Rockets land proven scoring wing from Trail Blazers

The Houston Rockets have let it be known that they are done rebuilding. They are ready to win now.

They aimed to make the playoffs this season, but fell short, largely due to injuries. Still, the Rockets made a significant jump in Ime Udoka’s first season at the helm, posting a 19-win improvement over their 2022-23 campaign that saw them win just 22 games.

In typical fashion, the Rockets are expected to go after the big game, as the franchise looks to go after an established, proven player. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the Rockets are missing a go-to closer in critical moments, not to mention the fact that the franchise is generally always open for business when it comes to acquiring players from star level.

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report suggested a deal between the Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers, in which the Rockets land forward Jerami Grant and the Blazers’ 14th pick, in exchange for Dillon Brooks, Tari Eason and the Rockets’ third overall pick .

Buckley’s synopsis is below.

“Word spread quickly that Houston might try to flip the No. 3 pick for established talent, but finding the right match could be tricky. The Rockets don’t need a point guard or center, but they need more three-point volume than what someone like Brandon Ingram offers. They also might not be quite ready to cough up the number of assets needed to catch a star. like Donovan Mitchell.

But what about a trade down to improve their current talent level while still retaining a lottery pick? This possibility should get the front office’s attention, as consolidating some assets might be necessary sooner rather than later, given the number of newcomers Houston will eventually have to pay.

Grant can take on a big offensive role, but he’s better as a supporting piece who can complement the stars and drain the tank on defense. He should have this setup in Space City, where Alperen Şengün, Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green could all end up ahead of Grant in the offensive pecking order, allowing him to pick his spots and hopefully improve his efficiency in the process.

Buckley’s reasoning is based on the fact that the Rockets will soon have to give significant salary deals to several of their young talents. However, Grant isn’t necessarily considered a go-to scorer or franchise cornerstone.

The Rockets would also see a significant decline on the defensive end, as they would part with an all-league defender in Brooks and a tenacious defender in Eason, in exchange for a player like Grant, who is not very well known . for his ability at that end of the field.

The pick isn’t necessarily an issue, as the Rockets would offer another lottery pick, albeit much later. Grant’s $160 million contract isn’t really worth his production (21 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 57.3 true shooting percentage), making this deal a question mark .

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