Rockets: 3 way too early bold Houston predictions for 2022-23 NBA season

The Houston Rockets have high expectations for the 2022-23 NBA season. They had another strong draft, with Jabari Smith Jr. falling to them at No. 3. In June, they traded Christian Wood to the Dallas Mavericks to open a starting spot for Alperen Sengun. The Rockets also have up to $75 million in cap space.

Jabari Smith is a 6'10 forward who played for Auburn. He will join the Houston Rockets this season. Oddsmakers don't have him among the top three candidates to win Rookie of the Year. He shot 43 percent from the field and 42 percent in 3-point range in college. In Summer League, he averaged 14.4 points and 9. 4 rebounds per game.

Smith wants to be All-Defensive Team caliber by the start of the 2022-23 NBA season.

Jalen Green was drafted by Houston Rockets as the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He struggled as a rookie, but he adjusted and is now a star player. He scored 22.1 points per game last season. In the last game he scored 41 points against the Atlanta Hawks. If he can do that consistently in 2022-23, he should be an All-Star selection. Hakeem Olajuwon, Ralph Sampson, and Elvin Hayes are the only other rookies to score 40 points or more in their team's history.

Jalen Green had 15+ FGA in 27 different games last season. He averaged 46.5 FG%, 39.2 3P%, 9.3 3PA, 79. 5 FT%, 58.8 TS%. Stephen Curry is the only player to average these stats for a full season in NBA.

Houston Rockets missed the playoffs for the second season in a row. GM Stone ensured they'd have a solid offseason. The Rockets' future appears promising despite no longer having Christian Wood up front. John Wall didn't play a single minute last year. Green and Kevin Porter form an explosive backcourt duo. Sengun is set to make a leap with Wood's absence. Smith is out to prove his detractors wrong with a strong rookie campaign.