2021 NBA Trade Deadline: 5 fire sales that should happen

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Mason Plumlee #24 of the Detroit Pistons defends against Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center on February 23, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

2 of 6

NBA trade deadline Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Fire sale candidate No. 5: Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are in freefall. They have lost 12 straight games and own the third-worst record in the NBA. They are 5.5 games out of even a play-in spot in the Western Conference. Their prize free agent acquisition Christian Wood has missed much of the season so far, playing just 17 games, and this situation is not at all what new head coach Stephen Silas envisioned when he signed on to coach this team.

Gone are James Harden and Russell Westbrook, and in their places are John Wall and Victor Oladipo. DeMarcus Cousins essentially opted out of being a member of this team, choosing instead to simply be a free agent and hope that somebody offers him a gig somewhere before the end of the season.

Fortunately, they recouped plenty of draft capital in the Harden and Westbrook trades, and they have even more desirable pieces on this roster. Christian Wood is going nowhere, and John Wall is almost certainly going to be a Rocket for the remainder of his contract, but Oladipo has some gas left in the tank and is on an expiring contract, so he may have value on the trade market.

P.J. Tucker is another solid trade chip that could yield draft assets for the Rockets going forward, and both he and Dante Exum have expiring deals that could be valued for just that reason.