85 steals + 85 blocks! No. 1 in the league! The 22-year-old young player is super rising, Durant wants to cut his salary

The Houston Rockets spent a crazy and fulfilling offseason, highlighting a fast, steady and ruthless deal - completing Durant Jaylen Green's big deal, poached Finney Smith (4 years, $53 million) and Capela (3 years, $21 million), and renewed Van Jordan (2 years, $50 million), Jabbarri Smith Jordan (5 years, $122 million) and Adams (3 years, $39 million). In short, the Rockets have enhanced the depth of the forward and inside line while retaining the core team of last season, and also used the God of Death Durant to install invisible wings on the championship dream. The strength on paper is daunting. Especially when the league selects the Rockets as the opening opponent of the defending champion Thunder, we have to admit the fact that this Rockets will become a big trouble for the league in the new season and even in the coming years.

The Rockets' crazy upgrade of the lineup is not scary. What's scary is that they always adhere to a basic principle in this process: the teams who compete for the championship do not raise idle people, and good steel must be used on the edge. Whether it is the old players Van Jordan, Adams, Jabbarri Smith Jr., new players Finney Smith, Capela, the average annual salary of the contracts they signed is almost far lower than market expectations, and it is cost-effective. Not only that, the Rockets also had the same thoughts on Durant's contract renewal. According to the labor-management agreement, Durant can renew his maximum salary of US$122 million with the Rockets for two years during the offseason this year, or wait until 6 months later to renew his maximum salary of US$124 million. However, US media pointed out incisively: The Rockets are not in a hurry to renew their contract with Durant, and it is unlikely that they will give Durant a maximum salary contract.

The Rockets exchanged Jaylen Green for Durant, and they did not just want Durant's rights for one year. So, why are the Rockets so dragging on Durant's contract renewal? Rather than saying that this is distrust and disrespect for the God of Death Durant, it is better to say that the Rockets are playing a big game and plan for the future ahead of schedule. NBA famous reporter Brian pointed out incisively: Everything the Rockets do is to optimize the salary space in 2027, and they may have to prepare a maximum salary contract for Amen by then. Amen is just a 22-year-old player, but it is an indisputable fact that his super rise is definitely worth the Rockets' preparations for the future.

Last season, Amen fulfilled his talent and frequently created surprises. Among them, on January 6, Amen scored 23 points + 16 rebounds, setting a career high; on January 26, Amen contributed a big triple-double with 23 points + 14 rebounds + 10 assists; on January 28, Amen scored 33 points + 9 rebounds + 4 assists, setting a career high; on February 4, Amen scored 25 points + 11 rebounds + 11 assists, setting a career high; on March 22, Amen contributed 18 points + 9 rebounds + 5 assists + 7 steals, setting a career high. In the 69 games of the regular season, Amen averaged 14.1 points + 8.2 rebounds + 3.8 assists + 1.4 steals + 1.3 blocks; in the 7 games of the playoffs, Amen averaged 15.7 points + 6.9 rebounds + 3.3 assists + 1.7 steals.

In this process, Amen also completed several amazing records. According to statistics from the NBA official website, Amen scored 85 steals + 85 blocks last season, and he is the only player in the league who has at least 85 breaks + 85 blocks. At the same time, Amen ranked first in the league in the shooting percentage of opponents (40.7%) last season, surpassing Durant (41.1%). In addition, Amen was successfully selected as the best defensive team of the year. He is the fifth player in the Rockets' history to be selected as the best first defense, comparable to Olajuwon, McCree, Pippen and Beverly. What's even more amazing is that Amen became the youngest player in the Rockets' best first defense at the age of 22 years and 113 days.

This is Amen, young and fearless, with an offense and defense. In Perkins' words, he is expected to become the best offense and defense two-way player in the league in two years. Perhaps, this is also the reason why the Rockets had to reserve a maximum salary contract for 22-year-old Amen in advance, and 36-year-old veteran Durant had to cut Amen's salary. According to NBA famous reporter Kurt Helin, sources revealed that Durant may get less money, such as $100 million in two years, and he has the right to make the best choice for him, his glory and his family. In a sense, the Rockets are Durant's long-lost comfort zone, and he is not short of money. If he is willing to cut his salary and take root here, then the Rockets can be in the championship window in the next 3-5 years, so why not do it? Fans, what do you think about this? Let me leave me a comment and discuss it.