Rockets locked the last puzzle! Duran s featured 3D shooting, Yang Hansen created history and landed in the NBA

Every June draft night, the basketball world always focuses on the stage where young talents set sail. At this moment in 2025, Chinese young player Yang Hansen - he was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 16th pick in the first round, and then he will start his NBA journey in the Portland Trail Blazers' jersey through draft pick exchanges. This is not only the peak moment of his personal dream, but also another milestone for Chinese basketball to move to the international stage.

And for the Houston Rockets, the hustle and bustle of the night have little to do with them. Long before the draft, in order to win superstar Kevin Durant, the Rockets had sent the first round 10 pick to the Phoenix Suns. In this shocking league transaction, the Rockets sent Jaylen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in 2025 and five second round picks, in exchange for the two-time FMVP winner. Durant couldn't hide his excitement after learning that the deal was completed, and was even reported to "dance and celebration". He bluntly said that he chose the Rockets because he felt the team's sincerity and importance.

However, general manager Raphael Stone's operation did not stop with Durant. According to reliable sources, the Rockets are actively promoting a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, targeting forward marksman Cameron Johnson. The negotiation framework begins to emerge: The Rockets plan to package center Jock Landare, potential star Cam Whitmore and two future first-round picks in exchange for this elite "3D" front line that combines shooting and defense.

Why did Johnson become the ultimate goal of the Rockets' reinforcement? From the perspective of tactical adaptability, his accurate and stable three-point ability (especially good at receiving jump shots and tactical run catch-and-shoot) is the core requirement of coach Amy Uduka system. The Rockets ranked last in the league in the bottom corner three-point efficiency last season, and Johnson's career shooting percentage in the region was as high as 43.7%, which greatly optimized the team's space. From the cost-effective analysis, Johnson's contract matches the current market conditions, and its offensive and defensive balance (limiting the opponent's hit rate to rank among the top players) perfectly matches the top requirements of the championship team for role players.

If the deal is reached, the prototype of the Rockets' championship lineup for the new season will be clear:

Backcourt core: Fred VanVleet (renewed for 2 years and 50 million yuan) controls the rhythm, supplemented by Amen Thompson with strong defense;

forward ace: Durant and Jabbarri Smith form a double tower with both height and technology, new player Johnson provides key space support;

Inside pillar: All-star center Alperen Shinkyung (coincidentally, Shinkyung was also selected with the 16th pick that year) sits at the basket;

Deep rotation: Strong players such as Tari Ethan build a thick bench.

This lineup not only solved the problem of space silt and key ball weakness exposed by the Rockets' playoffs last season, but also caused Durant's decisive ability and Johnson's tactical lubrication to jump directly from the mid-West to a strong contender for the championship. The changes in league odds confirm the outside world's optimism - the Rockets' championship odds have soared from +8,000 before Durant joined to +1,800.

Houston's ambitions are reshaping the western landscape. When Durant called on management to strengthen the last link, and when Stone decisively bet on a championship puzzle like Johnson, the Rockets' "super battleship" had already set sail. If the operation goes smoothly, the "Rockets Championship" will no longer be a slogan, but a realistic goal that is within reach.