Proposed Mock Trade Helps the Houston Rockets Rebrand as a Winning Team

As the Houston Rockets look to win games, finding team-friendly veterans to add will become a priority.

The Houston Rockets will be entering the 2023-24 NBA season ready to win games for the first time since trading away James Harden. 

But before they can do that, the Rockets have to address Kevin Porter Jr. Porter is unwelcome in Houston and is probably not anywhere in the league as he faces felony domestic violence charges.

Houston seems ready to hold strong and buy him out if needed, which seems like the most likely course of action.

However, after moving Damian Lillard, the rebuilding Portland Trailblazers are interested in acquiring as many young assets as they can, per Sam Vecenie of The Athletic (subscription required). In a proposed mock trade, the Rockets would send Porter, Jae’Sean Tate, and four future second-round picks for Malcolm Brogdon. 

Tate is an excellent defender and overall hustle player, and the four picks are there to sweeten the pot for Portland; who is already fielding phone calls for Brogdon.

Rockets small forward Jae'Sean Tate (8) shoots the ball against Portland Trail Blazers point guard Brandon Williams (8) during the first half at Moda Center / Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

To Houston, Brogdon would bring a team-first mentality that helped him win the Sixth Man of the Year award. Behind Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet, Brogdon and Dillion Brooks would headline the second unit, helping Amen Thompson adjust to leading an NBA offense. 

With Thompson expected to be the primary ball handler and facilitator for the second unit, providing him with another helping piece in Brogdon makes sense for the Rockets. Keep in mind, that they owe the Thunder a draft pick next year, so tanking is out of the question.

Brogdon is under contract for two more seasons and already has a positive relationship with coach Ime Udoka from their brief overlap in Boston. A reunion might be in the works, even if the circumstances of last year’s Celtics and the 2024 Rockets are vastly different. 

Usually, a rebuilding team like Houston is reluctant to give up picks, but Malcolm Brogdon seems like the rare safe option on the NBA’s trade market.