As the Houston Rockets enter the 2025-26 NBA season, their offseason acquisition of Kevin Durant will carry a number of serious implications for the way in which the coaching staff will need to go about constructing the team's rotation.
Yet, the most pressing of these issues lies in determining the fifth starter spot, and, given young forward Jabari Smith Jr.'s value to the organization, a difficult path lies ahead in deciding between him and the other potential candidates.
All of Tari Eason, Dorian Finney-Smith and Steven Adams each have their own case to crack the starting lineup, but demoting Smith, who started every game for Houston until his injury last season, cannot be a decision they take lightly.