The Houston Rockets are getting pulled into another star trade rumor. Is there any more truth to it this time around? Furthermore, if there was, how much would it really help the team?
Jeff Teague Thinks the Rockets Should Trade for All-Star Point Guard
The latest NBA star to become embroiled in Houston trade rumors is Sacramento Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox. Apparently, the move even has the approval of player-turned-podcaster Jeff Teague. It’s a significant step down from the Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors floating around before the Greek Freak himself swatted them out of existence with his dominant NBA Cup run.
Even before Giannis’ long-term commitment to the Milwaukee Bucks became more credible, Houston had claimed they weren’t interested. Would their attitude really be any different with a star so much further down the NBA pecking order?
Fox’s Star Credentials
Fox is a seemingly career-long borderline All-Star with only one venture across that border in 2023. He did win the inaugural Clutch Player of the Year Award that same year. Fox even earned third-team All-NBA honors for leading the Sacramento Kings to 48 wins and third in the West.
Since 20-21, Fox has averaged 25.2 points on 19.3 shots per game to go along with 6.1 assists. He is an undoubtedly skilled offensive player. Fox is not a two-time MVP, Finals MVP, and one of only two ever NBA Cup Finals MVPs.
The counterpoint is that a package to obtain the services of a top 20 player in NBA history like Antetokounmpo probably bankrupts a franchise. A package to obtain a player like Fox could be scrounged up with assets to spare. With Sacramento’s season spiraling and their big splash for DeMar DeRozan looking like a strategic miscalculation, the Kings may feel obligated to move on from Fox before he moves on from them.
Houston’s Backcourt Need
There’s no denying that Houston could use an upgrade at the guard position. The Rockets starting backcourt has had a dicey offensive start to the season. Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green have both shown themselves to be capable of big nights. VanVleet had his best game of the season in a first and second-seed showdown versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. Green just put together a solid outing against a bereft New Orleans Pelicans squad.
But for the season, Green is shooting only just above 40% from the field, and VanVleet just below. Their three-point percentages remain in the very low 30s. VanVleet’s ceiling as a player is what Houston had last year when his inefficiency was limited to inside the three-point line. Green’s ceiling remains theoretically high, but his floor game-to-game is practically subterranean. Attentive coaching staffs send him below ground far too easily. Other players floundered, along with the entire offense, in Houston’s semifinal loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Fox isn’t quite an idealized version of Green since he lacks the same explosive leaping ability. However, like Green, he is lightning-quick on his way to the rim, and superior decision-making makes those drives far more efficient. Green’s three-point shooting also looked much improved last season, rising as high as 36.9% at one point, though it’s regressed so far in 2024-25.
Is This The Star Trade That Makes Sense For Houston?
The pairing doesn’t seem the most natural between the supposedly 6-foot-3 Fox and the certifiably defense-first Houston coach, Ime Udoka. Rockets’ GM Rafael Stone would be taking a risk considering established star Alperen Sengun. Sengun’s defense is much improved, but he’s never going to be a bread-and-butter rim protector. Fox’s pairing with a similar archetype at center in Domantas Sabonis enjoyed the most success as the nucleus for a high-powered offense with a weak defense.
Udoka supposedly nixed trading for offensive engine James Harden and pushed to acquire VanVleet as his culture setter. VanVleet’s salary combined with assets (Suns picks and young players) would be the most likely structure of any deal. Udoka probably wouldn’t be happy. A lot of fans wouldn’t be either, depending on the young players involved. Amen Thompson, in particular, should be nowhere near such discussions. Thompson’s upside makes him a clear player the Rockets should keep around.
Despite the Houston backcourt’s dicey start, the Rockets will probably roll the dice on the roster this season as is. Peripheral moves around the deadline remain a possibility, similar to the acquisition of a side-lined Steven Adams last year. Superstar trades, or even Sacramento-star trades, are distinctly less likely. The offseason could be a different matter, assuming there are stars left to trade for.
The Last Word
If Houston starts to slip down the standings in a hyper-competitive Western conference, or should their offense fail them in a first-round playoff matchup, fans may wonder what might have been. “If only we’d listened to Jeff,” they’ll claim. For now, though, they can carry on enjoying an unexpectedly successful season. Between Thompson and Sengun, they might even end the season feeling like there’s a superstar on the roster already.
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