The Houston Rockets need offense. After a turnaround that began in the 2023-24 season led to a second-seed finish this year, Houston struggled mightily in the playoffs. Bowing out in seven games in the first round showed one glaring weakness on the team: half-court offense.
While the likes of Alperen Şengün and Jalen Green continue to improve and potentially solve that problem on their own, some help could arrive in the 2025 offseason. One analyst believes that help arrives in the 2025 NBA Draft, where they add a second-generation star to the roster.
Houston Rockets Could Add Slam Dunk Contest Legend’s Son
Jason Richardson was one of the most explosive players of the 2000s. Regularly wowing crowds with his incredible athleticism above the rim, he even snagged legendary performances in the Slam Dunk Contest.
However, his son, Jase Richardson, hasn’t shown the same vertical hops as his dad. But offering a more well-rounded game from the outset, the younger Richardson quickly morphed into an offensive hub for the Michigan State Spartans.
As a result, the latest mock draft from PFSN believes that the Rockets could add Richardson to their squad, potentially solving their problem in the half-court.
“The son of 13-year NBA veteran Jason Richardson, Jase Richardson isn’t as explosive but has the type of well-rounded shot profile that his father didn’t discover until the latter half of his career. Richardson improved as his freshman season went on and finished with 12.1 points per game on 49.3% shooting, including 41.2% from deep,” said PFSN analyst Sterlie Xie.
Xie is clearly wowed by his potential, adding, “Richardson led the Spartans in points in six of the team’s final eight games of the regular season as well as during the Sweet 16 win over Ole Miss.”
Immediately, the Rockets, after a brutal exit at the hands of the Golden State Warriors, make perfect sense for the second-generation star.
“Adding offensive creation is a must this offseason, and Richardson would represent a solid investment on that front.”
In the regular season, Houston was an average scoring team, finishing as the 13th-highest-scoring team in the NBA. However, the team’s struggles in the half-court in a slower playoff setting were clear as day to see — as was the 3-point shooting, which ranked in the bottom 10 throughout the year.
At an elite 41.2% clip on over three attempts per game at the collegiate level, Richardson has already shown his chops in that regard. Translating his game to the NBA might take some time, but he could be a major contributor to Houston’s offense sooner rather than later.