The NBA Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference is pretty much set at this point. The only thing left to decide is the seeding, which will likely go down to the final day of the regular season. The Houston Rockets gave it a valiant effort to shake things up, but ultimately they will come up short of chasing down the Golden State Warriors or Los Angeles Lakers for the final spot.
Houston came out of nowhere to put pressure on those veteran-laden teams with a recent 11-game winning streak. They came within one game of the Warriors for the final spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament, but a recent skid likely ended their chances of sneaking in.
While the postseason will not be obtainable, the Rockets have to be happy about the progress that was made this year. They made it a goal to become more competitive based on the moves they made during the 2023 NBA offseason and they accomplished that.
They will have at least a 17-game improvement on their record from last season. Houston also still has a chance to finish above .500 for the first time since the 2019-20 season, which was the last with Mike D’Antoni as head coach.
Things are certainly on the up-and-up in H-Town, as their young players are blossoming. To take things to the next level, the front office could look to make another splash this offseason, bringing in another established player to push out of the rebuild further.
Could that player be Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers? Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report pitched the Rockets as a potential suitor for the NBA All-Star this offseason. Given the assets the franchise has compiled, they certainly cannot be counted out of the mix.
“The Houston Rockets are a slightly out-of-left-field contender for Mitchell. But this past summer, they made a significant pivot to try to compete, signing or trading for veterans like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. In recent weeks, the Rockets have been one of the hottest teams in the league,” Pincus wrote.
They possess all of their draft picks along with unprotected Brooklyn Nets selections in 2024 and 2026. Swap rights with the Nets also exist in 2025 and 2027. Given the current state of their franchise, those selections could have immense value.
On top of the draft capital which the Rockets own, they have a plethora of young players who are ready for NBA minutes. Jalen Green was reportedly on the table in talks with the Nets for Mikal Bridges, but the team also has Cam Whitmore and Tari Eason who could sweeten a trade offer.
If the Rockets get any inclination that Mitchell would be open to playing there long-term, they have the means to make a very competitive offer. Otherwise, they would be stuck in the same position as the Cavaliers, paying a premium price for a player who could depart during the 2025 NBA offseason.
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