The Houston Rockets aren’t a feel-good story anymore. They’re a serious problem. Finishing second in the Western Conference with a 54-28 record and a top-three defense, Ime Udoka’s squad proved they weren’t just ahead of schedule—they’ve built something sustainable, nasty, and built for May and June.
This isn’t your average young team with upside; it’s a deep, physical group with All-Star talent (Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green), elite coaching, and a front office ready to pounce. But if this year taught us anything, it’s that defensive identity alone won’t win you a championship.
The West is a gauntlet, and if Houston wants to go from surprise contender to legitimate title favorite, they’ll need one more star this summer to round it out. With the Warriors looming in the first round, a battle-tested playoff measuring stick, it’s time to start looking ahead. The 2025 offseason might be the perfect moment to go star-hunting, and we have the six important targets for them.
1. Devin Booker
Proposed Trade Details
Houston Rockets Receive: Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns Receive: Jalen Green, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, 2025 First-Round Pick (OKC/PHX), 2029 First-Round Pick (DAL/PHX)
The Rockets have the defense, they have the depth, but what they still lack is a cold-blooded half-court shotmaker, and Devin Booker fits that bill. Booker averaged 25.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds this season while shooting 46.1% from the field and 33.2% from deep, continuing to be one of the NBA’s most lethal scorers despite a down season for the Phoenix Suns.
Houston’s elite defense under Ime Udoka would give Booker the kind of support he never truly had in Phoenix, and in turn, he’d give the Rockets a go-to guy for the playoffs. The Rockets have also been linked to Kevin Durant for obvious reasons, but Devin Booker should be their priority, considering he is only 28 years old and can be the man for nearly the next decade.
Losing young talent like Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, and Reed Sheppard stings, but for a franchise ready to win now, Booker may be the missing piece to a Western Conference Finals run. If they can’t get Booker, the Rockets will turn to his co-star.
2. Kevin Durant
Proposed Trade Details
Houston Rockets Receive: Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns Receive: Fred VanVleet (Sign-and-Trade), Jabari Smith Jr., Cameron Whitmore, 2027 First Round Pick (BKN), 2029 First Round Pick (DAL/PHX), 2031 First Round Pick (HOU)
If Houston wants to skip the slow climb and go straight to the mountaintop, calling Phoenix for Kevin Durant is the boldest—and riskiest—move. The Rockets and Durant have a mutual interest in teaming up,
Durant, at age 36, still posted 26.6 points, 6.70 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 52.7% shooting from the field and 43.0% from three this season. Despite some wear and tear, KD remains a dominant offensive force who could provide veteran savvy and elite shot creation to a team full of developing stars.
The Rockets would need to surrender Fred VanVleet in a sign-and-trade, Jabari Smith Jr., and a trove of picks, but pairing Durant with Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and the Rockets’ athletic wings (including Amen Thompson) creates a title window no one expected this soon.
3. Zion Williamson
Proposed Trade Details
Houston Rockets Receive: Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, 2029 First-Round Pick (DAL/PHX)
No player in the league offers as much boom-or-bust value as Zion Williamson. He only played in 30 games this year, but averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting a jaw-dropping 56.7% from the field.
Remember, Zion is only one season removed from playing 70 games last year, so there is a chance he can get healthy again, and it seems his time has been up in New Orleans for a long time now.
If that version of Zion continues to evolve, especially as a playmaker and focal point in the paint, the Rockets would suddenly become one of the most physically imposing teams in the league. Giving up Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. for a potential superstar may seem aggressive, but for Houston, gambling on Zion’s upside is exactly the kind of swing a contender should take.
4. Ja Morant
Proposed Trade Details
Houston Rockets Receive: Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Jock Landale, 2025 First-Round Pick (OKC/PHX), 2029 First-Round Pick (DAL/PHX)
There’s no denying the electricity Ja Morant brings, but there’s also no avoiding the volatility. Despite dealing with some fines this season, Morant returned after a difficult campaign last year and averaged 23.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in 50 games, injecting life into an otherwise lost Memphis season.
The Rockets already have defensive anchors and discipline in place, meaning they might be one of the few teams positioned to absorb both the genius and chaos of Ja’s game. A deal centered on Jabari Smith Jr., picks, and filler might just be the mutual reset both franchises need, and Ja in transition with Houston’s weapons would be must-see basketball.
5. Julius Randle
Proposed Trade Details
Houston Rockets Receive: Julius Randle (Sign-and-Trade)
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Jock Landale, 2025 First-Round Pick (OKC/PHX)
Let’s say Houston doesn’t want the drama or injury risk—Julius Randle offers a more stable backup plan. Randle quietly averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while shooting 48.5% from the floor for Minnesota, who grabbed him in the preseason Karl-Anthony Towns deal and rode his physicality into the playoffs.
As a secondary scorer and bruising presence next to Sengun, Randle could give the Rockets toughness and veteran poise while not demanding top billing. It’s not a flashy move, but it’s one that shores up the roster with proven talent—and in the West, that might matter more than ever.
6. Trae Young
Proposed Trade Details
Houston Rockets Receive: Trae Young
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, 2029 First-Round Pick (DAL/PHX)
If Houston’s willing to dive headfirst into offense, then Trae Young is the ultimate high-reward playmaker. Young had another productive campaign with 24.2 points, 11.6 assists, and 34.0% from three, though his defense remained a liability and the Hawks’ season fell flat once again.
In Houston, though, Trae wouldn’t have to carry the defensive load—Udoka’s system and roster are built to mask his flaws. The cost? Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, and a first—but the upside? A truly elite offensive engine who might be ready to rewrite his narrative in a new city alongside Houston’s Big Three.
