Rockets flying all over the sky, Stone: These key points are important

NBA Finals are coming to an end with only a few weeks left, when the focus will turn to the draft and free markets. For the Houston Rockets, the offseason kicked off a few weeks before their first round loss to the Golden State Warriors.

This season, the Rockets have achieved their best performance since 2020, winning 52 games, ranking second in the West. The team has made overall progress, from bench player Tari Ethan to Alperen Shinkin to the All-Star Game for the first time.

At present, the Rockets are working on team improvements during the offseason. First, they have acquired multiple future picks, and are weighing whether to retain the upcoming picks or use them as a bargaining chip for a larger trade. After the finals, the Rockets will usher in many important days as they prepare for the 2025-26 season. As mentioned earlier, the Rockets have started the draft process as Raphael Stone and management face several decisions.

For the Rockets, the first important day is the upcoming draft. The NBA has extended the draft to two days, starting on June 25 and ending on June 26. The Rockets currently hold the 10th overall pick through a trade with the Phoenix Suns and a 59th overall pick in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks.

The Rockets have held multiple lottery draws in the past few years, so it is very likely to use these draws for heavy trades, or exchange this year's draft picks for future draft picks. After the draft, June 29 is the deadline for the team to exercise their team's choice, and the Rockets will make important decisions.

Fred VanVleet is about to enter his third season with the Rockets, and the team needs to decide whether to renew the contract based on its existing contract (annual salary of more than $40 million) or sign a longer-term contract with a lower annual salary. All signs indicate that the two parties will reach a long-term contract with an annual salary of less than $40 million.

For the league and the Rockets, the next important day is July 1, which is the day when the free agent market begins. Given that the Rockets have exceeded the salary cap next season, it is highly likely that they will not make too many moves in the free market, but some of the team's players' contracts will end in the 2024-25 season. Jeff Green, Jaylen Sean Tate and Aaron Holiday are all unrestricted free agents.

However, Steven Adams is the top priority. He spent his outstanding season with the Rockets and was invaluable to the team's success. Both sides intend to renew their contracts, but Adams has many suitors in the offseason. The

Las Vegas Summer League will be held from July 10 to 20, which provides some existing Rockets players with the opportunity to show, and of course it also depends on whether the Rockets decide to retain this year's draft pick. The

training camp will open in late September, which will be the first appearance of the roster next season. The Rockets are in a critical offseason and are trying to transform from a good team into a potential championship contender.