Something is brewing in Houston. NBA fans may want to take notice. Yes, this team has been struggling for the last few years. The Rockets have been one of the worst teams in the NBA over that timeframe.
With that said, it’s been partially by design. The Rockets have been tanking. Next year, they won’t be. They’ll owe their first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder with top-4 protection.
It’s time for the Rockets to start winning. Perhaps that’s why they hired Ime Udoka. This was a coup for General Manager Rafael Stone. It may not be the last one he makes this summer.
One name that’s often linked to the Rockets is James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers. We’ll save his name from being listed since that’s such a widely speculated name. Who are three other stars that could join the Rockets?
Mikal Bridges
With that said, the Rockets aren’t the only team that owes their first-round pick to someone else next summer. In fact, the Brooklyn Nets owe their pick to the Rockets. That will be a trend in the coming years. Whether outright or via swap, the Nets will be sending their draft capital to the Rockets through to 2027.
Unless, of course, they wanted their picks back. With the Rockets looking to take a step forward, they may be open to sending the Nets their draft capital. With that said, it will cost them.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets & Houston Rockets Updates
In all likelihood, it would cost them Mikal Bridges. With that said, the Nets may prefer to send out the abundance of draft capital they have from other teams in order to land their own star. In that event, the Rockets will have to look elsewhere.
Jaylen Brown
This one is heavily in the rumor mill. In some ways, the writing appears to be on the wall. After all, Ime Udoka and Jaylen Brown are close. People will speculate now that Udoka is a Rocket. They may even be onto something.
Moreover, Brown doesn’t seem happy in Boston. If he truly dislikes the city, it may not matter how successful the Boston Celtics are in the playoffs. Brown may want to relocate.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics & Houston Rockets Updates
If that’s the case, it feels like he may enjoy Houston. This is a meaningfully different city from Boston. With all of that being said, if Brown makes an All-NBA team, and the Celtics offer him a supermax, this could all be moot. Are there any other stars the Rockets may like that could hit the market?
Bam Adebayo
This may feel like odd timing. The Miami Heat just took a 3-1 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. If they complete that upset, they likely won’t look to move Bam Adebayo. With that said, the Bucks could absolutely make a comeback here. If they do, a first-round exit may necessitate big changes in Miami.
Meanwhile, Rockets fans are wondering how Udoka will treat Alperen Sengun. On the one hand, we saw him utilize a system that relied on frontcourt passing with Al Horford in Boston. On the other hand, Sengun is a defensive liability, and Udoka is a defensive-minded coach.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat & Houston Rockets Updates
By contrast, Adebayo is a fantastic defender. This feels like a player Udoka would love to coach. if the Heat make him available, the Rockets ought to take a look at him. After all, they’re trying to cook something special.
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