Rockets Trade Rumors: Marquese Chriss Could Seek Deal Without More Minutes

Houston Rockets forward Marquese Chriss is either seeking more minutes with the team or a trade out of Houston, according to a report from Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.

"Marquese didn't ask to be traded to Houston," Chriss' agent, Aaron Goodwin, told Haynes. "The Rockets are a great organization and the kid has done everything they've asked of him to get on the floor. If it's not going to happen there, we just want him to be treated fairly."

Chriss, 21, was traded to the Rockets in August. After averaging 8.5 PPG and 4.8 RPG in 21.2 minutes per contest over his first two seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Chriss has disappeared in Houston, falling to the end of the bench and appearing in only 15 games this season.

He's played in just 6.7 minutes per contest when he's gotten off the bench, averaging 1.9 PPG and 1.8 RPG, buried on the depth chart behind players like Clint Capela (when he was healthy), Nene Hilario, Isaiah Hartenstein and Kenneth Faried.

For Chriss, the No. 8 pick in the 2016 NBA draft, the fear is he will become a forgotten man in free agency this offseason if he spends the year on the bench.

"I would hate to see a career derailed because teams feel he cannot play at the level he did before the trade," Goodwin told Haynes.

The question is whether Houston would be able to get anything of value in return for Chriss. It isn't a great sign that the Suns gave up on him after just two years, and the Rockets buried him on the bench and didn't pick up his fourth-year option. 

It's possible the Rockets could also choose to waive Chriss before the end of the season if they want the roster spot for another veteran player on the buyout market, namely if they can't find a trade for him before the deadline on Feb. 7. 

Given his agent's comments, Chriss likely would be fine with either option.