Just months after trading James Harden, the Rockets appear to be entering a full rebuild.
Some around the league expect the team to have a “fire sale,” Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report hears, with one rival assistant GM predicting that Houston will “burn down the house.” Houston has an incentive to drop in the standings, as they will swap first-rounders with either the Heat or Thunder should it not land in the top-4 (via the Russell Westbrook trade).
Houston intended on making a run at the playoffs earlier this season, which was part of the reason the franchise opted to swap Caris LeVert for Victor Oladipo. Still, it’s widely expected that not too many sellers will emerge before the trade deadline, so the Rockets could be in an advantageous position should they decide to go that route.
More NBA Trade Rumors
- The Timberwolves had interest in trading for P.J. Tucker ahead of the 2020 draft and the Rockets could have landed a late first-rounder for him—presumably either the No. 17 overall pick in that draft, which was sent to OKC in the Ricky Rubio deal (Rubio was briefly sent to the Thunder in the Chris Paul deal) or the No. 28 overall pick, which Minnesota received as part of the three-team. Rival executives believe it’s unlikely that Houston gets a first for Tucker now. If they had a first for him now, he’d already be gone,” one GM tells Fischer. One factor is that Tucker would want an extension from any team he’s traded to.
- Tucker heading to the Nets is something that has been a “long-whispered rumor,” per Fischer. That deal would see Spencer Dinwiddie head to Houston in return for the 35-year-old.
- The Rockets send Oladipo elsewhere this offseason via a sign-and-trade if they are unable to find a deal to their liking before it, Fischer relays. “They’re too smart to just whiff and get nothing off of him,” one Western Conference executive explains.
- It’s likely that Eric Gordon stays put past the trade deadline, Fischer adds. There’s interest in Gordon, who is making $16.9 million this season, though buyers may prioritize higher wings with more manageable salaries, like Sterling Brown, who’s rumored to have drawn interest from around the league.
- ICYMI: The Thunder are open to trading several veterans, including George Hill, Al Horford, and Mike Muscala. Oklahoma City appears to be one of the teams likeliest to make a deal.
