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The Houston Rockets are able to struggle for a playoff spot, making them apparent candidates to be consumers on the Feb. 8 NBA commerce deadline.
With regard to what they’re searching for, Kelly Iko, Shams Charania, and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that Houston is “exploring the middle market” with a watch on enhancing “rim safety,” mentioning 4 names particularly.
“The Rockets, league sources mentioned, are additionally exploring the middle market, seeking to bolster their rim safety. Based on these sources, Houston is protecting tabs on Utah’s Kelly Olynyk, Atlanta’s Clint Capela, Chicago’s Andre Drummond and Portland’s Robert Williams III (who has followers all through the present teaching employees) amongst others.”
Houston already has a star-in-the-making in 21-year-old middle Alperen Şengün, who’s averaging 21.9 factors, 9.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per recreation. Nonetheless, the crew may use extra depth down low behind Şengün because the crew fights for the playoffs.
At the moment, Houston is 22-24, adequate for eleventh within the Western Convention and one half-game again of the Utah Jazz for the ultimate play-in event spot.
The Rockets entered this season seeking to compete after a 22-60 marketing campaign the 12 months earlier than, including Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks through free company and hiring Ime Udoka as their subsequent head coach. Houston has already matched its win complete from final 12 months with 36 video games nonetheless remaining.
The crew has been in a little bit of a stoop currently, although. After a 13-9 begin, Houston has gone simply 11-15 since. The Rockets have the expertise to make the playoffs, however they might use some reinforcements.
Buying and selling for frontcourt assist is an effective place to start out.
Drummond has been implausible in restricted motion this 12 months for the Chicago Bulls, averaging 7.8 factors and eight.3 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per recreation.
Capela, who started his profession in Houston, is averaging a double-double (11.4 PPG, 10.5 RPG) for an Atlanta Hawks crew that is endured a disappointing 20-27 marketing campaign.
Olynyk, one other former Rocket, is a extra well-rounded middle who shoots 42.5 p.c from three. He additionally averages 8.0 factors, 5.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the Utah Jazz.
Williams, a middle for the Portland Path Blazers, is out for the 2023-24 season after present process proper knee surgical procedure to handle a patellar dislocation. Nonetheless, he’d be a superb slot in Houston subsequent 12 months given his defensive prowess. Williams averaged 6.8 factors and 6.3 rebounds for Portland earlier than his season resulted in November.
Finally, Houston is a crew to observe because the commerce deadline quickly approaches.
