Why The Houston Rockets Do The Deal 

Of course, some will point to a potential flaw in our logic here. The Rockets won’t be chasing wins in 2022-23 either. Why would they target a veteran? 

Well, they’re trading one veteran for another here. Moreover, Conley is not like Westbrook. He’s more of a ceiling raiser, and for this young Rockets team, the floor is likely too low for him to impact winning. 

Alternatively, even if he is leading them to victories, the Rockets can sit him as the Jazz likely would Westbrook. For the Rockets, this deal is all about getting the right kind of veteran mentor in the door. If Kevin Porter Jr. is going to be this team’s point guard of the future, he’d do well to learn from the crafty veteran. 

In some ways, Conley is a bridge between the classic point guard and the modern one. He’s an elite shooter who’s more than willing to call his own number. At the same time, he’s a high-feel player who’ll put his teammates in an opportune position at any given moment.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mike Conley, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers & Houston Rockets Updates

Finally, he’s on an expiring contract, just like Gordon, so the Rockets don’t sacrifice any flexibility here. 

What do the Lakers gain?