NBA Trade Rumors: Chris Kaman Trade Would Make Rockets Tough Matchup in West

Fans of the Houston Rockets have reason to be encouraged, as their team is making a run at trading for Chris Kaman. That move would vault the Rockets up from the bottom of the playoff picture (where they currently sit) and would make them a dark-horse contender for the Western Conference crown.

According to Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated, the Rockets like Kaman and have valuable commodities such as Hasheem Thabeet, Jordan Hill, Patrick Patterson, Jonny Flynn, Terrence Williams and the Knicks' first-round pick.

Unlike a lot of teams, Kaman's value to the Rockets is not just that he's a big expiring contract. Sure, that helps, but the Western Conference is wide open this year.

Kaman is an impact player. He and Samuel Dalembert would give the Rockets a formidable duo in the paint. When you combine that with Kevin Martin and Kyle Lowry in the backcourt and power forward Louis Scola, you not only have a formidable lineup, but also an incredibly deep lineup.

As things stand now, the Rockets have nine players that are averaging better than six points a game. All but one of them (Patrick Patterson) averages more than 20 minutes a game, and he's at 19.8. Throw Kaman in the mix and you add another player that will do both.

In a season like this one, the team that wins in the playoffs is going to be the freshest lineup. You have a crammed 66-game season, so it's natural that players are going to get tired. 

The only remedy to that is to have a deep rotation, meaning your stars don't need to play as often. The Rockets are already on that track, but lack the inside presence needed to really be an impact team. That is why they're hanging at the bottom part of the playoff picture. 

If you add Kaman, you eliminate that problem. You have Dalembert when defense is the priority, and Kaman when points are needed. With that foundation, the Rockets would have the pieces in place to make a run in the Western Conference playoffs. 

Once the season is over, the $14 million comes off of the books and the Rockets can decide what to do. But for now, they are making the right move in going after Kaman. The rest of the West had better hope he doesn't make his way to Houston.

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