When the Houston Rockets pulled off their blockbuster deal for Kevin Durant, it was easy to assume that would be the headline of the summer. But what may prove even more important over the long grind of the season is everything else they did after that. By quietly stacking their bench with proven veterans and high-level role players, Houston might have just assembled the deepest second unit in the entire NBA.
Assuming the starting lineup features Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun, the group coming off the bench is not only experienced but also tailor-made to complement that core.