Inside The Rockets

Report: Rockets Not Ready For Blockbuster Trade

The Houston Rockets have a lot of young assets that could be traded, but it isn't likely.

Jeremy Brener

Nov 15, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) reacts after making a basket during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Nov 15, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) reacts after making a basket during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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Since the summer, the Houston Rockets have been pegged as a team ready to make a splash with a blockbuster trade.

With an excess of young talent and future draft picks, the Rockets could cash some of those in for a big player like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jimmy Butler, but ESPN insider Brian Windhorst doesn't believe Houston is looking to make a move at the moment.

"The message they are sending out is that they aren't interested in trading much of their young core right now," Windhorst writes. "Draft steal Tari Eason, for example, has been drawing attention for the past year but has been labeled off limits, sources said. Same for last year's lottery pick Amen Thompson. Rockets GM Rafael Stone has prioritized acquiring tough defenders in the draft and free agency -- Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet are examples -- and coach Ime Udoka is famous for demanding defensive accountability. Udoka's influence is often most powerful within games, team sources said. Film sessions and practice time are where most defensive coaching is done but Udoka's huddles during games are often eventful."

With the Rockets among the best teams in the Western Conference at the moment, the team isn't looking towards breaking up. Perhaps the team is in wait-and-see mode to see how well it performs this year before evaluating and deciding if a change is needed.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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