The Athletic — The Rockets are going star-hunting again.

Suuuure…

 

The Rockets are going star-hunting again.

This might seem like a surprise to some, but a team that entered Wednesday 22-24, sitting just outside of a Play-In spot as the 11th seed in the Western Conference, has big aspirations to be buyers and not sellers at this year’s NBAtrade deadline. Houston has proven it is capable of quality wins, having beaten the defending champion Denver Nuggetsthree times as well as the star-studded Milwaukee Bucks. But losses to the likes of the San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers and Chicago Bulls represented unwelcome regression and have shown how far the Rockets still have left to go.

Ime Udoka, the head coach in his first year in charge of the Rockets, has been frustrated by the inconsistencies plaguing the team all season long, with this roster still stuck in limbo, somewhere between rebuilding and contending. For the 46-year-old who has won at every stop in his coaching career, and who’s focused on winning at the highest level, his desire to fast-track this promising program has been there since he was hired in April.

In fact, league and team sources say it’s Udoka’s insistence on making the postseason, in tandem with the Rockets front office, that has accelerated the franchise firmly into Phase 2 of its plan. Armed with a profusion of young talent and draft capital, the Rockets have quietly repositioned their internal strategy in recent weeks, and just about everything is on the table in terms of potential moves they can make to go get high-level talent that is ready to win immediately.

 

So, why the sudden acceleration?

Six weeks ago, Houston was 13-9 and firmly settled in the West playoff picture, having won five straight games and thriving as the NBA’s second-best defensive unit. Since then, the Rockets have been hit with injuries at various points to the likes of Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, and the franchise has dropped 12 of its last 19 games. During that time, Houston’s defensive efficiency has dropped to around league average while its offensive efficiency has plummeted to the bottom 10.

With the Feb. 8 trade deadline a little over a week away, the Rockets find themselves a game behind the 10th-place Utah Jazz. There have been strides made this season, but several factors have contributed to Houston’s slide in the standings — an uptick in schedule difficulty, injuries to key contributors and an offense that is still attempting to find consistency on a nightly basis. But the overarching theme, stemming from Udoka’s mentality and approach, is that the Rockets need to recalibrate and reinforce the aspects of their play that afforded them success early on — even if that means turning their attention to solutions outside of the current roster.

At the beginning of the offseason, Rockets officials outlined — both publicly and privately — their immediate goals: Improving the roster, transforming the culture and pushing the timeline closer toward winning basketball. Within the franchise, the period is commonly referred to as “Phase 2” of a rebuild.

But while it was clear Houston’s brass had been dissatisfied with how the previous regime under former head coach Stephen Silas was unfolding, charting a new course under Udoka still required some patience. No magic wand could be waved to propel their situation into prosperity. The Rockets, even with veterans Brooks and Fred VanVleetadded to the starting lineup and Jeff Green, Jock Landale and Aaron Holidayin the rotation, still would take some time to jell.

Historically, the front office has believed every move or series of moves should be through the lens of winning a championship, and if this new-look team showed signs of legitimate improvement toward that goal, even if it meant narrowly missing the playoffs altogether, that growth would be welcomed.

But Udoka, dating back to training camp last September, made it clear he was ripping out the old floorboards from their foundation and wouldn’t be content with settling for what he perceived as mediocrity. Udoka’s appetite for winning is strong, hailing from the school of Gregg Popovich in San Antonio and carrying that approach in Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Boston. At one point, Udoka was two wins from winning an NBA title. His ambitions weren’t suddenly going to change just because his working location did.

In a broader sense, the whole notion of winning, and the aggressive approach to doing so, starts at the top with ownership, the Fertittas. Having overseen a group that was on the cusp of an NBA Finals appearance during their first season together in 2018, it was clear after three years of languishing at the cellar of the NBA that they no longer had the stomach for it and desired — and demanded — that things turn around quickly. The voracious appetite for success also extends toward the general manager, Rafael Stone, an individual who grew under his predecessor Daryl Morey for years, watching just how desperate he was to make it to the mountaintop.

 

Udoka’s presence on the sidelines and in the locker room — in addition to his strong influence with the franchise’s decision-makers — has quickly shifted Houston’s expectations. Udoka was part of seven consecutive postseason berths with the Spurs, including one title, one Finals loss and a West finals finish. The 2019-20 Sixers (under then-head coach Brett Brown) lost in the first round during Udoka’s one season there, while the 2020-21 Nets (under then-head coach Steve Nash) lost in the second round.

When Udoka came to Houston in the offseason, having elevated that Celticsteam that came so close to winning it all against Golden State in the 2022 Finals, his message was clear. He wanted a tough, defensive-minded, trustworthy roster full of players who would attack winning in the kind of way that runs counter to much of today’s NBA ethos.

Brooks, with all of his edginess and two-way energy, became an early poster child of sorts when he signed a four-year, $80 million deal with the Rockets in mid-July. And the decision to say no to James Harden, whose long-rumored reunion with the Rockets didn’t happen last summer because Udoka preferred the fit with VanVleet, was another strong sign Udoka’s voice mattered a great deal from the start.

Now, they feel they are ready to make the type of big move a contender would make.

As it currently stands, the backbone of Houston’s roster is suitable for the work Udoka wants to carry out — a veteran point guard in VanVleet who can organize an offense, a tenacious wing in Brooks to stabilize a defense and a versatile, vast-emerging big in Alperen Şengün who is developing rapidly.

Elsewhere, though, as talented as the roster is, it’s evident there is still a chasm between the Rockets and the teams firmly in the playoff picture.

Houston has been pursuing upgrades to the roster, searching for another All-Star-caliber type who fits the two-way mold Udoka is looking for, and the organization has the available resources to do so. The Rockets have four first-round picks eligible to be traded — two via Brooklyn in 2024 and 2026 and their own in 2028 and 2030.

Names that have been linked with them as the trade market has developed — Atlanta’s Dejounte Murray and Chicago’s Zach Lavine — don’t appear to be enticing to the Rockets. The Rockets have joined the long line of teams showing extremely high interest in Nets forward Mikal Bridges, league sources say. Houston made an offer including multiple first-round draft picks for Bridges in recent weeks, but the Nets have zero interest in any deal involving Bridges, who is part of Brooklyn’s core moving forward.

At its core, rival executives believe it’s evident the Rockets want to bolster their firepower and will do their due diligence to take swings for a star — even if it costs them a blue-chip prospect part of their core six in Şengün, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Amen Thompsonand Cam Whitmore. In 2021, when Green was drafted, or even as recent as last season, he might have been deemed nearly untouchable. But Şengün’s emergence as a potential building block under Udoka has made him a new, heightened priority within the Rockets’ schemes.

The 21-year-old Green is immensely talented, as evidenced by the 26.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists on 47.4 percent shooting he is averaging over the past five games entering Wednesday. But he averaged 15.6 points over the seven games before. As a defender and playmaker, Green has taken positive steps this season, a credit to both himself and the work done under Udoka.

There have been several conversations — both with Green and Udoka and also between Green and VanVleet — to find the optimal balance between pace, rhythm and aggression. When Green performs as he did on Monday night against the Lakers, a 34-point, 12-rebound, seven-assist effort, his star potential oozes. The key for Houston has been unlocking that on a nightly basis.

The Rockets, league sources said, are also exploring the center market, looking to bolster their rim protection. According to those sources, Houston is keeping tabs on Utah’s Kelly Olynyk, Atlanta’s Clint Capela, Chicago’s Andre Drummond and Portland’s Robert Williams III (who has fans throughout the current coaching staff) among others.

Udoka’s preference is not only to find another big man who can step in when Şengün is on the bench, but one who could potentially play alongside him in certain lineups, akin to Williams and Al Horford during Udoka’s lone season in Boston. Houston can offer expiring contracts in Victor Oladipo and Boban Marjanović — or even longer-term salary like center Landale — in addition to draft capital, such as second-round picks, to facilitate a deal. Alternatively, Jae’Sean Tate, who league sources said is attracting interest from the likes of Boston and Phoenix, is movable.

Elsewhere, the Rockets would like to add another two-way ballhandler, league sources said, one that can play both on and off the ball. Malcolm Brogdon, currently playing in Portland averaging 15.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game and shooting 41 percent from 3 is a name of interest, league sources said. But, it must also be noted that any addition in the backcourt could potentially reduce playing time for rookies Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson — who team sources said are off the table, except for a deal involving a star player — which might cause some hesitation in aggressively hunting for help. In addition, Houston is not interested in trading either Eason or Smith, team sources said.

This notion of the Rockets being aggressive in pursuit of elite talent is nothing new, of course. It was a hallmark of the Morey era from 2007 to 2020, and it’s worth remembering that Stone worked alongside the former Rockets executive before he left for Philadelphia more than three years ago. But the shift, it seems clear, is that the combination of Udoka’s vision and competitiveness have quickly become the driving forces behind this latest pursuit.

 

What is the Atlantic?

 

Not that these articles mean much. They need something to write about.

 

Murray, Bridges...probably cost Rockets ability to off 4 FRPs and 3 swaps for a real star. Article title mentions star hunting and then doesn't mention stars.

Backup center seems like a meh answer. Article mentions getting one that can play with Sengun. Rockets have Tari and Bari at 4 so doesn't make sense unless a star. Someone like Capela who can be acquired cheaply is really all Rockets would need in a backup center. Even then, Rockets do fine with Green most games.

A guard that could be point when FVV off the court would be nice as Amen develops.

 

Rockets are looking for an all-star player this off-season and every other season.

 

A lot of fluff but no names other than Bridges. Again, yeah I'm sure the Rockets would want a star that complement their young core, but who's available?

 

My reading of the article is that Sengun is now considered a centerpiece of the organization, and Smith, Eason, Whitmore, and Amen are basically off the table in trades, with the exception being a deal involving a major star. Which we already knew.

Jalen is definitely not untouchable via trade, good to get confirmation of that.

The articles confirms that guys on the level of Lavine or Dejounte aren't what the Rockets mean by stars. The article also confirms that the offer for Bridges was some not all of the picks back, no mention of young players included. Clearly Bridges isn't that level of star either.

The Rockets and Udoka want that star, aggressively. But that star isn't out there at the moment. There's about 20 of those guys in the league, and all of them are untouchable or seriously old right now.

As I've felt for a while, I see Donovan Mitchell as the most likely target. A true star, who'd fit around Sengun, in the right age range, with the possibility of being moved in the near future, who is ineligible for a supermax (which means his next contract won't be the boondoggle that someone like Jaylen Brown's is).

 

The [Enter Team Name] want to win and are willing to make the trades necessary to do so. . . . (SUCCESS! Article has been clicked)

 

Rockets "star hunting" (headline)

Players mentioned in the article other than Mikal Bridges:

Olynyk
Capela
Robert Williams III
Brogdon

 

Let’s do this!

 

Those starlets with no star power.

 

Sounds like a bunch of posturing to me. Stone is going to start on his paper during lunch on the due date. Then tell us he tried his best when nothing materializes.

 

The only blue chip in that article that wasn't mentioned as untouchable or that they would prefer not to trade was Jalen. Maybe this is why Jalen's play seems to have taken off lately! He might of thought that he was an untouchable before, but now knows that ScoreMore is right on his heels and is making a hard push to pass him by THIS YEAR!

Reading the article made me nervous! I'm not sure which way to go with Green!! He has so much talent and is only 21yrs old....

Go Rockets!!!
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Stone setting expectations low so when he does nothing or even manages to get fleeced, the heat will be on a low simmer instead of scorching hot

 

I would hate -- HATE -- to see the team give up any future potential unless they can land an All-Star caliber player in return. Even Jalen, who has been miserable for much of this season, isn't worth parting with for the likes of Capela.

I'd be happy to let go of Landale, Tate, Holiday, Bullock, Oladipo, Boban, and some of the Nets picks/swaps. But I think we need to keep our first-round picks from the last 3 years until we know exactly what we've got. I'd rather sell low later than sell now and see any of them flourish elsewhere.

 

May I ask how Donovan is the most likely to be traded? They have 10 of 11 games and and 15-4 in their last 19 games. Seems like he would be one of the least likely.