Between the additions of established veterans including Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Clint Capela, the NBA’s 2025 offseason has been a good one for fans of the Houston Rockets.
For a team that was already starting from a relatively high perch at No. 2 in last season’s Western Conference standings (with a 52-30 record), there’s a case to be made that Houston has elevated itself into the top tier of 2025-26 championship contenders.
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And it seems that others around the league agree. In ESPN’s offseason grades, Houston is one of only two teams to receive an “A” grade, joining the Atlanta Hawks.
Regarding the Rockets, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton writes:
No team did more to improve its chances at the 2026 title than the Rockets, who added two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant without sacrificing depth in the process. Give Houston credit for pouncing at a reasonable trade for Durant, then using a team-friendly contract for Fred VanVleet (two years, $50 million) to access the non-taxpayer midlevel exception. That allowed the Rockets to add proven 3-and-D wing Dorian Finney-Smith to help replace departed Dillon Brooks.
Houston is the only Western Conference team to earn Pelton’s “A” grade.
More: In signing with Rockets, Dorian Finney-Smith sees ‘great team’ with a chance to be special
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: In 2025 offseason grades, ESPN ranks Houston among NBA’s two best