The Houston Rockets' season ended with a 78-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on 2026-05-02, but front office attention now turns to long-term roster planning amid NBA expansion discussions. Commissioner Adam Silver recently provided an update on potential new franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, prompting teams to consider who they would protect in a hypothetical expansion draft. Under historical rules, each team can shield eight players.
Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson are the clear franchise cornerstones. Durant finished last season in the league's top five for total points and earned an All-NBA Second Team selection. His scoring is irreplaceable. Sengun added another All-Star nod to his resume, proving his value as a versatile big man.
Thompson's defensive impact was recognized with a top-10 finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting. All three have the potential to be All-Stars in 2027 and would command massive returns in any trade. Protecting them is the easiest decision the Rockets' brass will make.
Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr., and Reed Sheppard form the essential supporting cast. VanVleet, 32, provides veteran leadership and stability as the team's starting point guard. His experience is vital for a young squad. Smith, the 23-year-old power forward, brings consistent production, averaging 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds during last season's playoff run.
Sheppard, 22, emerged as a dynamic scoring threat off the bench in his second year. He put up 13.5 points per game and landed in the top 10 for Sixth Man of the Year. His development trajectory suggests he could be Houston's next breakout star. These three are meaningful long-term pieces.
The final two protection slots likely come down to Bruce Thornton and Tari Eason. Their combination of upside and team control gives them an edge over veterans like Marcus Smart, Steven Adams, and Jae'Sean Tate. Eason, 25, is under contract until at least 2030 and averaged 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds across 60 games last season.
He has proven to be a reliable backup for either Durant or Smith. Thornton is the team's only acquisition from the 2026 NBA Draft. His Summer League play indicated he deserves a rotation spot when an opportunity arises, even if he begins the year deep on the depth chart.
The team's recent 2W-3L form (LWWLL) culminated in that season-ending defeat to the Lakers. The playoff series was a back-and-forth affair, however. Houston secured a 99-93 road win on 2026-04-30 and a dominant 115-96 home victory on 2026-04-27. They also suffered close losses, including a 108-112 result on 2026-04-25.
This mix of performances highlights the roster's potential and its need for stability, which makes expansion draft planning so important. Fans can track the team's offseason moves and future schedule on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page. Protecting the right eight players will be key to building on this foundation and making a deeper playoff push next season.
