ankle sprain that limited him in training camp prior to the 2019-20 season. He suffered a high ankle sprain in college and a torn quad while playing in Europe in 2017.

Outlook: Frazier is not a fantasy factor regardless of team.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: 513 / 513 (8/9-cat)

Total Value: 512 / 511 (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 2

2019-20 Review: Howard came stateside after establishing his pro career in France but was the final cut at Jazz camp. He signed a two-way deal with Houston but saw extremely limited action. In the G League, Howard showcased his appeal by averaging 12.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.0 threes in 31.0 mpg.

This Year: Howard has the looks of a decent two-way forward with some upside, so we’ll see if his training camp — wherever that takes place — ends on a happier note.

Injury History: There was some minor right groin soreness in 2019 Summer League but nothing concerning.

Outlook: Howard isn’t on the fantasy radar.

2019-20 Review: Wooten spent last season with the Westchester Knicks in the G League, where he put up 7.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 0.6 steals and 3.6 blocks per game in 24.9 minutes a night. He was unable to make the jump up to the Knicks because of their frontcourt depth.

This Year: Wooten signed a two-way deal with the Rockets, who certainly have some openings up front as they angle themselves towards a more traditional roster build.

Injury History: Wooten underwent thumb surgery in late February 2020.

Outlook: Wooten’s not a great fantasy target but has shown a penchant for blocking shots dating back to his days at Oregon. He’s a name to remember in 30-team leagues with the Rockets potentially blowing it up.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: — / — (8/9-cat)

Total Value: — / — (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 0

2019-20 Review: Grant was out of the NBA until the restart in Orlando, when the Wizards signed him to provide backcourt insurance for an already-thin roster. It didn’t count in the official fantasy season but Grant averaged 4.5 points and 1.5 assists in 13.3 mpg.

This Year: Grant’s going to be in the mix for a third PG role in Houston but that’s not something that fantasy GMs can spend any time thinking about.

Injury History: Grant’s got a clean injury history.

Outlook: Grant isn’t a legitimate fantasy option.

ADP: — / — ESPN / Yahoo

Per-Game Value: — / — (8/9-cat)

Total Value: — / — (8/9-cat)

Games Played: 0

2019-20 Review: Mbah a Moute was signed as a replacement player for the bubble but only made three appearances, averaging 8.3 mpg.

This Year: LMAM might be at the end of the line, and it’s not like he was able to put anything great on tape to attract tons of interest in free agency.

Injury History: Mbah a Moute was late to the bubble after testing positive for COVID-19 and dealt with a left knee effusion in the postseason that prevented him from playing. He was limited to just four games in 2018-19 after suffering a left knee injury that eventually required surgery and suffered two shoulder dislocations in the 2017-18 season.

Outlook: Nope.

*Originally published November 8, 2020