Following the hire of Ime Udoka, the Houston Rockets were anticipated to ascend to new heights last season. The team did show significant improvement, jumping from 22 wins to 41, but they still missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
Now, with heightened expectations as Udoka enters his second season, the Rockets look to develop their young core, which includes Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr, Amen Thompson, and newly drafted Reed Sheppard. However, with such a deep pool of young talent, they face the challenge of allocating enough minutes to each player. While the starters will see their usual playing time, developing key role players might be difficult due to inconsistent rotational minutes.
Another potential path for the Rockets to elevate their game is by trading some of their young talent for a proven star. Given their abundance of tradeable assets, this could be a viable solution.
Houston Rockets Shopping Jalen Green for Superstar Talent
According to Clutch Points NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Rockets have been open to trade discussions involving shooting guard Jalen Green. Green, who is eligible for a rookie-level extension this offseason, could enter restricted free agency next year if left unsigned. The Rockets might seek to preempt contract negotiations by trading the former No. 2 overall pick, who has averaged 19.8 points per game in his career.
“At some point, Houston is going to make a move on the trade market. This organization is looking to significantly upgrade their roster and make a legitimate playoff push during the upcoming season. How Sheppard has played in Las Vegas, as well as how he begins the new season off the bench, will have a direct impact on Green’s future with the organization.
While many in Houston still believe in Green’s abilities to be a featured long-term scoring option at the shooting guard position, the Rockets have shown more willingness to discuss his name in trade situations around the league, sources said. Houston has not attempted to move Green, other than for Bridges last season, but his future is certainly more in question than that of Alperen Sengun, whom the organization views as a top-five center in the NBA right now.” – Brett Siegel on Houston Rockets discussing Jalen Green trades
A trade involving Sengun is another possibility, but the addition of Reed Sheppard with the third overall pick makes Green more expendable. Considering Green’s pending large contract extension, the Rockets could see more value in moving him sooner rather than later.
Sheppard’s standout performance in the Vegas Summer League, where he averaged 20 PPG while shooting 50% from the field, further bolsters Houston’s case for trading Green.
While the Rockets have struggled to find a star talent worth trading Green for, there will likely be no shortage of suitors interested in acquiring the potential future All-Star. Any team looking for a significant scoring boost would be intrigued, although finding a willing trade partner may prove challenging.