The NBA trade deadline is still a day away and we’ve already seen the craziest set of deals in league history with Luka Doncic moved to the Lakers and De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs. It begs the question in Houston: Do the Rockets make a deadline move as well?
GM Rafael Stone and the entire Rockets organization have spent the last five seasons re-tooling a Rockets roster from one that was a perennial playoff team, through three of the worst years in franchise history, and finally back to respectability. Currently sitting third in the West, despite a spate of recent injuries to three starters, it is a team that has all the earmarks of one that will contend sooner rather than later.
But, this is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league and the Rockets understand that. Very few teams have the tradable assets the Rockets do. They have young, inexpensive talent and still plenty of draft capital. Their cap remains in terrific shape and they have made smart extension signings with Green and Sengun without breaking the bank. Perhaps the buy-low-sell-high mentality will get the best of them as they watch huge names change teams, but it’s unlikely.
They have been willing to be as patient as possible, letting young players like Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith, Jr. learn at grow at a steady pace. Stone is probably disinclined to make any significant changes in the middle of what has been a very good season, and for some good reasons.
First, this team is already one of the best in the Western Conference, with a top 5 defense and a top 10 offense despite their lack of outside shooting. They have also developed an identity as a tough minded squad that doesn’t back down from anyone, youth be damned. With nearly two full seasons now under the same coach and system, that chemistry is showing in their play on the floor.
Second, they still need to figure out exactly what they have. If you consider the core of this team to include the aforementioned players along with Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore and Reed Sheppard, only Eason, 23, is past the ripe old age of 22. Two of them aren’t even old enough to legally drink. Patience is not typically a virtue in sports, but for this Rockets team, it might need to be, at least for the remainder of this year. Another full season to evaluate could make a significant difference in their plans this offseason.
Finally, time is not the Rockets enemy here. They aren’t running up against big contract decisions for coaches or players. There is no concern about burning through the prime of aging members of the roster. And they are, by many measures, ahead of where plenty of people thought they would be. They will eventually have to wrestle with difficult contract decisions, but not yet and why rush that?
It can be tough to sit by and watch other teams in your division make big moves, but it doesn’t mean the Rockets must do the same. If anything teams need to play catch up with where the Rockets are now, not the other way around.
