With approximately $60 million in salary cap room in the 2023 offseason and another high draft pick on the way, it isn’t clear what the 2023-24 roster of the rebuilding Houston Rockets will look like. But with veterans on the way and future draft obligations owed to Oklahoma City, it’s clear the expectations will be much higher.
“I think we’re kind of coming to the end of the first stage of it,” Rockets general manager Rafael Stone told ESPN regarding the state of his franchise’s rebuild. In that sense, Houston’s 2022-23 season finale at Washington could be the end of an era, particularly for third-year head coach Stephen Silas. He is in the last year of his contract and is not likely to return next season, according to recent reports.
So, as Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and the rest of the young Rockets look to transition to the next stage, can they wrap up Stage 1 with a feel-good victory? That’s what they will attempt to do on Sunday afternoon at Washington, where Houston enters with two straight wins and three in its last four games.
The Rockets will be short-handed. Point guard Kevin Porter Jr. (sore right knee) will sit out in a development that (coincidentally or not) also helps Houston’s offseason salary cap room. The Wizards have key absences, as well, including Bradley Beal.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Sunday, April 9
- Time: Noon Central
- TV Channel: AT&T SportsNet Southwest, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (21-60)
- Guard: Daishen Nix
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: KJ Martin
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
Washington Wizards (35-46)
- Guard: Jordan Goodwin
- Guard: Johnny Davis
- Forward: Corey Kispert
- Forward: Anthony Gill
- Center: Taj Gibson
Projected lineups are mostly based on each team’s previous game. The exceptions are Nix for Porter and Gibson for Daniel Gafford, owing to the updated injury reports for Sunday’s matchup.
Injury reports
Houston’s injury report lists Porter and Jae’Sean Tate (left knee soreness) as out. On the other side, Washington will be without Bradley Beal (left knee soreness), Kyle Kuzma (right ankle sprain), Monte Morris (right ankle soreness), Kristaps Porzingis (non-COVID illness), Deni Avdija (left elbow bursitis), Daniel Gafford (right ankle soreness) and Delon Wright (right knee soreness) to end the season.
