NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Players the Houston Rockets Could Target
With expectations seemingly at an all-time high, the Rockets fell on their face to start the season. Each game they played has been winnable in the fourth quarter, yet the Rockets have fallen to 2-6 and apathy has already seemed to set in for some fans.
While the team is talented, the longer the Rockets struggle the more likely that this team is just not as good as people thought going into the year. Without a closer, the Rockets have struggled mightily at finishing games and they aren't talented enough to blow teams away in the first three quarters.
Therefore, change is needed. As constituted, the team is likely good enough to make the playoffs but anything more than a brief stay in the postseason is unlikely.
Luckily enough for the Rockets, Daryl Morey has all the pieces necessary to make a trade if one presents itself. With young players Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger and Aaron Brooks, expiring contracts Shane Battier and Jared Jeffries, and draft picks galore thanks to the February trade that netted the Rockets Kevin Martin, all of the components of any blockbuster trade are there if the Rockets want to go for it.
It all depends on how much they are willing to give up. Given Les Alexander and Morey's distaste for losing, odds are that the Rockets will certainly be aggressive.
With that said, here are five players the Rockets could target in the coming months as they search for upgrades.
Emeka Okafor
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Often players with huge contracts become underrated because of so much talk about how their contracts are so large. Instead of focusing on their merits, critics often focus on their weaknesses. Joe Johnson has felt the sting of this criticism in the first year of his massive six-year contract, and Emeka Okafor has felt the same way the last few years.
While $52 million over the next four years is a lot to pay for someone who has barely been a double digit scorer in recent seasons, Okafor would be a perfect fit in Houston. Additionally, while many people are quick to criticize him, I would argue that he is worth every penny of that salary.
Offensively, Okafor is extremely adept at using his massive frame to pin defenders close to the rim so he can go up for easy hook shots in the paint. He's a good face-up jump shooter near the basket and is adept at finding his shot inside.
Defensively, on the other hand, Okafor can only be described as elite. He is a tremendous shot blocker, uses his strength to be a terrific post defender and is one of the league's best rebounders. He does many things that don't show up in the box scores but have tremendous value to his team.
With the Rockets, he would be a tailor-made fit. With Yao in and out of the lineup, his ability to switch between the power forward and center positions would be invaluable to the Rockets' success. If paired with either Yao Ming or Scola, he would bring a shot-blocking mentality that the Rockets are sorely lacking.
Additionally, unlike other players on this list, Okafor could come on the cheap. Because of his aforementioned contract, it's likely that the Rockets could get him merely for expiring contracts, as New Orleans has been in dire straits financially for some time now.
Andre Iguodala
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Trade winds have been swirling for quite some time about Andre Iguodala's potential exodus from Philadelphia. The team has a budding star in Evan Turner who appears ready to take Iguodala's spot as the franchise cornerstone. Also, Iguodala's fit on a team that already has two non-shooters entrenched at the shooting guard and point guard positions is questionable, and his contract could potentially hamstring their rebuilding effort.
On the offensive side of the ball, he has one of the quickest first steps in the game and can fly by any defender. An elite athlete, Iguodala utilizes his speed along with his strength and leaping ability to finish as well as anyone in the league. He's a very good passer who sees the floor well and could help the Rockets, who are lacking in playmaking ability because of Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks' score-first mentalities.
Much like Okafor, Iguodala is a tremendous defender. His elite athleticism aids him in locking down scorers, be them quick players, strong players, or finesse players. Simply put, he has all of the physical attributes an NBA player needs to be successful defensively.
While all of these skills are helpful in his ability to be a great player, he struggles mightily shooting the ball. Despite only connecting on 31 percent of his three-point shots, Iguodala shot nearly four shots from that range last year. With Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin on the wings, his subpar shooting would be less of an issue and he certainly would have more space to operate in with floor spacing guards.
He's not good enough offensively to carry a team, but with Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin on the floor with him, he wouldn't have to. He could thrive with the lessened pressure of having two shooters playing alongside him. For a guy that isn't a superstar, the contract is potentially onerous, but he would be a terrific fit in Houston.
Carmelo Anthony
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The most obvious target out on the trade market these days, the Rockets will likely target Carmelo Anthony to end their never-ending quest to find a star player who can take over at the end of games.
With Anthony making it clear that he believes his future is not in Denver, the Rockets could look at Anthony and see their next franchise cornerstone. As one of the best pure scorers the NBA has to offer, the Rockets could do much worse in that search.
On the offensive end, people can debate Anthony efficiency all they want, but there is no denying that he is one of the most talented scorers in the NBA. He can score in the post, on the perimeter and in mid-range, and this ability to score from wherever he wants allows him to be very successful at the end of games. He is an extremely clutch performer and he has exactly what the Rockets have been missing, a killer instinct.
Defensively, he is merely average, and amid a team full of offensive minded players that might be a bit of a concern. He has improved his effort and technique in the last few years, but still leaves much to be desired on that end.
Still, there is no doubt that he would add tremendous value to the team and his impressive ability to score at any moment could help propel the Rockets to a run in the playoffs. Anthony's fit with the team is questionable, but at least look for the Rockets to make a run at him, whether they get him or not is another question.
Josh Smith
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While all talk of a potential Josh Smith trade has merely been speculation, there is certainly logic behind the speculation. With Marvin Williams, Al Horford, Joe Johnson and Smith each locked into lucrative contract extensions over the next few years, executives around the league are starting to wonder where the money is going to come from for Atlanta.
In fact, the Hawks already have over $58 million committed to just five players and will be looking at a monstrous payroll unless they make a trade or two. If they do make a trade, it would likely involve moving one of those four big contracts. After signing Horford to the lucrative extension just a few weeks ago, he appears untouchable, Johnson's absurd contract is virtually untradeable, leaving just Williams and Josh Smith as potential trade candidates.
While the Hawks will try vigorously to peddle Marvin Williams to any team that wants him, there appears to be little interest in him, as his three years and $23 million after this season is rather unappealing. Eventually, the Hawks will have to make a decision to trade Smith or to commit to a bloated payroll for the next few years.
As all smart general managers would do, Daryl Morey will likely make a play for Smith to potentially take advantage of a somewhat desperate team. Smith would be a catch for any team that gets him, the Rockets included.
Offensively, his improved shot selection has made him into a very strong player, and his improved efficiency has been a boon for the Hawks. He works well from the left block, is a good passer and can handle very well for his size.
On the other side of the ball, he is a disruptive force who terrorizes offensive players with his spectacular shot-blocking skills and is an underrated stealer of the basketball. Simply put, he is one of the league's best at his position.
It would take a king's ransom to pry the young star away from the Hawks, but his defensive mentality could be a revelation for the struggling Rockets.
Ricky Rubio
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In the run-up to the 2009 NBA Draft, the Rockets were rumored to be working hard to move up and pick Ricky Rubio. This offseason, amid the many rumors about Chris Paul and his future, the Rockets appeared to be one of the many suitors for his services.
While these instances could merely be examples of Daryl Morey attempting to improve the team regardless of position, it appears as if he is not content to stand pat with the current play of the Rockets' point guards. Aaron Brooks is undoubtedly a tremendous scorer, but he is not necessarily the best fit for the Rockets because of his shoot-first mentality. Kyle Lowry is effective while healthy, but has struggled to stay on the floor because of his hard-nosed way of playing.
Ricky Rubio could be the solution to the Rockets point guard position for decades to come.
With tremendous size for a point guard at 6'5", Rubio would bring a full-sized frame to a position that has been used to undersized guards for quite some time. He needs to add strength defensively, but his smarts help make up for whatever deficiencies are created by his slender frame.
Offensively, Rubio's flair for the dramatic and incredible basketball IQ help make him both an exciting and effective floor general who makes everyone around him better. He's a tough and crafty player who can get to the basket but also has shown a nascent jump shot in recent years to pair with his driving skills.
Even more amazing is that he has all of these skills at the young age of 20. So few people have shown the ability to play the point at such a young age and Rubio's production in Europe certainly is auspicious for his future.
He wouldn't join the team until the 2011 season, but Rubio would be well worth the wait.
