With the NBA’s Feb. 8 deadline looming for 2023-24 in-season trades, the Rockets will be careful not to block minutes for emerging rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, according to Saturday’s update from Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
The Rockets won’t sit out the deadline, since they already struck one deal to acquire veteran center Steven Adams from Memphis. Adams, however, won’t be medically cleared to play until next season, so it remains to be seen if general manager Rafael Stone will be able to fortify his 2023-24 roster as Houston (23-25) continues its push for at least a Western Conference play-in tournament spot this season.
The Rockets do have a moderate amount of future draft capital to dangle as trade bait, along with multiple expiring contracts to potentially use as matching salary. But with Adams set to bolster the center rotation next season and Thompson and Whitmore improving by the week, the question is how aggressive the Rockets will bid for depth upgrades that aren’t a part of the longer-term blueprint.
In Saturday’s story, Feigen offers more context:
Even in the more modest, typical trade deadline goals of strengthening a rotation for a playoff push, the Rockets would be careful about bringing in players that would take minutes from Whitmore and Thompson.
Whitmore’s shooting has been valuable for a team among their league’s worst in 3-point shooting. Thompson’s defense has been especially strong for a rookie, with his rebounding outstanding any player at his position and his ballhandling and playmaking a plus for a secondary ballhandler (when playing with Fred VanVleet.) …
There could be interest in a short-term upgrade at center, but less pressure to make that sort of move given the likelihood that after the Adams trade, bringing in a sixth center would be for this season with a team still thinking long-term.
In the story, Feigen cited Whitmore and Thompson as developmental priorities alongside the other core draft prospects from Houston’s rebuilding years: third-year players Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, and second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason.
Rockets' trade for Steven Adams shows team's approach before deadline: build for future https://t.co/k9zSCBiRJf
— Chronicle Sports (@ChronSports) February 3, 2024
Elsewhere, Feigen mentions Utah’s Kelly Olynyk, Washington’s Daniel Gafford, and Charlotte’s Nick Richards as options for this season’s backup center role. However, he says Stone and the Rockets would have to weigh whether any would play ahead of Jeff Green.
If not, it might not make sense to make a bid of significance, given that it’s a short-term hole (due to the presence of Adams next season).
Similarly, on the perimeter, many moderate upgrades may not be worth decreasing minutes for Thompson and/or Whitmore, particularly with Eason expected to return in the coming week.
Granted, a more substantial upgrade (such as an All-Star-caliber player) would change the calculus. But Feigen reports that such a player appears increasingly unlikely to be dealt this week.
In comments from earlier this week, head coach Ime Udoka mentioned 3-point shooting and versatility among big men as needs for the Rockets entering the Feb. 8 trade deadline window. But with minutes far from a guarantee — and especially in the long-term — it sounds as if Stone will be patient and wait for options at a lower price point, in terms of the asset value given up in any deal.
