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Houston Rockets: Top-8 Rockets ranked by trade value

By N.B. Lindberg

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 19: John Wall #1 of the Houston Rockets huddles with the team against the Houston Rockets prior to the game at American Airlines Arena on April 19, 2021 in Miami, Florida. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 19: John Wall #1 of the Houston Rockets huddles with the team against the Houston Rockets prior to the game at American Airlines Arena on April 19, 2021 in Miami, Florida. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Houston Rockets
James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets and Kevin Porter Jr. #3 of the Houston Rockets (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Houston Rocket trade value #3: Kevin Porter Jr.

Kevin Porter Jr’s ranking on this list was incredibly difficult to pigeonhole. He is young, on a small contract, and clearly talented but he doesn’t have a positive statistical track record to fall back onto.

Porter has posted decent box-score statistics but he hasn’t shown much on the defensive end and his offensive efficiency is concerningly low. However, his potential to be an offensive hub is tantalizing enough that he could headline a trade to land a proven NBA contributor.

Now, that doesn’t mean the Trail Blazers are going to swap him and Damian Lillard but it means that teams value his potential enough to have him be at the center of trade talks. Porter is in a make-or-break season as he enters his third year in the NBA.

He needs to prove that he can be the man on offense and turn his flashes of potential into a consistent force on the offensive side of the ball. In his first season in Houston, there were positive developments but it’s not certain whether he is more D’Angelo Russell (big stats, bad player) or James Harden (big stats, great player).

The Rockets used a second-round pick to land Porter and right now he’d probably land a mid to late first-round pick. That on its own makes the trade a win, but if Porter puts it all together he could become an untouchable prospect.

Next: Trade value #2