Houston Rockets season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Year one with Kevin Durant didn’t go as the Houston Rockets hoped. The 2026-27 NBA season is shaping up as a basketball do-over.

The Rockets will largely run it back with their roster mostly intact after a disappointing first-round playoff exit in the wake of their much-hyped Durant acquisition. Houston is hopeful the return of veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, can unlock a talented core that never seemed to fit together consistently without an established primary ballhandler.

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The Rockets have locked up young stars Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson to long-term deals in recent offseasons, but this may be their last chance to maximize the Durant era in Houston. The 37-year-old has a player option in his contract for next year. There’s enough talent for the Rockets to contend with the best teams in the Western Conference if they’ve sorted out the chemistry issues with Durant a season later than expected.

Here’s a breakdown of the Houston Rockets’ offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.

(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with AJ Dybantsa after h is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.

(Arturo Holmes, Getty Images)

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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos

NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with AJ Dybantsa after he is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center…

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Publish date : 2026-09-21 09:48:00

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