For an organization that is looking toward the NBA Draft and offseason, the Houston Rockets have a ton of promise on their team. The duo of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green is wrapping up this current campaign on a high note as the building blocks of the Rockets backcourt. With the Rockets likely receiving a top three pick in the upcoming draft, this would bolster their lineup even more under coach Stephen Silas.

Even with the recent departure of all their stars, the front office continued to find several ways to progress and still construct a formidable roster. The draft will be a whole difference challenge for Houston, but free agency would also be very integral to add some veterans or experienced role players who would fill the void for some weaknesses. With the lack of big names in 2022, these are some names Houston must pursue on July.

3 Rockets targets in 2022 NBA free agency

Deandre Ayton

Rockets fans may wonder why they would want another even if they have Christian Wood and Alperen Sengun already. The problem is Wood is just not the answer due to his inconsistent production, while Sengun is still a raw talent that still needs few more years to develop. Thus, Deandre Ayton is available in the 2022 free agency as he would be a massive addition to the front court of Silas and Houston. The only hurdle is that he's a restricted free agent so the offer would likely have to be near the max in order to pry him away.

At just 23 years of age, he would perfectly fit in the timeline and style of Porter Jr. and Green. A master of the pick and roll scenarios and soft touch in the paint, Ayton has a more matured and methodical approach compared to Wood and Sengun. Moreover, his defensive presence at the rim and switching on guards are two strengths of Ayton that would be a definite boost to the future of Houston.

Robert Covington

In his third stint for Houston, Robert Covington would be the veteran and defensive presence necessary in the front court of the Rockets. He would not need to play the five like how he did in his previous tenure, but he can slide to the four and be a floor spacer for this squad. Defensive is a weakness from their youthful individuals, but Covington would be one of the ones that would mentor them to develop habits and routines.

Some of the legitimate contending teams will likely be the favorites to acquire Covington, but Houston must surely initiate a meeting and express their interest in him. Jae'Sean Tate and Eric Gordon are their only two reliable wings, but adding Covington is a guaranteed upgrade, especially because he would not affect the numbers and shot attempts of the core of Houston.

Kyle Anderson

For young teams building up their roster, sometimes front office members forget that they must add folks who are willing to do the dirty work that are not as sexy in the stat sheet or on social media. Kyle Anderson or “Slow Mo” never does the flashy plays on the court, but he still gets over 20 minutes for the second-best team in the league.

Anderson could be the leader of the second unit for Houston who is in dire need of experienced players like Anderson who has been under coach Gregg Popovich. Moreover, the style of play and approach of the guys from Houston usually flourish with the ball on their hands, so Anderson would fit the billing because he is more than willing to execute the fundamentals and intangibles for a youthful franchise.

Houston still has a ton of glaring holes before creeping into the top eight in the Western Conference, but the upside and foundational pieces must be an optimistic sight for their fans. It will still take a couple of years at the very least, but this upcoming free agency class could be a tremendous springboard for the Rockets.