American News: The Rockets should have strengthened No. 1 position & Van Vritte is old, and the team can let Amen play point guard instead

NBA reporter Rohan Brahmbhatt wrote an article about the Rockets' control of the offense. The following is some of the content.

The Rockets introduced 36-year-old superstar Durant through a heavy trade during the NBA offseason, making the Rockets instantly one of the most feared teams in the West.

But they did not stop there. Experienced 3D forward Finney Smith joins the team, bringing defensive versatility and playoff experience. The return of former team core Capela is unexpected but extremely wise, and he will be the third inside player after Adams and Shin Kyung. However, the investment is expensive - Jaylen Green, Dillon, Whitmore and the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft are no longer there. But in return, the Rockets have the most complete lineup and the most veterans since the Harden era.

However, among all the excitement, there is still an obvious loophole - who will control the team's offense?

Champion teams rely not only on talent, but also on the system. In the modern NBA, the system begins with point guards. This character needs to know how to control the rhythm of the game, deliver comfortable passes to scorers such as Durant and Jabbarry Smith Jr., and protect the ball at critical moments in the playoffs. The Rockets currently do not have such a player.

Van Vreet is still on the team, but obviously his peak period is over. The 31-year-old has received a salary cut this off this offseason and is more suitable for a substitute, playing 15-20 minutes per game, helping as a veteran who can change the pace. It is unrealistic to expect Van Vreet to lead a 50-win team into the playoffs.

So, why didn't the operation of introducing the main control guard happen? The Rockets actually still have room for choice. With the cap space not used on Dillon or Whitmore rookie contracts, they could have pursued the following free agents - Brogdon, Mont Morris, Tyame Jones and Beasley. Even short-term veteran transition players, such as Deron Wright or Schroeder, can provide the maturity and rhythm control that the team lacks at present.

But instead, the Rockets chose to dig internally. Perhaps this is because they believe the answer is already in the team's roster. If there is any uncertainty that makes the Rockets' offseason even better in hindsight, it is Amen Thompson.

The No. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft has all the original talents to become the team's core point guard. Thompson, who is 6-foot-7 (2.01 meters), is an extraordinary athlete: explosive in the transition offense, extremely destructive at the defensive end, and has a great vision when passing. In theory, he is a power player with both offense and defense, and is the tall, switchable organizational core that the playoff team dreams of.

In some exciting moments in the 2024-25 season, Thompson happened to show why the Rockets had high expectations for him. He breaks through the defenders in the open field, sends incredible passes to the cutters, and defends multiple positions with full intensity. But these wonderful moments are also accompanied by the pain of growth. His jump shot is still unstable, and his decisions in the half-court offense are sometimes too hasty, often acting like he has a Ferrari engine but only the steering system of a kart. The Rockets are now facing a choice - to continue to play a secondary development role or push him to the forefront and let him learn in actual combat. If the Rockets really believe they are now contenders for the championship, they have to choose the latter.

The fact is - currently no free agent point guard on the market can match Thompson's ceiling. If he can realize his talent, the Rockets will not only solve the core problems of the organization, but also increase the team's ceiling to a level that truly has the ability to compete for the championship.

Durant and Shin Kyung are both top scorers, but they need a point guard to get the ball to the right spot. Jabbarry Smith and Ethan are extremely threatening in the conversion offense, but they need a high-speed initiator to find them in the fast break. Finney Smith, Adams and Capela are pick-and-rollers and court balancers, and they will perform even better with a creative, athletic controller. Everything about Houston’s new roster shows that the team can shine in terms of speed, versatility and switchability. And Thompson can unlock these three.

But only if the Rockets trust him. Give him the starting position, let him play 30 minutes per game, and let Van Vreet guide him from time to time, and let him be surrounded by a shooter and a veteran who knows how to cooperate with a growing point guard. The season may be ups and downs early, but by April, the returns may be very generous.

There is one situation where the Rockets' offseason looks great, but it's not complete. Durant will still be a nightmare that makes the opponent difficult to match. The team has a tough defense and a superior lineup. The bench is full of experienced contributors. But when the pace of the game slows down, and when the playoffs require calmness and system, the Rockets without a real core of the organization can appear messy.

This is the worst case for this lineup. And what about the best situation? Amen Thompson takes control of the situation. His shooting has been improved enough that defenders dare not slacke in slack off; his decisions are more stable; his versatility on the defensive end has become a major weapon in a large number of defense-changing lineups. He doesn't need to be Chris Paul, he just needs a stable, explosive and fearless performance.