Jackson Gatlin here, the host of the daily Locked On Rockets podcast, with your daily Locked On Rockets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Rockets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Houston Rockets Trade Rumors: Chasing Giannis Or Kevin Durant? Or Stay Patient With Young Core?
Houston Rockets: Patience Over Star Chasing
The Houston Rockets are at a crossroads, with rumors swirling about potential star acquisitions. However, the focus remains on building a sustainable contender organically. The team is off to a promising start, with Alperen Sengun playing at an All-Star level and young talents like Amen Thompson and Tari Eason showing potential. The goal is to emulate the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, or Boston Celtics model, where a core of young players developed into a championship contender without making a blockbuster trade for a star.
The Star Chasing Debate
There’s been much debate about whether the Rockets should pursue a star player like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant. While these players are undoubtedly talented, they come with challenges such as age, injury history, and the potential cost of gutting the young core. The Rockets current strategy is to evaluate their internal options and see if they can continue their strong performance throughout the season. If the team can win 50-plus games and make a playoff run, it might be wiser to stay the course rather than trade away young assets for a short-term gain.
The idea of star chasing is more of a backup plan. If the current roster doesn’t take the next step, the Rockets have positioned themselves with trade assets and young talent to pivot if necessary. However, the preference is to develop the existing core and see if they can become a formidable team in the Western Conference.
Evaluating the Core and Future Prospects
This season is crucial for evaluating the Rockets core group of players. With seven young talents and a mix of veterans, the team has the luxury of being patient. The focus is on determining which players are long-term pieces and which might be moved to improve the roster. The Rockets are not in a rush to make a big trade, especially not by this season’s trade deadline.
The team is also keeping an eye on potential future targets like Devin Booker and De’Aaron Fox. These players could be intriguing additions if the Rockets decide they need a star to complement their young core. However, the priority remains on internal development and assessing the potential of players like Jalen Green and Sengun.
The Rockets are in a unique position where they can afford to be patient and let their young players grow while also being able to compete at a high level. The team is not in a position where they must make a drastic move to remain competitive. Instead, they can focus on building a strong foundation and making strategic decisions when the time is right.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Houston Rockets strategy and potential moves, tune into the Locked On Rockets podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Rockets Podcast:
- The Steven Adams dilemma and its impact on the team’s rotation
- Discussing the Rockets core seven players and their development
- Potential trade targets and the timeline for making a move
- The role of veterans like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks in guiding the young team
The streak had to end sometime. Even the 2015-2016 Warriors only (“only”) got to 24 wins to start their season. Ironically, they’d go on to lose the title to the Cavs that season.
That Cleveland lost to the Celtics, in TD Garden, without Isaac Okoro and with Darius Garland shooting 3-21 — well only the first half of that stings. If Garland made two more of those field goals the Cavs would’ve taken the game, and Okoro, out with an ankle sprain, will be back.
This game was a tester for the Cavs. Beyond a match against the defending champs and a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview, it was an opportunity to see how the team responded to pressure, unfavourable conditions and expectation. NBA basketball is about winning, we all know this refrain well, but that the Cavs scoring dried up in crucial stretches while the team also fell into bad habits of turning the ball over in momentum-leeching moments, and they still managed multiple runs to come back within two, speaks pretty well to this group’s ability to respond.
What makes the Celtics so good, and a bit like a dream-crushing machine, is their ability to capitalize on and invert what usually brings their opponents wins. In the Cavs case, it’s their speed. Not just pure speed without aim, but their ability to push the pace within their offensive possessions because not one player tends to move in isolation from anyone else. Their lightning quick passing, their flashing cuts and counter-cuts, it’s all predicated on ball movement capitalizing on intuitive communication. A sixth sense of understanding where their teammates are on the floor at any given moment.
Boston was able to jam that up. Not entirely upend it, but chase with pace of their own enough that Garland at times appeared to be the pursued and not the pursuer. Where Garland rushed an offensive possession, where he went in for a fastbreak ISO drive to wrest the pace of the game back into his team’s hands, he bungled it. He’d botch an easy layup and go careening past the baseline, having to expend more energy to get back down the floor in the transition already underway. And the more he botched it, the faster he went. The Celtics saw this and upped the pressure on him, taking advantage of forced turnovers by draining three after three and all but eliminating a huge component of what’s made the Cavs so formidable — their rebounding.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Preview The Pacers will go head-to-head with the Rockets in a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse at 7:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Feel Good Jalen Green continues to give back to the Houston community. Learn more about his efforts to make a positive impact here. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis How the Cavaliers’ offseason plan has turned them into the top team in the league so far this year. (ESPN)
Milestone Russell Westbrook becomes the first player in NBA history to record 200 triple-doubles. (CBS Sports)
Must Read The NBA’s three-point revolution has gotten extreme, begging the question: How many is too many?(The Washington Post)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Can Dalton Knecht Keep Up This Run?
Nov 19, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) react after scoring a three point basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images|Gary A. Vasquez/Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Dalton Knecht has recently become a focal point in NBA fantasy discussions, thanks to his electrifying performances on the court. In a standout game, Knecht scored 37 points, including nine three-pointers, with an impressive 75% shooting accuracy. This remarkable display has fantasy managers buzzing, as Knecht’s shooting streak positions him as a valuable asset in leagues.
Knecht’s Shooting Streak: A Fantasy Goldmine
Over the past four games, Knecht has been on a tear, shooting 22 of 33 from beyond the arc, equating to a 67% success rate. Such efficiency is rare and highlights his potential as a sharpshooter. For fantasy managers, Knecht is a must-add player, especially given his current role in the Lakers’ starting lineup. However, while his shooting spree is impressive, it’s important to manage expectations, as maintaining such a high percentage is challenging over the long term.
Injury Updates and Their Impact on Fantasy Rosters
Knecht’s rise comes at a time when injuries are shaking up NBA rosters. Norman Powell’s hamstring injury, for instance, has left a gap in the Clippers’ lineup. With Powell likely sidelined for at least a week, players like Kris Dunn and Amir Coffey might see increased roles, offering potential value for fantasy managers seeking replacements.
Click the button below to get updates on Zach Edey’s ankle injury, and how Bradley Beal’s calf continues to cause problems for fantasy managers
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Rockets podcasts.
Houston Rockets Heartbreaking Loss To Giannis & The Milwaukee Bucks: What Went Wrong? Breaking down how the Houston Rockets faced a nail-biting defeat against the Milwaukee Bucks, losing 101-100 in a game filled with missed opportunities and crucial plays.
Houston Rockets Blowout Clippers & Bulls, Jabari’s Breakout, Alperen Sengun Makes History & More How the Houston Rockets are on fire, extending their winning streak to five games with commanding victories over the Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls, Jabari Smith Jr.'s breakout performance and Alperen Sengun making history.
Houston Rockets Trade Scenarios: Can Duncan Robinson Or Cameron Johnson Boost Shooting? Can the Houston Rockets overcome their shooting woes and make strategic trades to boost their performance? With the team languishing in the bottom three for three-point shooting percentage, the need for improved floor spacing is critical.
