Trading the Houston Rockets
This is a new angle I’ve been interested in writing about for a while now. I understand that a lot of you reading prefer to read about the Celtics, but I think it’s interesting to look at other teams around the league. This offseason has the potential to be one of the most interesting ones in a long time with multiple teams most likely looking to make moves.
Some teams may look to restructure, some may look revamp the bench, and some may look to straight-up restart. The Rockets are in, in my opinion, a very interesting place right now. I don’t see the Russell Westbrook and James Harden experiment working out, and I believe that there is a ceiling on a team led by these two superstars especially in a stacked Western Conference. That ceiling is not a championship.
The steps they’ve taken this offseason indicate that they could look to hit the reset button. Don’t get me wrong Stephen Silas is a brilliant coach and one of the best offensive minds in the league, and Houston will probably choose to see how he gels with Westbrook and Harden. However, on the off chance they choose to reset everything, here’s how I would tackle the rebuild.
*I acknowledge that these trades may seem a little ridiculous, but this is all in the name of fun and speculation.
Rockets Receive: RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr., Bobby Portis, 2020 1RP (8th OVR), 2021 FRP (via DAL), 2023 FRP, 2025 FRP
Knicks Receive: James Harden
This trade may seem a little wild, especially when you consider that Harden is arguably a top-five player in the league. However, if the Rockets are committed to truly rebuilding, then ridding themselves of Harden and his contract would be a major stepping stone.
The Knicks have been determined to acquire top-level talent for years now. Just last season they tried desperately to bring the pairing of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to their organization, just for them to go to the Nets instead. With New York being one of the biggest markets in sports, the fans have to be sick and tired of watching a losing team for so long. While bringing in Harden would deplete them of most of their young assets, it would also propel them into a place where they can compete immediately. Add a couple more moves to acquire a supporting cast, and the Knicks are a real playoff team in the East.
As for the Rockets, this is a solid haul for the former MVP. While they don’t get back a bonafide star, they get Barrett who has all the potential to be one. His first season in New York was filled with constant pressure and a change in the head coach. Not exactly the type of environment that allows a young player to succeed. With Coach Silas at the helm, Barrett would be able to revamp his entire offensive game.
Houston also gets Kevin Knox and Dennis Smith Jr., who would both get a fresh start and a new chance to show why they were taken so high in the draft. Knox, like Barrett, was never really given the proper chance to succeed in New York, and the same goes for Smith Jr. Then there’s Portis, who could transition back to power forward and stretch the floor for the Rockets. He’d give them a big body, too, which they obviously are very much in need of.
The four first-round picks may seem excessive, but when you consider Paul George garnered more than that just last year, then this big of a package makes sense. Houston gave up nearly their entire arsenal of picks last season in the deal that brought Westbrook to the team, so this would definitely help them restock.
Rockets Receive: Aaron Gordon, Mo Bamba, 2021 FRP (Top 10 Protected)
Magic Receive: Russell Westbrook
The Magic have been desperately searching for a point guard ever since Penny Hardaway left oh so long ago. Markelle Fultz has the potential to be solid, but if Orlando wants to start winning games now, Westbrook would definitely help that. The former MVP may take some questionable shots at times, but his ability to help win basketball games should not be called into question. With guys like Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier around him, he’d have plenty of guys to pass to for open shots. I really think it’d be a solid fit.
As for the Rockets, this would bring two valuable assets to Houston while also getting rid of Westbrook’s massive contract. Gordon is a solid post and perimeter defender who can shoot the ball. (Not to mention he’s obviously athletic as hell.) He and Jonathan Isaac both suit the power forward position better, and Orlando could look to move on from Gordon in favor of Isaac. As for Bamba, the former top-five pick hasn’t gotten much of a chance to play behind Vucevic, as Steve Clifford is known to play the best player at all times. Moving to Houston could be just what the young center needs to hit the reset button on his career.
Rockets Receive: Taurean Prince, Dzanan Musa, 2020 FRP (6th OVR), 2020 FRP (via PHI)
Hawks Receive: Robert Covington, Ben McLemore
Nets Receive: Eric Gordon
Three team trades are always hard to work out. It’s hard enough to get two teams on board for a deal, let alone three. However, this trade would give each team something that they need going into next season.
Starting off with the Hawks, all signs point to them making a push for the playoffs next season. Trae Young just made his first All-Star appearance as a starter, and John Collins has all the potential to be an All-Star. With Young at the helm and Collins by his side, along with DeAndre Hunter, Cam Reddish, and Clint Capela, this team has a great young core ready to make a push. Adding two guys like Covington and McLemore brings a veteran presence to the locker room and two guys who can absolutely drain the three-ball. Covington is one of the best two-way players in the league, and McLemore’s career has just resurfaced to the point where he’s a quality bench guy. Losing the sixth pick hurts, but it might just be worth it to bring in some solid depth. (Plus Covington and head coach Lloyd Pierce already have a great relationship with one another.)
The Nets are ready to start their hunt for the kings of the East. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are two of the best players in the NBA, and with Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert on the squad, the depth is already pretty solid. Right now there’s some question as to who will be inserted into the starting lineup. Is LeVert going to start or play with Dinwiddie off the bench? Bringing in a bonafide scorer in Gordon would give them the option to start him next to Irving, or start LeVert instead. They’d lose a pick and some youth in Musa, but this just makes them that much more of a threat in the East.
Lastly, the Rockets are getting even more draft capital to help them begin their rebuild. This would give them the sixth pick in this year’s draft, along with another first next year. While they will have to take on the Prince contract, they also get off two of their biggest contracts in Covington and Gordon. Musa hasn’t really proved much during his time in the NBA, but if Houston is committed to starting over, they can afford to give a lot of young players a chance. This just continues the Rockets’ infusion of youth and helps them hit the reset button even more.
Potential Rockets 2020-21 Roster:
PJ Tucker
Danuel House Jr.
Chris Clemons
RJ Barrett
Aaron Gordon
Mo Bamba
Taurean Prince
Kevin Knox
Dennis Smith Jr.
Bobby Portis
Dzanan Musa
2020 6th OVR Pick (via ATL)
2020 8th OVR Pick (via NY)
2020 FRP (via PHI)
FA Signing
FA Signing (Two-Way)
Potential Starting Lineup:
PG: Dennis Smith Jr.
SG: RJ Barrett
SF: Danuel House Jr.
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Mo Bamba
This set of moves bring in so many young pieces to Houston, along with a whole new repertoire of draft picks. It gives them a chance to start fresh and begin a (in my opinion) much needed rebuild. Barrett could very well be a star, and a change of scenery and stable head coach will help this ascension to greatness. I doubt Houston will end up making any of these moves, but that’s how I’d blow up the Houston Rockets.
