Why This Trade Makes Sense For The Houston Rockets
Victor Oladipo has missed a lot of games over the last two seasons due to a ruptured quadriceps tendon, but this season, he looks fully healthy out there on the court and looks like the NBA All-Star he once was not too long ago. If Oladipo can remain healthy, he could be a key player for Houston moving forward, but he is on an expiring contract and multiple teams reportedly are still interested in trading for him.
If the Rockets were to make a move and trade away Victor Oladipo, they would definitely want some young talent in return, the only question is whether or not they would be willing to accept the guys the Lakers have to offer, plus a first-round pick in 2022.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would fit in perfectly with the Rockets style of play, especially since he is a perimeter-oriented shooter, Kyle Kuzma is a growing, youthful talent that just signed a three-year contract extension and Alex Caruso is a fairly young player who is a pest on the defensive end of the court.
All three of these guys the Rockets would be receiving help them in different areas, but Kuzma and the first-round pick they would be receiving are the most valuable assets in this trade. Not too long ago, Kyle Kuzma was averaging 18.7 points per game and lookin like one of the better young players in the entire league.
In Houston, given their lack of overall talent, Kuzma could join this team and immediately become one of their best pure offensive talents next to John Wall and Christian Wood. The Rockets want to get younger and acquiring Kuzma does just this for them.
They also have seven draft picks over the next two NBA Drafts, which is why acquiring yet another first-round pick for the 2022 NBA Draft could help the Rockets in their efforts to put together a team for the future. This trade gives them three first-round picks for the next two drafts, giving them plenty of opportunities to either draft some of the best talent entering the league, or trade for another solidified superstar player.
Trading away Victor Oladipo is definitely a big possibility for the Rockets before this season’s NBA trade deadline, the only question is whether or not they can get the value they want for him from the Lakers.
