Rockets: 3 trades to send Victor Oladipo to the Nuggets

1: Houston Rockets receive Michael Porter Jr. and Gary Harris

It’s no secret that the Houston Rockets have interest in Michael Porter Jr., as it was revealed during the James Harden sweepstakes that they were seeking a way to land the 22-year-old forward. Porter would give the Rockets yet another budding star for the future, joining the 25-year-old Christian Wood.

The 6-foot-10 forward has averaged roughly 15 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks this season, while shooting 42.2 percent from three on a healthy 5.5 attempts per game. Porter has made 63.8 percent true shooting, marking his second consecutive season of posting 60 percent true shooting or better.

This is also Porter’s second consecutive season of making 42 percent from long-range, which would be a boost to a Rockets team that ranks 27th in 3-point percentage despite taking the fourth-most attempts. But the Nuggets wouldn’t be compelled to simply move Porter for Oladipo, so the Rockets would have to include P.J. Tucker, who would bolster Denver’s defense and provide them with a veteran that could help the Nuggets’ young duo of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.

In addition, the Rockets would have to include two first-round picks, including the 2021 first-round pick they acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Robert Covington trade and the 2022 first-round pick that the Rockets acquired by way of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Nuggets surely don’t have interest in moving Porter Jr. but they’d acquire Oladipo, who they have interest in, along with two first-round draft picks in exchange for him, which should make them consider such a move.