This summer, the Rockets most cost-effective signing is none other than him. He has changed Uduka s rotation logic.

This year's offseason, the Rockets' most important signing was none other than Kevin Durant. The Rockets traded Jaylen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Suns in exchange for Durant.

After Durant came to the Rockets, he averaged 27.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, shooting 55% from the field and 40% from the three-point range. He became the Rockets' number one attacker and the player they rely on most offensively.

Durant's arrival actually replaced the function of Jaylen Green, the team's top attacker last season. Durant's grade and strength are higher. Compared with Jaylen Green, the Rockets' grade has been significantly improved.

Durant can cover the functions of Jaylen Green, but with the loss of Dillon Brooks, the Rockets introduced Finney Smith to make up for the vacancy left by Dillon. Dillon's salary was US$22.13 million, while Finney Smith only had a salary of US$12.7 million. The Rockets were downgraded in salary and found a replacement.

In the new season, Jaylen Green, Dillon Brooks and Finney Smith have all been sidelined for a long time due to injuries. Among them, Jaylen Green and Finney Smith have not played yet this season. Dillon Brooks has become the mainstay of the Suns' offense, but the offensive efficiency is appalling.

The Rockets originally expected Finney Smith to take on the vacancy left by Dillon Brooks. During the period when Finney Smith could not play, Okogie, who the Rockets signed with a minimum salary during this offseason, took on such a role very well.

This season, Okogie played in 5 games for the Rockets, starting 3 of them. He averaged 10 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 22.4 minutes per game, shooting 63% from the field, 60% from the three-point range, and 81% from the free throw line. Before that, Uduka liked to put the five major lineups as the starting lineup. Such a starting lineup is Amen, Durant, Smith, Adams and Shen Jing. However, such a five-major lineup is not effective at the start of the game. On the defensive end, it needs to guard a 2-3 zone defense. The Rockets' zone defense is not good, and the space on the offensive end is very poor. Uduka's solution is to put Uduka in the starting lineup, allowing Adams to be replaced as a substitute.

When Okogie became the starter, the Rockets were undefeated. The Rockets achieved a great balance on both offense and defense. With the team's chemical reaction, the effect of the Rockets' five major lineups gradually became better. However, so far, Udoka seems to have no reason to let Okogie fall to the bench.

In the starting lineup, Okogie takes on the important task of leading the opponent's offensive arrows, thereby freeing Amen Thompson. Because the Rockets do not have a five-high lineup in the starting lineup, Udoka can use a man-to-man strategy with unlimited defense changes, which solves the problem of the Rockets' inability to defend three-pointers in the opening stage. The good drawbacks are that Okogie's defensive area, footwork speed, awareness of switching defenses, and quality of leading defense are all relatively high in the team, which greatly reduces the defensive weaknesses of the Rockets' starting lineup. In addition to the defensive end, the opponent's defense changes due to Shen Jing's poor footwork speed, the Rockets' overall defensive quality has been greatly improved compared to the five major periods.

On the offensive end, Okogie basically assumes the important task of space points. Because Adams is not in the starting lineup, the Rockets' starting lineup has only Amen as a non-space point. Amen's offensive value with the ball, value of running without the ball, and secondary offensive value after offensive rebounds can completely cover up the value of poor space. Other Rockets players Shen Jing and Durant can also tolerate the Rockets having only one non-space point on the court. Okogie's entry into the starting lineup has completely activated the balance of the Rockets' offensive system.

Although Okogie has entered the starting lineup, he is often a false starter. He currently averages 22.4 minutes per game, and his playing time is tied for sixth on the team with Adams. Although the Rockets do not use twin towers or even five-high lineups in the starting lineup, the Rockets use twin-towers or even five-high lineups a lot of time. However, Okogie's existence makes this arrangement and combination more diverse.

Okogie's career shooting resume is not good. His career field goal percentage is only 40.9%, his three-point shooting percentage is only 30.4%, and his free throw percentage is only 74.9%. In his previous positioning, Okogie was more of a defensive player who was very slow to attack.

But after coming to the Rockets, Okogie did better on the offensive end, and his certainty of open shots was greatly improved. On the one hand, it is related to the Rockets' containment points Durant and Shen Jing's ability to attract the opponent's double-teaming strategy. The open opportunities Okogie got were basically big open shots. On the other hand, Okogie was teammates with Durant during the Suns. The two are relatively familiar with each other, and Shen Jing has good passing vision. The Rockets' dual-core can significantly increase Okogie's offensive efficiency.

So, when Finney Smith returns, will Okogie fall out of the rotation?

From the current point of view, it seems not. If Uduka wants, he can put up a five-defense lineup of Finney Smith + Okogie + Amen + Ethan + Durant/Smith. Okogie's space in Uduka's formation provides many possibilities.

This season, the value Okogie provides is more of a 3D spatial defensive leader. The current 3 and D are very top-notch. During the offseason, the Rockets only signed with a basic salary and made a lot of money. If they can maintain this performance, they will be ready for next summer. Of course, Okogie's success this season is also related to the Rockets' configuration and environment. If we leave such a system and configuration, Okogie's offensive and defensive performance will still need to be a big question mark. In a sense, Okogie and the current Rockets basically have a mutually beneficial relationship.