NBA draft 2020: The Report Card

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How Could The Rockets Win The Championship Next Season?

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 26: Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka speaks with Jalen Green ... [+] #4 during the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 26, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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Not surprisingly, the Boston Celtics have the best odds to win the NBA championship next season at +300, fresh off of their title in 2024. Coming in second are a pair of teams which made major moves over the offseason to improve their rosters, with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers each at +800. The Thunder added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to their impressive young core, while Daryl Morey's 76ers splurged in free agency, signing All-Star wing Paul George to flank former league MVP Joel Embiid and rising star guard Tyrese Maxey.

The Rockets, a young team on the rise in the Western Conference after winning 41 games last season are at 150-1, ahead of just the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz in their conference. Notably, they trail the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs in the odds, two teams which finished behind them in the standings last season.

What would need to happen for the Rockets to pull off what would be seen as the most surprising championship in NBA history? A lot would need to fall into place.

For starters, the team would need to build upon its top 10 defensive finish last season and continue etching out this identity. But Houston was one of the worst shooting and offensive teams in the league in 2023-2024 - this would need to change. If the Rockets vaulted up the league rankings in shooting, it would be a safe bet that rookie guard Reed Sheppard, a sharpshooter from Kentucky, was playing a significant role for the team off the bench and forcing teams to pay for doubling fourth-year big man Alperen Sengun.

Speaking of Sengun, the Rockets center would need to build upon his breakthrough season from last year when he averaged a gaudy 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists as the team's fulcrum on offense under head coach Ime Udoka. If the Rockets took a sizable leap in the standings, there's also a good chance that fourth year guard Jalen Green would look much closer to the March version of himself (when he claimed Western Conference Player of the Month honors) rather than his season-long averages. Green is an electric scorer and made major progress as a playmaker last season, but has struggled with his long distance shooting consistency.

Other members of the team's "Core 6" of young prospects would also need to make a leap: forwards Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason (coming off of a leg injury), and wings Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.

But the likeliest factor that could contribute to a Rockets surprise is a trade deadline deal for an All-Star. It's no secret that the Rockets are keeping an eye on the situation in Phoenix where the Suns are dangerously into the collective bargaining agreement's second apron. By way of a summer trade with the Brooklyn Nets, Houston owns the rights to future Suns obligations. If things go south quickly for Phoenix this season, would the Suns be amenable to a trade with the Rockets to regain control of their future? Kevin Durant would slot flawlessly onto the Houston roster at forward, as he would on any NBA roster. The Rockets could offer picks, salary filler (in the form of expiring contracts), and young prospects as aforementioned. A quartet of Sengun, Fred VanVleet, Durant, and Green (from his March form) surrounded by whomever remained of the team's core prospects could be formidable.

The Rockets winning the title in 2024-2025 is about as unlikely as any bet, as reflected by the recent odds. But there's a scenario where such a longshot could begin to be plausible.

Houston Rockets Preparing For Big Move At Trade Deadline

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The Houston Rockets are preparing for their big move, which is well ahead of schedule.

According to The Athletic, Houston has quietly repositioned their long-term stance ahead of the trade deadline. Instead of remaining in their rebuilding phase, the Rockets are ready to win immediately. Houston is willing to give up one of their blue-chip prospects in exchange for a star-level player.

What a turn of events for the Rockets, mainly in large part to their transformative offseason. Hiring Ime Udoka was the perfect change of course from Stephen Silas, who was unable to properly tap into Houston's dynamic young core. Also, signing Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks in free agency were the veteran presences solely lacking on the Rockets' roster.

What type of all-in move makes sense for Houston, especially at this current jucture? The answer here is most likely Brooklyn Nets wing Mikal Bridges. According to multiple reports, the Rockets actually reached out to Brooklyn inquiring about Bridges' potential availability. Immediately, the Nets shot down Houston's attempt to acquire arguably the best win-now wing potentially available for the right price.

From Houston's perspective, Udoka and Co. Are ready to make their postseason push right now instead of waiting around any further. Alperen Sengun is taking the superstar turn as one of the NBA's most underrated centers. Former No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith is taking serious strides as a versatile wing as well. Tari Eason is another foundational piece Houston has no intentions of moving.

Jalen Green is the one player within Houston's young core that does feel like the swing piece that could be used for a major trade to improve their roster. Green's inconsistent play has led many to believe his ceiling won't be reached. If the Rockets are able to flip Green into an All-Star-caliber player, it certainly would behoove them to do so.

For both the Rockets and Nets, a potential swap of Green and multiple draft picks previously owned by Brooklyn for Bridges is a win-win for both sides. Not only would this move allow Brooklyn to own their draft once more after the disastrous James Harden trade, but they are not close to real contention anytime soon.

Unless a star falls into Brooklyn's lap this offseason, it would be wise to pounce on the maximum value for Bridges.

Here's a projected trade between Houston and Brooklyn that also works legally under the salary cap:

Rockets receive = Mikal Bridges

Nets receive = Jalen Green, Jae'Sean Tate, 2024 1st (via Nets), 2025 pick swap (via Nets), 2026 1st (via Nets), 2027 pick swap (via Nets)

Brooklyn would be wise to do this, but all indications are Bridges is a foundational piece to whatever the next alliteration of winning basketball looks like in Brooklyn.

Now, with reports of Houston ready to win, keep an eye on them intently as the trade deadline approaches.

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