I try to use this space to write high-brow (by sports standards) pieces about the Houston Rockets.
Firstly, SB Nation is the best. There is absolute freedom here. I’ve also noticed that you guys are a super bright readership. You want conceptual stuff, or at least you respond positively to it.
That said, if not for unadulterated capitalism, we’d shut ‘er down in August. There is no meat on the bone right now. There is nothing to talk about that hasn’t been talked about.
Since we can’t do that, here
are three players the Rockets should consider trading for this season.
Duncan Robinson, Detroit Pistons
You can safely expect shooters on this list.
After Reed Sheppard and Kevin Durant, there remains zero (0) Rockets whom teams are desperate to close out from beyond the arc. Jabari Smith Jr. is a capable shooter at 6’11”, but an open Smith three is a negative outcome for an opposing defense – not a disaster.
If I wrote an article about Sheppard’s outlook on this team, it’d be the second or third time. Having added Marcus Smart, it feels unlikely that he’ll increase his playing time. So it feels likely that leading up to the deadline, it will once again be clear that this team does not have enough reliable three-point shooting to win the math game.
Robinson is not a prolific defender either, but at 6’7″, he’s easier to scheme around than the diminutive Sheppard. He shot 41.0% from deep last year, which was effectively just another Duncan Robinson season. He’s also quietly improved as a ball-handler and playmaker over the years.
Although it’s possible that Udoka just wouldn’t play him either.
Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies
If we’re going to pick nits, there’s a potential issue with every player on this list. You won’t see the name Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Victor Wembanyama here, so we’ll be looking at quality players with flaws.
Jerome’s biggest issue is that he can’t stay on the floor. Injuries have been a problem for years. Last year, he looked like a fringe star – until his season ended in 15 games.
In those games, he averaged 19.7 points and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 42.0% from distance. That’s a certified hooper. Jerome can play with or without the ball. He’s also got a reputation as a smart team defender who Udoka, at least, shouldn’t loathe with the heat of a thousand suns.
The other downside for the Rockets specifically is that Jerome is a backcourt player. Acquiring him would be tantamount to giving up on Sheppard.
So, if that’s how we’re trending going into the deadline anyway…
Zeke Nnaji, Denver Nuggets
The Rockets have acquired a lot of big men over recent years, but somehow, none of them space the floor.
There’s ample debate around the value of stretch big men. Some will argue that if you’re not a great shooter, it’s not especially useful to shoot.
In a vacuum, there’s some truth there. When you roster both Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, a combo big who provides some shooting ought to be useful. Enter Nnaji. He’s a versatile defender who’s hit 34.5% of his threes over his six years in the NBA.
No, he doesn’t meet the “if he gets daylight we’ve failed as a defense” threshold. He could still mitigate some spacing issues this team faces. The Rockets could put four-out groups around Amen Thompson with Nnaji at the 5, and could soak up a few minutes with Sengun at the 4 occasionally as well.
You don’t need high conceptual thinking to see that.
