With a record at the bottom of the Western Conference, the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets clearly aren’t traditional buyers as the NBA’s Feb. 10 trade deadline for the 2021-22 season approaches.
Yet, they aren’t obvious sellers, either.
Nearly all of the marquee veterans they currently have under contract are on the books for 2022-23, as well. Thus, even though Houston clearly isn’t making a playoff push this season, it’s not as if they have to make a move or risk losing those players for no compensation.
General manager Rafael Stone could explore the offseason trade market with those players, or he could keep many of those veterans around in an effort to help bolster the development of Houston’s young core (i.e. Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Porter Jr., and beyond) — and perhaps bring some extra wins in the 2022-23 campaign.
Moreover, an aggressive move to add a player (such as a franchise centerpiece) can’t be ruled out, either. Houston isn’t likely to add a big-name veteran of significant age, given its lowly record, but expect Stone to explore any opportunities to add younger difference-makers who could potentially grow with the existing core in the years ahead.
This continually updated post will offer a one-stop shop for the latest trade rumors and tidbits surrounding many players on the current roster, as well as any reported interest by Stone in players elsewhere.
(Last updated: Wednesday, Jan. 26)
