5 NBA teams that must consider trading for Lauri Markkanen

2) Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets continue to search for a star. Rumors continue to swirl of the team's willingness to include Jalen Green in a deal for a star, but there have been no takers as of yet. Houston has a deep list of young talent, but they're in desperate need of a consolidation trade. They simply cannot give all of those young players the time they need on the court, and they certainly cannot afford to pay them all when the time comes.

Houston needs a clear top option. While Markkanen has not shown that ceiling to this point, the Rockets would be able to offer him the chance to do so alongside one of the most complete squads he's been able to play with at this point in his career, and they frankly have enough assets to potentially acquire a second star in addition to Markkanen.

Last season, the Rockets were a lower-tier team in terms of three-point ability. Outside of Fred Van Vleet, the team saw far more shot-chucking than quality attempts from deep. Markkanen would be able to thrive offensively alongside Van Vleet and point-center Alperen Şengün and would be protected defensively by the likes of Steven Adams, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, and Tari Eason.

The Rockets also have nine first-round picks at their disposal in addition to all that youth. While they're far from the favorites to land Markkanen at this time, they cannot be ruled out.