After going 52-30 and making the playoffs for the first time since the James Harden era, excitement surrounded the Houston Rockets after acquiring Kevin Durant in a blockbuster offseason trade. In 2025, the organization began to move from a rebuild highlighted by youth, to a win-now attitude, signing veterans and banking on the development of the young core. Fast forward to now, and that excitement doesn't quite resonate. The Rockets just suffered a disappointing first-round exit to the Los Angeles Lakers, who were playing without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves (for most of the series). Houston was without Durant for all but Game 2, but that doesn't take away from the frustration. Many believed this team was a title contender, or at least primed to get past the first round and play basketball into early May. All things considered, many of the Rockets' flaws were out of the players' control.…