The Houston Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. will be out four to eight weeks after fracturing his left hand during a shootaround Friday, coach Ime Udoka said before Friday evening’s game against the Boston Celtics.
Smith is currently averaging 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Rockets, who are 22-11 and third in the Western Conference.
Losing him at a time when the Rockets are already quietly dealing with a Tari Eason absence is a huge blow. Not only has Smith emerged as a dependable, switchable defender within Udoka’s aggressive scheme, but his ability to slide up a position and soak up minutes as a small ball five gives Houston an in-game edge.
Smith has always been a solid floor spacer and plus rebounder at his position, and although advanced analytics don’t paint him in a particularly strong light, his size and versatility are greatly needed on a roster playing above expectations. Over the last two weeks, Smith had taken on a slightly larger scoring responsibility and had handled it well, leaning into untapped aggression and giving the Rockets another go-to option in the halfcourt.
How Udoka plans to fill Smith’s shoes over the next two months — and possibly more — might be the key to staying among the top of the Western Conference. Given Houston’s offensive inconsistencies, second-year forward Cam Whitmore seems like a logical choice, given his size and scoring punch. Whitmore has recently been integrated back into the rotation after spending some time in the G League and has taken notable steps in his development, notably on the defensive end. But the Rockets need to fill holes in their rebounding and shooting department while Smith is out and in a vacuum, Whitmore should be able to soften the blow.
Udoka could also shift some of Smith’s power forward minutes to wing Dillon Brooks (and to a lesser extent Amen Thompson following his return from suspension), who has shown the capability of handling larger matchups throughout his career.
Another option could be seldom-used veteran forward Jeff Green, given his experience and shooting ability. And assuming the Rockets are unable to fill Smith’s void in the interim, the organization possesses enough flexibility to explore the trade market, should it come to that.
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