Matthews hits 5 of 8 three-pointers to assist the Rockets, Booker scores 35 points in vain, Fox shoots 1 of 6 in the final quarter
Shepherd was named the Development League Player of the Week with an average of 30 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 8 assists per game, but he couldn't make it into the rotation at the Rockets, so Udoka had to bench him for the sake of performance.
The competition in the East is far less intense than in the West, and Sahl has plenty of opportunities with the Wizards, while Lisha Xie started for the Hawks. Lisha Xie played 17 minutes against the Suns, scoring only 2 points and committing 4 fouls, shooting 1 of 5 from the field with a plus-minus of -11, but the Hawks still won in the end.
Due to the draft pick, many Rockets fans pay attention to the Suns' games. In this game, Trae Young scored 43 points, Okongwu 22 points and 21 rebounds, they were all big contributors to the victory. Former Houston player Matthews scored 19 points, hitting 5 of 8 three-pointers, with a plus-minus of +18, the highest on the team, and he assisted the Rockets.
Born in 1996 and standing at 1.98 meters tall, Garrison Matthews once played for the Rockets and became a starter, starting 33 times. Later, the Rockets wanted to make room for young players, so Stone sent away Matthews.
Matthews was not initially valued by the Hawks, but last season his three-point shooting percentage reached a career-high of 45.6%. This season, Matthews' playing time continued to increase, averaging 9.1 points and 1.5 assists per game, making 2.2 three-pointers, with a three-point shooting percentage of 43.1%. Matthews' salary this season is only $2.23 million, which is quite cost-effective, and the Hawks have made a profit.
Booker scored 35 points in vain, getting 14 points in the final quarter but failing to save the team. Currently, the Suns' pick held by the Rockets ranks 11th, with the possibility of increasing in value.
The 28-year-old Booker averages 25.2 points, 4 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game this season, shooting 44% from the field, 34.6% from three-point range, and 89.6% from the free-throw line, with a defensive efficiency ranking 233rd in the league. His salary this season is 54.06million,andhiscontractinthefinalyearisashighas62.06 million. Booker's recent form has significantly improved, scoring at least 30 points in three consecutive games. However, after seeing Jalen Green's recent performance, Booker seems less attractive, and some Rockets fans believe there is no need to trade with the Suns.
Jalen Green is only 22 years old, and both his athleticism and attendance rate are better than Booker. This season, he averages 21 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, shooting 42.7% from the field, 34.5% from three-point range, and 87.1% from the free-throw line. His defensive efficiency ranks 75th in the league. From the data, we can see that Jalen Green's offensive efficiency is not much worse than Booker's, and his defense is obviously better. Jalen Green is still on his rookie contract this season, earning 33.33millionnextseason,andthentwoyearsat36 million, which is much cheaper than Booker.
The Rockets certainly won't trade Jalen Green for Booker now, nor will they use Van Jordan and other chips to trade for Fox. Fox and Jalen Green have similar characteristics, both needing the ball, and the former's defense is also average, with a large contract.
Fox previously missed three games, but the Kings won them all. After his return, he scored 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists to win against the Bulls. Facing the Bucks, Fox shot 20 points on 23 attempts, with 4 turnovers, and in the final quarter, he shot 1 of 6, ultimately losing to the Bucks.
A few years ago, Fox was synonymous with a stats brush, having only played 7 playoff games in his career; he is not a cornerstone player. In contrast, Jalen Green's high-scoring ability helps the Rockets win, and he is beginning to play the way Rockets fans want to see.
Although Van Jordan is not capable enough, he is willing to give up the ball and focus on defense, and both Shepherd and Whitmore still have potential to be tapped. Therefore, the recent trade proposal by "Bleacher Report" made Houston media shake their heads.
"Bleacher Report" suggests that the Rockets send Van Jordan, Shepherd, Whitmore, the 2025 first-round pick (top five protected), and the 2027 Suns first-round pick.
To be honest, neither side would agree to this plan.