Why The Houston Rockets Do The Deal

If anything, the Rockets would decline this package because it runs the risk of improving them. 

These Rockets have a vacancy at the starting small forward position. They have a range of options, but none are particularly appealing. Gordon, in fact, is one of them, but at 6’3, he certainly puts the “small” in “small forward”. 

Incoming rookie Tari Eason is another, but realistically, the Rockets are more likely to start him out with a reserve role. Jae’Sean Tate is 6’4, and the Rockets seem to prefer him at the 4 anyway. Kenyon Martin Jr. has already made a trade request. 

All of these options are imperfect – and that’s exactly how the Rockets like it. They’re not trying to win games in 2022-23 at the expense of their upcoming lottery odds.

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Yet, that feels like a bad reason to decline this deal. Oubre Jr. is unlikely to single-handedly lead them to victories, and at 26, he’s close enough to their timeline that he could be valuable when they’re ready to compete in a few years. 

Moreover, flipping Gordon for a first-round pick is the main appeal here. The Rockets should run the negligible risk of Kelly Oubre having a career year in order to do so.