The Houston Rockets are a team on the rise, finishing with a 42-40 record last season and earning the dubious honor of having the most wins for an 11th seed in NBA history. The young core of the team is ascendant, but there’s no clear difference-making leader on the squad yet.
The Clippers are fighting a losing battle in the Kawhi Leonard era, hoping to stay competitive this season despite losing Paul George. Instead of trying to build around an aging Kawhi, it might be time for the Clippers to consider trading Leonard for an ascending star and more assets to enable a rebuild without needing to tank.
Trade Details
Houston Rockets Receive: Kawhi Leonard, Kobe Brown
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jeff Green, 2025 First-Round Pick (HOU), 2027 First-Round Pick (HOU), 2027 First-Round Pick (PHX)
The Clippers could find a way to remain competitive with this versatile group of players coming back, headlined by Jalen Green. The Rockets get the ultimate win-now wing to complete their roster as a group meant for contention next season.
The Rockets Return To Winning Ways
One of the underrated facts about the NBA is that the Rockets had the most wins of any franchise in the 2010s but have no rings to show for it. They’re towards the bottom of that list for the 2020s, unable to break into the Playoff mix since breaking up their title core in 2020. With a win-now coach like Ime Udoka, Kawhi might be the perfect win-now wing for the franchise.
Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists last season, being named to an All-NBA team while showing that he can be consistent and durable. That lasted until the last month of the season when Leonard’s kneed ended up giving out as he missed four out of six Playoff games. But the Rockets are uniquely equipped to handle Leonard’s load management.
The team is loaded with young wing talent, with both Jabari Smith Jr. And Tari Eason staying with the franchise. Adding Cam Whitmore to the mix shows how competent their four-man forward unit can be, with Leonard the perfect veteran win-now Piece for the roster.
With former title-winning point guard Fred VanVleet on the squad as well, Leonard will have plenty of reasons to be comfortable. Moving off Green would also create greater opportunities for rookie guard Reed Sheppard as well as 2023 Draftee Amen Thompson alongside VanVleet on the squad.
The Clippers Pivot To A New Direction
The Clippers are moving into the Intuit Dome for their debut season in 2024-25, with Kawhi Leonard expected to be one of the main names on the marquee for the new arena. But there really isn’t a winning future for the Clippers as presently constructed, no matter how many defensive signings they made this offseason. Those signings do increase their baseline for success, which could lead to a competitive roster even without Kawhi next season.
Jalen Green will be the headline-grabbing name in this deal, averaging 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists last season. There were clear fit issues with Green defensively and alongside Alperen Sengun, which could lead to him being the one moved to a new destination like the Clippers. Green would form an explosive backcourt with James Harden which could allow the Rockets to remain competitive, especially with the other players in the deal.
Dillon Brooks might be the new Patrick Beverley for the Clippers if he’s moved to them. He averaged 12.7 points and 3.4 rebounds last season, proving to be an All-Defense caliber swingman who can influence winning. Jeff Green is a decent veteran addition but is unlikely to play a major role outside of being reunited with former teammate Harden on the Clippers.
With a Harden-Green backcourt alongside the bevy of wing defenders on the Clippers, they could find a way to be competitive while also receiving three first-round picks in this deal.
What Grade Should This Trade Be?
This is a deal that carries immense risk for both sides. The Rockets will hope an investment like Kawhi is worth it by giving them enough of a competitive advantage to break into the top six of the West, but that’ll be dependent on how healthy Leonard can stay. His track record in recent seasons is not good, but if he can even replicate the 60-game season with the Raptors and lead the Rockets to Playoff success, this deal could be worth it.
Houston Rockets: B
This is not an easy deal to stomach, as giving out three first-round picks and a prospect like Green away for a 34-year-old Leonard with injury issues seems like a stupid deal. But the Rockets have enough assets to bite the bullet on a trade like this if it doesn’t end up working. They tried trading Green away for Mikal Bridges last winter, so they definitely would love to move off Green for someone like Kawhi.
If Kawhi has a healthy season and the Rockets are Playoff competitors, the ownership would be happy to make this punt because of the positive development of other young stars on the roster. If it fails, it’ll sting the franchise but not enough for them to feel like they went all-in without a reward.
Los Angeles Clippers: B+
We are at the end of the road with Kawhi as a certified No. 1 option on a title-winning team, with his co-star James Harden never winning a title in that role anyway. While their offseason additions bode well for short-term competitiveness, it’s hard to imagine a world where the Clippers can progress to being NBA Champions if they stick with what they have.
Trading away Leonard for multiple picks, including a valuable 2027 Suns pick, might be their best course of action. They also receive a young star like Green and a locker room piece like Brooks, who was a leader for the young Rockets. Harden and Green are a strong enough marquee for the new Intuit Dome, while the depth and versatility of the Clippers after this deal would give them a legitimate shot at remaining competitive.
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