Houston Rockets: 3 trade deadline do’s and don’ts

Houston Rockets trade deadline do #3: Trade Ben McLemore

Ben McLemore rescued his career from the abyss last season with a stellar display from 3-point range. Over the course of 71 games, he hit 40-percent of his threes and earned a robust bench role for a playoff team.

Much like everything for the Rockets, Gordon’s 2020-21 season has been an unmitigated disaster. His shooting from 3-point range has slipped to a ghastly 31-percent and he has seen his role, on a much worse team, shrink considerably.

McLemore is in the last year of his deal and at only $2.2 million his contract is much easier to take on in a trade than most. The Rockets won’t be able to get much for him, but a contender in need of shooting would certainly consider sending a second-round pick back to see if he can regain his shooting stroke.

If the Rockets had moved McLemore in the offseason his value would have been much higher, but he shouldn’t figure into their future plans. He’s a one-trick pony that has had trouble executing that one-trick.

McLemore is still lethal from the corners and a team that has a small and defined role for him could get a real boost. The Rockets need assets and McLemore needs a new home, which is why the Rockets need to trade him before the final whistle today.

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