Overview
- The 32-year-old center had left-ankle surgery following a Jan. 18 Grade 3 sprain suffered contesting a Zion Williamson shot, with the procedure reported by ESPN and confirmed by the team.
- Adams averaged 5.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and an elite 4.5 offensive boards in 22.8 minutes, anchoring a rebounding-driven offense that has slipped on the glass since his injury.
- Clint Capela has taken over as the primary backup to Alperen Şengün, and Ime Udoka is expected to deploy more small-ball looks with Jabari Smith Jr. at center.
- With the trade deadline nearing, Houston is evaluating center help, but cap constraints leave roughly $1.2 million under the hard cap and no new DPE available after the Jan. 15 cutoff, limiting the utility of the existing $12.5 million exception from Fred VanVleet’s injury.
- Houston sits 28–16 near the top of the West and leads the league in rebounding, while Adams remains under contract through 2027–28, shaping both short- and long-term roster planning.