As it currently stands, the backbone of Houston’s roster is suitable for the work Udoka wants to carry out — a veteran point guard in VanVleet who can organize an offense, a tenacious wing in Brooks to stabilize a defense and a versatile, vast-emerging big in
Alperen Şengün who is developing rapidly.
Elsewhere, though, as talented as the roster is, it’s evident there is still a chasm between the Rockets and the teams firmly in the playoff picture.
Houston has been pursuing upgrades to the roster, searching for another All-Star-caliber type who fits the two-way mold Udoka is looking for, and the organization has the available resources to do so. The Rockets have four first-round picks eligible to be traded — two via Brooklyn in 2024 and 2026 and their own in 2028 and 2030.
Names that have been linked with them as the trade market has developed — Atlanta’s
Dejounte Murray and Chicago’s Zach Lavine — don’t appear to be enticing to the Rockets. The Rockets have joined the long line of teams showing extremely high interest in Nets forward
Mikal Bridges, league sources say. Houston made an offer including multiple first-round draft picks for Bridges in recent weeks, but the Nets have zero interest in any deal involving Bridges, who is part of Brooklyn’s core moving forward.
The Rockets, league sources said, are also exploring the center market, looking to bolster their rim protection. According to those sources, Houston is keeping tabs on Utah’s
Kelly Olynyk, Atlanta’s
Clint Capela, Chicago’s
Andre Drummond and Portland’s Robert Williams III (who has fans throughout the current coaching staff) among others.
Udoka’s preference is not only to find another big man who can step in when Şengün is on the bench, but one who could potentially play alongside him in certain lineups, akin to Williams and
Al Horford during Udoka’s lone season in Boston. Houston can offer expiring contracts in
Victor Oladipo and
Boban Marjanović — or even longer-term salary like center Landale — in addition to draft capital, such as second-round picks, to facilitate a deal. Alternatively,
Jae’Sean Tate, who league sources said is attracting interest from the likes of Boston and
Phoenix, is movable.
Elsewhere, the Rockets would like to add another two-way ballhandler, league sources said, one that can play both on and off the ball.
Malcolm Brogdon, currently playing in Portland averaging 15.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game and shooting 41 percent from 3 is a name of interest, league sources said. But, it must also be noted that any addition in the backcourt could potentially reduce playing time for rookies Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson — who team sources said are off the table, except for a deal involving a star player — which might cause some hesitation in aggressively hunting for help. In addition, Houston is not interested in trading either Eason or Smith, team sources said.
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