This season, the young Rockets have played with a very good state and momentum. Recently, the Rockets have defeated several strong teams in a row, achieving a four-game winning streak, and currently have a regular-season record of 26 wins and 12 losses, ranking second in the West. Before the start of the season, the Rockets were not favored, and most people thought they were just a play-in level team. However, under the leadership of head coach Udoka, the Rockets have built an excellent defensive system and have been making great progress, surprising everyone.
The Rockets now have some shortcomings, mainly the lack of a superstar scorer. With Jalen Green's state still unstable, the Rockets still need a key player who can make the decisive shot. It can be seen that in this year's trade rumors, the Rockets have been linked with players like Fox and Butler. However, there are also reports that the Rockets are currently unwilling to break up their existing lineup. They want to see how things go before deciding whether to make big trades in the summer.
However, as the schedule progresses and the Rockets' record is so outstanding, they have begun to fantasize about the championship. In this situation, the Rockets may reconsider trading. Today, ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon discussed the Rockets' situation on his podcast. He said that the Rockets understand internally that they ultimately need to pursue a star scorer to become contenders. The reporter stated that two potential trade target players the Rockets may focus on in the future are Booker and Fox.
Whether it's Booker or Fox, if the Rockets want to trade for them, they will have to make significant sacrifices, sending away several outstanding young players from the team. Moreover, their shooting rights and positioning are somewhat conflicting with young players like Jalen Green. Therefore, if the Rockets really have the idea of trading these two players, it seems a bit hasty. In fact, Stone doesn't need to rush; this team is now on the right track.
The Rockets are not in a hurry to make big trades for the time being. Green is improving, Amen's talent is visible to the naked eye, Xiao Jia is getting better and better, a perfect puzzle player, Whitmore also has the potential to be the best sixth man. Shepherd needs time; let's see how he develops in another two years; he shouldn't end up going anywhere. Wait until next year when Van Jordan's contract expires, and the team will have ample operational space with more than 40 million extra. A growing team needs time and should have more patience rather than breaking up and rushing for success.