Houston Rockets: 3 questions following the James Harden trade
By Dalton Sell
The Houston Rockets will have several burning questions to answer following the blockbuster trade revolving around James Harden just days ago.
The dust is finally starting to settle for the Houston Rockets following the end of James Harden‘s eight-year run with the franchise.
Although the organization answered where Harden would play next by trading him to the Brooklyn Nets, several questions are still looming over them for the remainder of the season. As a new era begins in Houston without James Harden, here are three questions that will need solving as this chaotic season continues to unfold.
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Houston Rockets: Question No. 3 following James Harden trade – Will P.J. Tucker and Victor Oladipo be traded next?
The Houston Rockets granted James Harden his wish by trading him, and all eyes shifted toward P.J. Tucker soon after, as he similarly has expressed his displeasure with the organization. The 35-year-old was discontent this offseason due to no momentum on a potential contract extension, and he too could be on the move soon.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor recently reported that Houston’s asking price for Tucker is currently three second-round picks, which is feasible. If the Rockets were to make Tucker openly available for trade, his tenacity as a defender and prolific corner 3-point shooting would make him one of the hottest pieces for teams looking to bolster their frontcourt. Houston could undoubtedly capitalize and add more draft picks to their treasure chest, but only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Houston traded one disgruntled in James Harden only to swap him for another in Victor Oladipo. According to O’Connor, Oladipo initially wanted a trade from the Indiana Pacers to the Miami Heat, and this move to Houston has not changed that.
O’Connor noted that the Rockets could still look to flip the guard, which will be something to monitor as the team begins hoarding draft assets. The Houston Rockets have a pair of highly coveted talents on their roster that could be seeking a move elsewhere, and they could soon find themselves packing their bags sooner rather than later.