OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings week 10 – All-Star break edition

Houston Rockets:  0-4

Week 10:
Lost to: Bulls 100-120, Cavaliers 96-112, Raptors 111-122, Grizzlies 84-133

Opponents this week: Cavaliers, Nets

Offensive Rating: 105.8 (26th) | Defensive Rating: 109.9 (10th) | Net Differential: -4.1 24th)

With Christian Wood active, the Rockets have enough talent to be in the mix for the play-in tournament.  Without him, they are a team lacking enough front-court depth to be competitive. Case in point, Wood has missed 11 games which just happens to be the same length of the Rockets’ current losing streak.

The Injury report states the team doesn’t plan on playing Wood until after the break. Houston also released DeMarcus Cousins. Plus the rumor is the franchise will try to move PJ Tucker at the deadline.

Other vets could be in play like Eric Gordon who just looks annoyed and if on-court demeanor and off-court whispers are to be believed Victor Oladipo would prefer an alternate destination. Bobby Marks of ESPN detailed Houston offered a two-year $45.2M extension (all they can give until the offseason) but he declined, preferring a longer-term deal.

While no contract is untradeable John Wall’s is as close as they come given he’s owed $41.2, $44.3, and $47.3 million through the 2022-23 season with the last year a player option.

OKC Thunder needs to keep a close eye on Houston because if they finish in the bottom four, the Rockets retain their draft pick. One issue stopping the Rockets from all-out tanking is their defense still ranks in the top 10, albeit it continues to drop with every game Wood is out.

In an ideal world, Houston finishes fifth so the pick is conveyed to the Thunder.  But, it sure seems like the Cousins move and holding out Wood leans toward the Rockets’ tank intentions.