During the offseason, the most important thing for Rockets operations emerges, which will have a chain reaction to Rockets operations.

What is the most important thing for the Rockets this summer?

The answer is that the Rockets must keep Adams behind. This summer, Adams' contract expires and will become a free agent. His outstanding performance this season has attracted the attention of many teams. The Rockets must keep Adams behind and complete the contract renewal with Adams.

This season, Adams played 57 games for the Rockets, averaging 3.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.5 blocks, 1 turnover and 1 foul, with a shooting percentage of 54.5% and a free throw percentage of 46.2%.

Playoffs, Adams played 7 games for the Rockets, averaging 5.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.1 blocks, 0.7 turnovers and 1 foul in 22 minutes. His shooting percentage was 60% and his free throw percentage was 53.3%.

In terms of data, the Rockets have three players who average more playing time in the playoffs than in the regular season, and these three players are Shin Kyung, Van Vleet and Adams.

Shen Kyung plays more time in the playoffs than in the regular season, which is easy to understand. Shin Kyung is the Rockets' best player in the playoffs, and his playing time will naturally increase compared to the regular season. Van Vleet's playing time is more time to understand. The Rockets need Van Vleet's organization and connection too much, and Van Vleet's control too much. Van Vleet is too important.

So, why does Adams average much more playing time in the playoffs than in the regular season?

The answer is obvious. Adams' strategic and tactical value has been greatly improved compared to the regular season.

Adams' strategic value lies in the fact that the Rockets' double towers or three-high lineups can make the opponent unable to play the Rockets' penalty area at all. The Rockets' defensive level and level can be quickly improved. The Rockets' inside defense has improved, and the rebound protection and frame protection have improved. When the opponent's three-pointer feels bad, such a defensive strategy is the confidence and guarantee for winning, or when encountering a team that is not good at outside shooting, such a defensive arrangement can make the opponent's offensive development extremely difficult.

Adams' tactical value lies in defense at the basket, which can improve the quality of inside defense and complement Shin Kyung on the defensive end. He is not afraid of the opponent replacing Shin Kyung with defense. The Rockets' inside defense level has dropped, which can protect rebounds very well and fight for more offensive rebounds on the offensive end. At the same time, Adams' pick-and-roll quality is the best in the team.

Two tower lineups or three-high lineups seem to have become the trend of this year's playoffs. The four teams in this year's playoffs all have double tower configurations. The Thunder have Chet + Haltenstein, the Timberwolves have Gobert + Randall, the Knicks have Towns + Mitchell Robinson, and the Pacers have Siakam + Turner inside combinations.

Adams is of great significance to the Rockets. Adams is the only traditional heavy center for the Rockets. Langdale and Shin Kyung are more technical. Jeff Green is a mobile inside player. Adams can form a complementary relationship with other Rockets centers.

Adams' rebounding battle is the best among all the Rockets' centers, especially Adams' frontcourt rebounding rate. He has long been at the forefront of the league. Adams's card skills have forged the myth of Westbrook's triple-double king for many years. In the playoffs, Cole has no solution to Adams. He has tried to replace Adams with the tactics of cutting Adams many times. Uduka has been fooled once, and it can be seen that the game point between the head coaches of the two teams is Adams, which shows Adams' role and importance on the court.

Adams has a natural solid body advantage in rebounding competitions, and can also be infinitely amplified through pick-and-roll. Adams and his teammates can basically block the opportunity for open positions. The key is that other Rockets players may not be able to grasp the shooting space created by Adams, because the Rockets' outside shooting is really poor.

Adams's counterattack problem also plagued the opponent. During Adams's presence, it made it difficult for the opponent to play against each other. In the playoffs, no center in the Warriors could match Adams.

Adams As a functional player, the Rockets exchanged Adams through Oladipo + second-round draft pick last season. Oladipo has faded out of the league. From this perspective, the Rockets only made a big profit by a second-round pick, and Stone's vision is still very accurate.

Although Adams has many shortcomings. He does not have the ability to develop offensively on the offensive end, does not have the ability to shoot, and does not move the footsteps on the defensive end, which is easy to be targeted and has poor defense switching capabilities, but these are all common shortcomings and deficiencies of functional centers and do not affect Adams' value.

This season, Adams' contract is $12.6 million, and the contract expires this summer. The Rockets have Adams' bird rights. With Adams' performance this season, the Rockets can completely throw away one of Langdale and Jeff Green, thereby offering Adams a higher contract. However, Adams' outstanding performance has attracted the attention of other teams in the league, and the Rockets may face fierce competition.

Of course, the Rockets can offer Adams a new contract that is higher than the full middle class special case. If Adams' new contract is not equal to the Rockets' expectations, it is also possible to lose Adams. Of course, the full middle class in the 25-26 season is $14.1 million. Adams must also recognize the market conditions and never miscalculate his value.

The Rockets signed a new contract with Van Vleet in the offseason, but there are many uncertainties in keeping Adams. Adams' stay and leave directly affects the Rockets' subsequent signings and reinforcements during the offseason. It can be said that whether Adams can be left to sign the Rockets will have a butterfly effect, which will affect the whole body with one shot, indicating Adams' value and importance. After a season in the Rockets, they are already in the highlight of their career.