Houston Rockets: 3 players most likely to be moved by the trade deadline

Houston Rockets likely to be traded: 3. D.J. Augustin

D.J. Augustin is the player that fans should be the least confident in a trade out of the three mentioned. He’s almost 35 years old and is seemingly just on the team so they have a true “point guard” which isn’t needed in today’s NBA as the league is transitioning towards positionless basketball.

The only thing Augustin really brings to the team is veteran leadership which is valuable for such a young team but not necessarily worth the $7 million price tag that he holds. He’s still got another season left on his contract and there’s no reason for him to be on the team other than to collect a paycheck.

While still on the roster, he’s taking away valuable minutes from the Rockets’ last first-round pick, Josh Christopher. He may not fill the traditional point guard mold but as we saw from him in high school and at Arizona State, he’s more than capable. Christopher lit it up in the Summer League and in the preseason, earning him the spot on the roster.

The fact that there’s still time left on his contract makes him a favorite to get traded. Augustin has become a fan favorite in Houston as he grew up outside the city and played his high school ball in Missouri City, Texas. The University of Texas journeyman has made a name for himself as a quality option but at this point in his career, there isn’t much he can offer to the Houston Rockets.