The Rockets have been linked to plenty of stars heading into the offseason, but one of their biggest priorities could be re-signing a player they signed with their final roster spot last July.
Josh Okogie was viewed as a depth piece for the Rockets’ bench who would be outside the rotation this year, but a glut of injuries to players like Fred VanVleet forced Okogie into a bigger role. Those injuries contributed to an early playoff exit for the Rockets, but Okogie was a solid contributor for Houston when given the opportunity.
If the Rockets can re-sign him on a similar contract this offseason, bringing Okogie back feels like a no-brainer.
Re-signing Okogie
His role dropped off as the season went on, but Okogie showed enough on both sides of the ball to feel good about bringing him back. Through the first 30 games of the season, he helped Houston to a 20-10 record, starting in 21 of those.
Okogie averaged just 6.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game over that stretch, but the Rockets outscored their opponents by 55 total points with him on the court, as he also helped shore up Houston’s perimeter defense with 1.1 steals per game.
Perhaps most importantly, he was effective at spacing the floor, albeit on a limited sample size. Okogie shot 42.9% from deep on 77 attempts, adding some much-needed shooting to Houston’s offense. Even as his production dwindled, he maintained that efficiency from deep.
Okogie battled through back tightness in the Rockets’ first-round series against the Lakers, but still managed to 38.5% from beyond the arc and added seven steals while playing in all six games, serving as an important two-way piece for Houston.
The Rockets will likely leave no stone unturned to try improving their roster this offseason, but Houston may opt for mostly internal improvement. If that’s the case, the Rockets should prioritize re-signing him.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Houston Rockets can’t afford to lose key depth piece in free agency
Reporting by Henry Daley, Rockets Wire / Rockets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
