The Houston Rockets are hoping to complete the jump to the Western Conference’s contender pool, finishing with a .500 record last season despite being the No. 11 seed. I believe that Ime Udoka’s defensive philosophy has infected the deep roster for the better and that they look like one of the teams best positioned to take a jump this season, but certain roster changes could guarantee them contention.
The Memphis Grizzlies are coming back from an injury-riddled season that saw all their stars miss major time, with Ja Morant playing just six games all season long. With Morant’s return and a strong supporting cast behind him, the Grizzlies are hoping to be competitive without any major additions. But we can see how quickly the West is progressing, which leads me to believe the Grizz could add some more finesse to their grit-and-grind roster to enhance their offensive ceiling.
Both teams have star frontcourt players and in my opinion, if they swapped players in a unique deal giving both teams additional weapons, the Western Conference would become a lot more challenging.
Trade Details
Houston Rockets Receive: Jaren Jackson Jr., Marcus Smart, 2029 First-Round Pick (MEM)
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Fred VanVleet
The Rockets added two more defensive weapons to solidify the roster around Jalen Green’s incredible offensive talent, also opening up rotational room for the likes of Cam Whitmore and Tari Eason. The Grizzlies add an offensive hub and a defensive wing with plenty of upside, along with the veteran guard habits of VanVleet.
The Rockets Commit To Being The Best Defense In The NBA
The Rockets have all the tools to be one of the best defensive teams in the NBA outside of a proper rim-protecting big man. Steven Adams can provide that in spurts off the bench, but he’s coming off a major injury and should be relied upon as a backup instead of the primary defensive center. Sengun’s offensive capabilities were on full display last season, but given the winning they achieved without Sengun late in the season, it might be wise to cash in on his value by acquiring a defensive big man.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is a former DPOY who averaged 22.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks last season. Even though I have seen him struggle as a rebounder at times, there are few shot blockers better than him in the NBA. With the perimeter defenders in Houston, Jaren would be an absolute beast at protecting the interior when called upon and give the Rockets a realistic chance at being the best defense in the NBA. His three-point shooting is a cherry on top of his defensive ability.
Much has been made about Marcus Smart’s offensive abilities and inconsistent spacing, but there are few perimeter defenders better than him. The Rockets can use his 14.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.1 steals while starting menace POA defenders such as Smart and Dillon Brooks to make up for any shortcomings on that end.
The Rockets would be contenders based on their defense alone, but the offensive capabilities of Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, and rookie Reed Sheppard coupled with the spacing of all other players would level them up further.
The Grizzlies Embrace A New Identity
The Grizzlies have shown me flashes of contending play, but their rough-and-tumble strategy will be hard to consistently translate into the Playoffs. Ja Morant is a one-man wrecking crew, but the Grizzlies need to be a more impactful halfcourt team without impinging on Morant’s offensive abilities as a ball-handler. Their defensive solidity at the cost of their offense hasn’t gotten them far, so adding a playmaking hub who can enhance their offense on every level would be phenomenal.
Alperen Sengun averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals last season, emerging as a potential All-Star on the Rockets. His ceiling is the highest amongst all included players and gives the Grizzlies more room to develop Zach Edey instead of throwing him into the starting lineup. Sengun can space the floor for Morant while making the team more lethal in the halfcourt, with GG Jackson and Desmond Bane being the biggest beneficiaries of that.
Fred VanVleet’s $42.8 million contract is an expiring deal with a team option, so the Grizzlies can get off his money within a season. He would be an excellent temporary sixth man, averaging 17.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds last season.
Jabari Smith Jr. has proven himself as a multi-positional forward who can even play small-ball center, averaging 13.7 points and 8.1 rebounds last season. He would be a major wing addition who can fill the defensive gaps on the Grizzlies frontcourt with Jackson being traded away.
A Deal That Transforms The West
Some trades come out of nowhere, and a deal like this would definitely leave the NBA reeling for a while. This dramatically alters what is expected of both teams, but I believe it improves both teams for the better. The Grizzlies still have a strong defensive ethos with players to execute on that end, albeit to a lower level. Sengun’s offensive capabilities transform this roster and give Morant a self-creating big man who can playmaker for others as well.
The Rockets embrace their full defense mentality by adding Jackson and Smart. Jackson would be locked into their starting lineup, though Smart might fluctuate in the rotation depending on his offensive production. He’s also a phenomenal leader, so this will show Houston embracing the competitive stage of their rebuild.
I understand there’ll be reservations to making such a dramatic change to both teams, but it might be the best way forward for two teams who don’t look like top-tier contenders in the West right now.
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