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Rockets Rumors: Team is interested in trading for Wilson Chandler

By Tevin Williams

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: Wilson Chandler #21 of the Denver Nuggets has the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: Wilson Chandler #21 of the Denver Nuggets has the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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After losing forward Trevor Ariza to the Suns, the Houston Rockets are interested in trading for Denver’s forward Wilson Chandler to add some depth at wing.

Trevor Ariza is gone and Daryl Morey and the Rockets are quickly moving on. The team has not re-signed Luc Mbah a Moute, so Houston is very thin at the small forward position. But maybe they won’t be for long.

According to Kelly Iko of the Rockets Wire, Houston’s front office has its eye on Wilson Chandler as a potential replacement for Ariza. The Rockets also targeted Chandler during the trade deadline, but the two teams couldn’t work out a deal.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Mannix, the Nuggets are ‘aggressively pursuing’ LeBron James. After signing Nikola Jokic and Will Barton to sizable, long-term contracts, the Nuggets don’t have much cap room.

They could be looking to offload Wilson Chandler in an effort to make more room for LeBron. If Daryl Morey smells desperation on Denver’s side, the Rockets could walk away with a very good trade.

Last season, Chandler averaged 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He also made 35.8 percent of his 3-point attempts, which is solid. At 31 years old, Chandler has played 10 seasons in the NBA and is a good veteran presence in the locker room. But he’s still young enough that he can contribute to any NBA team for a few years.

The Nuggets continue to make Wilson Chandler, Darrell Arthur and Kenneth Faried all available via trade to deal with their looming luxury-tax crunch, but one source close to the situation said Denver might have to expand its trading-block list to include Mason Plumlee

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 30, 2018

According to the New York Times’ Marc Stein, Chandler isn’t the only player that Denver has made available. Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur are also on the trading block and Mason Plumlee might soon join them. The Nuggets could want the Rockets to take a package centered around Chandler instead of trading him alone.

Next: Houston Rockets: 5 replacements for Trevor Ariza

It’s hard to know if Houston would be interested in any of those other players, given their limited skill sets. Although, Mason Plumlee is an extremely athletic center that could back up Clint Capela. Plumlee would be on the end of a lot of lobs from Chris Paul and James Harden throughout the season.