Recently, there might be significant changes in the lineup of the Houston Rockets.
It is said that the Rockets and the Sacramento Kings are discussing a 6-for-2 trade, with the Rockets aiming to acquire the Kings' All-Star point guard De'Aaron Fox and shooting guard Kevin Huerter through this deal.
Consider this: The Rockets would send out VanVleet, Sheppard, Whitmore, and three future first-round draft picks, including those from the Suns in 2025, 2027, and 2029.
Doesn't it sound a bit crazy?
But precisely because of the possibility of this trade, the future lineup of the Rockets fills us with anticipation.
Let's talk about De'Aaron Fox.
This guy is really impressive!
Fox averages 26.2 points, 5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game this season, with a shooting percentage as high as 48.3%.
He is not only a scoring guard but also exerts pressure on opponents defensively, having won the league's steals title.
Most importantly, his athleticism and ability to break through make people shout with excitement when they watch him play.
If the Rockets can get Fox, their backcourt firepower will be significantly enhanced, especially in terms of organizing offense, where the Rockets' performance will undoubtedly experience a qualitative leap.
Imagine, the combination of Fox and Jalen Green in the backcourt, moving so fast that the opposing defense can hardly cope.
Some netizens have expressed: Fox is simply the missing piece of the puzzle for the Rockets!
If he comes, the Rockets' offense will become interesting.
The current VanVleet, frankly speaking, is in poor form and cannot support the offensive needs of this young team.
VanVleet's performance is somewhat disappointing.
His average score this season is 14.9 points, with a shooting percentage of only 37.5%.
As the starting point guard of the Rockets, VanVleet's performance on the court has fallen far short of expectations.
His state directly affects the overall performance of the Rockets, and if the Rockets want to quickly improve, VanVleet is obviously not the ideal choice.
We must mention Armoni Brooks.
Udoka praised him during an interview, calling him a luxury resource for the Rockets.
Armoni can play as a point guard and also contribute significantly at the wing or even power forward positions.
Even more remarkable is that Armoni has the ability to defend from position one to position five, making him a versatile player.
Udoka also believes that Armoni has the potential to become a starter for the Rockets in the future.
Although Armoni is currently on the bench, he has a great chance to occupy a place in the main lineup of the Rockets in the future.
Moreover, Armoni himself has stated that he likes playing as a point guard, but if necessary, he can fully adapt to the requirements of other positions.
What a promising young man!
Some netizens commented: The young players of the Rockets are becoming more and more promising, especially Armoni Brooks.
If this player develops well, he may truly become the cornerstone of the Rockets in the future, performing better than VanVleet.
Indeed, Armoni has huge room for growth, and he has already begun to show considerable court sense.
If the Rockets can exchange Armoni for a player like Fox, the future of the team is indeed something to look forward to.
Returning to this trade, in addition to Fox and Huerter, the Rockets also need to send out several young players and future draft picks.
VanVleet's contract has only half a year left, and if the trade is successful, the Kings can choose not to renew his contract, which is also a risk-controllable operation for the Kings.
Sheppard and Whitmore, two young players with potential, have limited opportunities in the Rockets and have not been able to fully release their performances.
Whether they can find better opportunities in the Kings is probably something they need to consider themselves.
The Rockets' goal is now very clear: to quickly enhance the team's strength, especially in terms of offensive organization and defensive capabilities in the backcourt.
After Fox joins, he can bring more maturity and stability to the Rockets, and also alleviate the pressure on Jalen Green in the offensive end.
After all, the current Rockets still rely too much on Green to score.
If this trade goes smoothly, the overall strength of the Rockets will definitely go up a notch.
As for the Kings, the fit between Fox's future and the team is getting lower and lower, and perhaps this trade is indeed a win-win choice for both sides.
Some netizens also have different opinions: Although Fox is strong, trading so many draft picks may not necessarily bring the desired return to the Rockets.
After all, Fox also has the disadvantage of inconsistent three-point shooting, and relying too much on his breakthrough may not be a good thing.
Fox's three-point shooting percentage is not particularly high, although he is very comprehensive on the offensive end, whether he can fully adapt to the Rockets' system still requires time to test.
The possibility of this trade by the Rockets is quite high, after all, their current lineup needs higher-level players to enhance overall competitiveness.
After Fox arrives, the Rockets' backcourt will become even deeper, especially in terms of organizing offense and defense, there will be a significant improvement.
Only VanVleet's time with the Rockets may be coming to an end, after all, his performance has already made people not hold too much hope.
We also need to see how Armoni Brooks and other young players perform in future games.
If they can continue to progress, the future of the Rockets is indeed bright.
Young is the greatest wealth, and the Rockets may really become a strong team in the West in the near future.