The Houston Rockets are humming this season, starting the year 11-5 and looking like certified Playoff contenders in the competitive Western Conference. The Rockets are considered to be one of the teams on the precipice of trading for a star and have been heavily linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Those rumors can be put to bed for now, as The Athletic is reporting through sources that the Rockets are not interested in a blockbuster trade for Giannis.
“The Rockets are not interested in breaking up their core for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources tell The Atheltic. Houston, sitting at 10-5 and a game out of first in the West, remains focused on developing its young players as a collective.”
The Rockets have no reason to overreact and make a trade for a star when they are in the first year of being competitive with this core they’ve meticulously built over the last five years after James Harden left the franchise.
Their current roster has so many potentially valuable pieces that it makes sense to continue their development over this season to start finalizing who is going to stay for a long time and who might be made available for a potential superstar trade.
They might not be interested in a Giannis trade this season, but they’ll know a lot more about the validity of their young core by next summer.
The Players Who Might Be Untouchable In Future Trades
Recently, it was reported that the Rockets view Amen Thompson and Tari Eason as untouchable pieces.
Tari Eason with 6 STEALS in only 23 minutes tonight
The defensive impact between him and Amen Thompson when they’re on the court together is insane pic.twitter.com/dPpGo5s5G5
— Hoops Digest™️ (@TheHoopsDigest) November 21, 2024
Thompson was their No. 4 pick last season who is already showing flashes of being one of the best defenders in the NBA with a keen on-ball playmaking sense as well. He’s a spotty shooter, but he’s averaging 10.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists off the bench this season.
Eason was drafted with the 17th pick in 2022, proving to be a high-value 3-and-D player already. He’s averaging 11.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.2 steals this season.
Outside of these two, the Rockets would likely keep center Alperen Sengun out of any trade conversations as he’s taking the baton as the team’s No. 1 option this season after securing a long-term contract extension as well. He’s averaging 18.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists so far this season.
Players like Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore are highly talented young stars on their roster but haven’t been able to carve out a rotational spot on the roster with all the great talent around them, with veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks being prioritized to keep the franchise in a winning position.
If a trade is made, the Rockets likely float Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Green as two of the potential pieces involved, especially with Green signing a short-term extension this summer.
It’s hard to identify what kind of player the Rockets would want in a deal, with this roster being flexible enough to adapt to almost any star player in the NBA. It’s a great situation right now, and it’s clear they don’t want to make a move to upset their balance this early in their rebuild cycle.
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