The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets rekindled their rivalry late last season, but this time it was a race to the NBA’s Play-In Tournament rather than the playoff battles from over five years ago.
Following a verbal exchange between Tari Eason and Draymond Green, the Warriors managed to secure the Western Conference’s tenth seed over the Rockets — only to be swiftly eliminated by the Sacramento Kings.
Could the Golden State Warriors’ Rivalry with the Houston Rockets Extend Beyond the Court into Lauri Markkanen Trade Talks?
The Warriors and Rockets might revive their rivalry next season as they aim to climb the Western Conference standings. However, the rivalry could heat up even earlier regarding the Lauri Markkanen trade discussions.
Golden State has been heavily linked to the Utah Jazz forward recently, but they’re not the only team interested in Markkanen before he becomes extension-eligible on August 6. According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe on his latest podcast episode, Houston is an “interesting” team for Markkanen as their talented young roster aims to take a significant step forward next season.
“Houston is an interesting one to me because I’ve just been of the view that if I’m the Rockets, I just need to let this thing marinate… But I know Ime Udoka and the coaching staff, they want to win. They want to hit the gas now. And Markkanen would be a way to hit the gas.”
– Zach Lowe
The Rockets’ wealth of talented young players and future picks could outbid the Warriors in such a scenario, but it’s uncertain if they’re ready for an “all-in” move. Like Golden State with Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, Houston has decisions to make on 2021 first-round picks Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun. What happens with this duo could significantly impact the Rockets’ ability to extend Markkanen’s deal while maintaining financial flexibility.
If Houston were to acquire the 2023 All-Star, they would likely be projected as a stronger team than Golden State next season. This is the dilemma for the Warriors — they need Markkanen for their benefit, but their playoff chances could be compromised if he joins a young team like the Rockets or San Antonio Spurs.