The Rockets straighten the Tanhualang? His one move is perfect match with Durant, and they join forces with Jokic Jr. to create a small ball myth

5-year, $122 million, the Houston Rockets made another offseason operation after the trade was obtained by Durant, completing an early contract renewal with Smith Jr. Although the Rockets are now regarded as Shin Kyung's team, and after Durant's arrival, the team is also ready to win the championship with all their might, leaving Smith Jr. is also an important step in the Rockets' future plan. Even for the Rockets, Smith Jr. is the key to the team's future championship.

When the Rockets selected Smith with their hand, many people were full of expectations for this young man who could play multiple positions, and the Rockets regarded it as one of the team's future cornerstones. During the entire rookie season, Smith averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Although he failed to win the Rookie of the Season, Smith was eventually selected for the second team of the All-Rookie, adding the first honor to his future.

Smith Jr. has a great advantage in dislocation, and his shooting ability is very suitable for the small ball era. Smith Jr. is good at shooting, and his offensive range can be spread throughout the half court and can hold the ball to instigate fast breaks. When the opponent is afraid of Smith's shooting ability, he can also provide exquisite assists. These traits all have great similarities to the Celtics’ Horford, so Smith Jr. is also seen as the next Horford-like player.

It's a pity that the Rockets' tactics are in the period of adjustment, and the tactical adjustments have also affected Smith's performance. Uduka's multi-player rotation reduced Smith's playing time and ball rights. Without these guarantees, Smith's performance began to decline. Many times, the Rockets have focused on the outside, and Smith Jr. will even be placed on the bench when the team chases points. Such adjustments also affect Smith Jr.'s mentality and lead to a decline in performance.

Smith Jr. has a certain height advantage. No matter what lineup the Rockets use, he can create some advantages on the offensive end. Especially in small ball tactics, Smith can directly pull out of the three-point line to attack and shoot. As long as the opponent follows out to defend, then Shin Kyung, Van Vleet and others will have greater room for breakthrough. Even if the opponent does not go forward and defend, Smith can still play misaligned singles to create more offensive threats.

After several seasons of training, Smith's tactical awareness is gradually increasing, and he will play an important role in the Rockets' tactics in the new season. After Durant joins the Rockets, he will become the main scoring point on the Rockets' outside line and will attract a large number of defenses from his opponents. This means that the Rockets need players with height and shooting ability to pick-and-roll and disassemble the opponent's defense. Smith Jr.'s offensive ability is beyond doubt. If he can play a better pick-and-roll cooperation, he will definitely become Durant's best partner on the front line.

Smith Jr. has shown his talent, and completing an early contract renewal with the Rockets has proved that his ability has been recognized. Faced with a great future with excellent development prospects, Smith Jr. has the hope of playing at a higher level and even hopes to become a new representative player in the small ball era.