Projecting the Houston Rockets' Starting Lineup for 2019-2020

Heading into the offseason there was a glut of rumors that suggested that the Houston Rockets could look immensely different before the summer's end.

For starters, Mike D'Antoni's future was up in the air and general manager Daryl Morey even hinted that everybody (excluding James Harden) on the roster was expendable and on the trade market.

Well, fast forward to July 8 and Houston's roster looks remarkably similar to the squad from last season. Let's examine how Mike D'Antoni's Rockets could line up to open the 2019-2020 campaign.

1. PG: Chris Paul

We're gonna go out on a limb and say that Morey is regretting handing a four year, $160 million contract to an aging point guard. CP3's significant decline in both offensive and defensive efficiency last season was most apparent in the playoffs, and in turn, Houston relied on Harden for pretty much everything on offense. With that being said, we presume the 34-year-old Paul is staying put in the Space City and will assume his role as the Rockets' PG.

2. SG: James Harden

With Morey failing to pair another superstar alongside Harden, he'll likely be forced to brave another exhausting role on D'Antoni's offense. Prepare for another season of mind-boggling numbers from the former MVP, but also expect him to wear down come April.

3. SF: Eric Gordon

Gordon is probably the second player (other than Harden, of course) in this starting five that fits in perfectly with D'Antoni's offense. The former Sixth Man of the Year is about as reliable as anybody in the NBA from beyond the arc, shooting north of 37% from 3 across his 11 seasons in the league. Expect Gordon to have an even bigger role in 2018-2019 as Paul will be another year older.

4. PF: PJ Tucker

He might not bring the flash and highlight reels, but PJ Tucker is arguably the most important player in this lineup. He often guards the opposing team's best player and the value of his his 37.7% clip from 3 cannot be understated. Additionally, he's the unquestioned leader in a locker room that is oft dysfunctional and demands supervision.

5. C: Clint Capela

Capela's inclusion is highly dependent on the fact that he isn't offloaded this summer as his name is still (albeit marginally) connected to trade rumors as there are several teams still in the market for a big man. With that being said, his 16.6 points and 12.7 rebounds from 2018-19 are exceptional and he's a talented rim protector, which should play well into any team's plans. While he doesn't have an outside shot, he's still a valuable asset.