The Rockets need to demonstrate the courage to trade Monta Ellis in order to empower Curry with more ball-handling opportunities for his growth, and they should also consider trading away Fan Dazhou to give younger players more playing time. The key question is who the Rockets should focus on developing among their seven young players, all of whom have noticeable flaws. Green, for instance, has shown inconsistency in his performance.
Shen Jing, as a center, is relatively short and struggles with shooting and attacking the basket. Yi Sen has yet to meet the requirements of a core player. Smith's functionality is limited, making him more suitable for a 3D role. As for White Magic Xie Pud, he is even less likely to reach core potential. The only player with the potential to become a core, Aman, still lacks shooting skills. If the Rockets had a player like Harden in his first year with the team, they would have already cleared obstacles to focus on his development.
Trading for Fox would be best done through a three-way deal. It is suggested that the Rockets, Kings, and Nets complete a major three-way trade. In this scenario, the Rockets would acquire Fox and Huerter, while the Kings would receive Ben Simmons, Sheppard, Whitmore, Cameron Thomas, the 2027 first-round pick (Suns), the 2028 first-round pick (Rockets), the 2029 first-round swap right (the best first-round pick among Rockets, Suns, and Mavericks), and the 2030 first-round swap right (Rockets). The Nets would obtain VanVleet and the 2027 first-round swap right (Nets).
This trade would be beneficial for all parties involved: the Rockets could strengthen their weak point at the guard position, the Kings could gain expiring contracts, promising young players, and first-round picks, and the Nets could reclaim their 2027 first-round swap right. For VanVleet, moving to the Nets would provide him with unlimited shooting opportunities, which the Nets desperately need. The precondition for the Rockets to trade for Fox is that Fox agrees to renew his contract with the Rockets for 3 years at $165 million; otherwise, the Rockets will not proceed with the trade.
Currently, Fox is the most likely player to be traded in the market, and the Rockets undoubtedly hope to acquire an All-Star caliber point guard, as there is no suitable candidate in their current lineup. Let's take a look at what assets the Kings might be interested in from the Rockets.
Firstly, it is unlikely that the Kings would want Green, considering his inefficient scoring and a large contract worth over 30millionnextyear.Instead,FanDaTou,withhisexpiringcontractworth40 million, holds significant trade value.
Secondly, the Kings would be looking for young players with potential. White Magic has recently received increased playing time, which may be the Rockets showcasing his potential to the Kings. Although Coach Udoka may not favor him, White Magic could thrive under the Kings' system. Of course, Yi Sen and Xiao Jia are indispensable to Udoka and cannot be moved. Thompson and Shen Jing are also considered cornerstones for the Rockets' future and are untouchable. However, if the Kings are interested in Xiao Xie, he could be included in the trade.
Thirdly, the Kings would desire future first-round picks, and the Rockets have several to offer. Providing two to three first-round picks would be reasonable. Therefore, a possible trade package could be Fox plus additional assets for Fan Da Tou, White Magic, Xiao Xie, and two first-round picks, or alternatively, for three first-round picks. I personally admire White Magic's style of play, but given the Rockets' goal to make a deeper playoff run, this trade could significantly enhance their capabilities.
The biggest issue plaguing the Rockets is Fan Jordan. As a core point guard, he occupies a significant amount of ball-handling time without any organizing ability. The offensive system relies heavily on individual plays, especially exploiting Shen Jing's personal abilities. His style of play is akin to a nanny, and when he drives to the basket, he often fails to create effective plays. Can anyone show me a highlight reel of Fan Jordan's assists? I doubt he has more than Sheppard. There's no point in holding onto the ball if you're not going to organize or drive effectively. If you can't do those things, then stay in the corner and shoot. Holding the ball without contributing to the offense and expecting others to set up plays for you is not acceptable.