The Rockets slashed 2.27 million powerful players. This move has a deep meaning. Is Paul really coming?

The Houston Rockets made another eye-catching decision. This time it was not a shocking deal, but signed a rookie Cameron Matthews who just turned 23 and had little game experience. Subsequently, the team fired marginal player Nate Williams. On the surface, this seems to be just a small-scale lineup adjustment, trying to get the most rewards at the lowest cost. However, the potential significance goes far beyond that, which adds a valuable choice for Durant's journey to the championship.

Who is Matthews? He is the player with the most steals in Mississippi State's history, and averages 2.4 steals per game. He is the top defensive talent in the United States. His data is even comparable to Hall of Fame players such as Pansey Hardaway and CJ McCollum. The Rockets were able to sign him not by chance, but because they saw the weaknesses in the backcourts of the Western Conference's strong teams: facing super defenders such as Curry, Booker and Doncic, adding a player who can tear his opponent's defense like a beast may become the key to the playoff victory.

However, controversy over this decision also followed: Matthews had obvious shortcomings in offense, with an average score of only 7.1 points per game in college and a relatively low three-point shooting percentage. Can he gain a foothold after entering the NBA? In response to this, the Rockets' response was very clear: they did not rely on him to score, just be able to disrupt the opponent's rhythm with solid defense like Tony Allen in the past. What's more, by firing Williams, the team instantly freed up $2.27 million in salary space, perhaps this is the preparation for the subsequent introduction of Chris Paul. Durant personally participated in winning over Paul. If this plan is successful, the Rockets' backcourt will be both experienced and energetic, thus making up for some of the final shortcomings.

This operation reflects the Rockets management's precise control over the timing of the championship. At present, they need to win without overdrawing the future. Netizens on social media discussed this heatedly, and many people praised Stone's strategy, believing that Matthews is a piece of jade to be carved, and Uduka's defensive system is the best stage for his growth. However, some fans expressed disdain for this, thinking that the Rockets were just picking up garbage that others thought was useless. Some even asserted that if Paul joined, the situation in the West would completely change! But the main focus of the debate is whether the Rockets bet on defense so much seems too radical?

When the Warriors made the league prosperous with their "small ball" tactics, the Rockets took a different approach and gathered a group of players with strong defensive capabilities to embark on a relatively traditional way of playing. However, this question follows: How long can this traditional old-school style last in today's NBA?