The Houston Rockets are in a horrific death spiral in a season that hasn’t looked anything like expected, and they’ve lost 16 straight games as the NBA trade deadline looms. Coming into this season, they had a new head coach in Stephen Silas, a new general manager in Raphael Stone, and their first job was to get rid of Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
Mission accomplished, ultimately, but the competitive damage has been done. After going to the second round of the playoffs last season, they have the third-worst record in the NBA at 11-26 and seem to be somewhere nobody really wants to be.
Should the Houston Rockets pass on or pursue these NBA trade deadline rumors?
With the playoffs nothing but a long-ago passing fantasy, the Rockets need to assess their situation heading into the NBA trade deadline. They have at least one piece that other teams are pursuing, in the form of P.J. Tucker, and they have a player in Victor Oladipo who could fetch some kind of return if the price is right.
They may also be in the market to acquire some talent, with Aaron Gordon being a name that popped up in the rumor mill. What we know for sure, however, is that the Rockets are prepared to strip their team down to the studs and move anybody and everybody on the roster not named Christian Wood.
He was their prize free agent signing this past offseason, and he’s going to be the foundational piece around which the Houston Rockets will build their future. Wood has missed most of the season so far with an ankle injury.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at three trade rumors and assess whether the Rockets should pass or pursue each.