Houston Rockets

Report: Houston Rockets have been searching market for ‘franchise centerpiece-worthy player’

Published by
Casey McCarthy

The Houston Rockets could be a team willing to part ways with some players ahead of the trade deadline in hopes of landing a franchise centerpiece.

“As for sellers, keep an eye on Houston as we get closer to the deadline,” wrote The Athletic’s Sam Amick. “There’s lots of chatter about the Rockets being even more open for business than we may have previously thought, with one rival executive indicating that Houston is still on the lookout for a franchise centerpiece-worthy player and thus open to all sorts of possibilities (translation: While Jalen Green is seen as a big part of their future, [James] Harden’s old spot has yet to be truly filled). Christian Wood can be had, it seems, and John highlighted the Charlotte [Hornets] possibility in a piece with our Rockets beat writer, Kelly Iko.”

The Rockets have not had an ideal 2021-22 season so far, currently sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference at 13-32. Houston has looked to be in rebuild mode ever since sending James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets.

Rookie Jalen Green has shown flashes of promise this season, but those flashes haven’t translated into the win column too often so far. Green is averaging 15.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this season.

Center Christian Wood had looked like a piece the Rockets might build around, but may be offloaded in hopes of landing something more. Wood is averaging 17.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in his second season in Houston.

The Rockets have lost four of their past six games and will be back in action on Wednesday against the Utah Jazz.

Casey McCarthy

Casey is a sportswriter working most recently with the Columbia Basin Herald in Moses Lake, Wash. and is a graduate of Western Kentucky University. He has been an NFL and NBA fan for more than 20 years.

Published by
Casey McCarthy

Recent Posts

‘Wtf’: Trae Young reacts to Rashad McCants saying he could score 81 points like Kobe Bryant

Back in January of 2006, former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant put on one…

1 hour ago

Rashad McCants says he could’ve won ROTY but had a coach who was ‘shaking in the motherf——g huddle’

Former NBA guard Rashad McCants was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the last lottery…

1 hour ago

Chandler Parsons says Jaylen Brown would be best player on over half of NBA teams, including some playoff teams

The Boston Celtics were without maybe their top player for Wednesday's Game 2 versus the…

1 hour ago

‘Spo gonna Spo’: Cavs player gives Erik Spoelstra his flowers after Heat’s near-upset in Game 2

The odds were stacked against the Miami Heat to pick up a win in Game…

2 hours ago

Report: Will Campbell landing with Patriots may depend on whether team gets ‘fair deal’ to trade down

As a consolation prize for a woeful 2024 season that was marred by losing, the…

2 hours ago

Report: ‘Most of the league’ has been contacted about Jalen Ramsey, including Rams, Lions and Eagles

Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey is one of the more notable players in the league…

2 hours ago