The Rockets are in the conversation as one of the top teams in the league this season, but despite this you can never accumulate enough talent to help/ensure that the team is ready come playoff time. There are a few trades I think Houston could definitely make, as well as a few that may be a bit bold, to say the least. There are three players that Houston could realistically have a chance of acquiring before the trade deadline.
Possible:
Lou Williams
A possible reunion between Williams and the Rockets would be amazing for both sides. Lou has averaged 23 points per game coming off the bench(he has started 14 games). With Houston, he’d primarily come off the bench, and would instantly make the teams bench one of, if not the most, scary benches in the NBA. Gordon and Lou Williams alone combine to score 40+ points per game, add in the likes of Luc Mbah Moute, Nene, Gerald Green, and PJ Tucker, and you have a group of players that could very well be a starting 5 on many other teams. Last season, Harden seemed to run out of gas in the postseason. Of course, Chris Paul will help that a lot and take some pressure off of him, but having a deep, talented, high scoring bench would also help in the long run. A trade for Williams would be much more doable also since his salary is low compared to other players of equal talent in the NBA.
Wesley Matthews
Wesley Matthews has long been a tough defender, as well as a solid three point shooter. Any time a team with Matthews plays the Rockets, he is always following James Harden around, and for the most part does a very good job of keeping him in check, dating back to his days with the Trail Blazers. Though only averaging 12 points per game, Matthews is shooting 38% on threes this season, and on a team like the Rockets who shoots almost exclusively threes, a high percentage shooter could be huge come playoff time. That shooting plus the defense would give Houston yet another option off the bench that wouldn’t be a huge drop off from the starters both scoring and playing defense. Matthews salary could create problems however, as the Rockets would have to give up close to the same amount of money they would be taking on due to their proximity to the salary cap.
Deandre Jordan
Deandre Jordan would be another player the Rockets could attempt to acquire before the trade deadline. Averaging 12 points, and 15 rebounds per game, Jordan is having one of his best seasons in his NBA career. In recent weeks, there have been whispers that Deandre demanded a trade, and preferred to be sent to Houston. Though he would be a very good low post option for Houston, the Bellaire High School graduate wouldn’t provide that big of an upgrade because of the emergence of Swiss center Clint Capela, who is having a career year. Capela isn’t as strong as Jordan, but he matches him in almost every category, and for at least $20 million less per year(for the time being at least). Capela is also shooting over 70% from the free throw line, an enormous jump from his usual success from the charity stripe, and at least 10% better than Jordan. When the Playoffs come around, that difference could be essential to Houston advancing deep. The difference in money makes this trade very unlikely, and the Rockets brass definitely are fans of Capela’s. This deal will not happen.
Maybe?
Kevin Love
This is a deal that would put the Rockets firmly in the drivers seat to win the Western Conference. Love has fallen out of favor in Cleveland, so if there was ever a time to try to steal him away from the defending Eastern Conference Champs, it’s now. Love is averaging nearly 20 points per game, along with 9 rebounds. Most importantly, he’s shooting 40% from three. A deal that makes sense to me that could be appealing to both sides would be Houston sending Ryan Anderson and a first round pick to Cleveland for Love. Love would instantly step into the starting Power Forward spot, and provide over 10ppg more than Anderson. Ryan is also a terrible three point shooter at home(allegedly having something to do with the fact that he’s color blind to red-which happens to be the color that surrounds the outline of the basket whenever he’s playing in Houston). The Rockets are averaging 115ppg, with the addition of Love, they could possibly threaten the 120ppg threshold, without downgrading much, if at all on the defensive end, as well as rebounding. The UCLA alum is also a very gifted passer for a big man, though not as much so since joining the Cavs. A solid passer starting off/finishing a fast break would make the Rockets that much more dangerous offensively.
The Rockets are close to being where they want to be, and they could very well make a run to the NBA finals with the team set up as is, but an addition or two(without subtracting from the top half of the roster) definitely couldn’t hurt. I can’t remember the last time Daryl Morey didn’t make a move at a trade deadline, so I would expect much of the same this year. In Daryl we trust!!!