3 Players worth trading the Rockets' upcoming lottery pick for

Some folks need to reevaluate where the Houston Rockets stand in the NBA's trade market. For some, there seems to be some urgency around consolidating assets.

Why?

The Rockets have secured the Western Conference's second seed. They have a surplus of assets. This is one of the better situations in the NBA:

The Rockets shouldn't feel urgency about anything.

That said, the Rockets could broker a blockbuster deal this summer. Nobody should rule anything out. There's no dire need to make a deal. The Rockets don't need to take on the risk of Zion Williamson or LaMelo Ball's injury-proneness. They don't need to surrender assets for a B-tier star like Trae Young.

They could justify grabbing a true superstar. Now that they officially have a lottery pick from the Suns, that could become an easier task. That said, those players seldom hit the market:

Here are three worth trading for if they do become available.

1. Kevin Durant

This one comes with caveats attached.

In a vacuum, the Rockets don't need a 37-year-old Durant. In practice, they have a leg up on the competition. Owning three upcoming Suns picks (including the one that's already been mentioned) makes a Durant deal more viable.

If the pick lands outside of the top-5, it could be worth moving for Durant. Would that be enough for Phoenix? Once the pick conveys, it's the same as any pick to them. The fact that it had formerly been assigned to them is meaningless. The Suns could shop Durant for an equally valuable asset.

What if the Rockets included one more future Suns pick? Could those two selections and the necessary contracts get it done? Is that worth Houston's time?

It's hard to say. What's clear is that this Rockets squad would benefit tremendously from having a shot creator like Durant. If nothing else, this situation is worth monitoring.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo

Fans should have reservations about Antetokounmpo as well.

He does everything besides shooting the basketball effectively. Antetokounmpo is an all-world defender who can get to the rim at will and set up teammates.

In other words, his skillset overlaps precisely with the Rockets' current roster.

That said, he could be worth shaking up the roster for. The Rockets could justify pairing Antetokounmpo with one of Amen Thompson (if they want to lean into defense) or Alperen Sengun (for a more potent offensive duo) and surrounding the two with elite spacing. That's a team that could compete for the NBA title.

Still, shaking up the roster after such a successful season feels like a questionable decision. It's a tough call. This is Giannis Antetokounmpo we're talking about. He's one of the best players in the NBA:

If he's available, the Rockets may not be able to resist him.

3. Nikola Jokic

Drop the caveats. Forget everything else you've read.

If Jokic is available, you pursue him full tilt.

Yes, that means giving up on Sengun. That's fine - you're bringing in the supercharged version. Sengun has plenty of potential, but Jokic is the best player in the world.

Ideally, you keep Amen Thompson next to him. That offense/defense pairing is tantalizing. Otherwise, everyone and everything should be on the table if Jokic demands a trade.

It feels highly unlikely. Jokic seems content in Denver. That said, the utter chaos surrounding the team lately has raised questions. The Nuggets have limited means to improve the group around Jokic, and 2024-25 has been disappointing enough for them to fire their head coach and general manager in one fell swoop.

Keep an eye on the Nuggets. They'll fight tooth and nail to keep Jokic, but this is reminiscent of a situation that was crazy, and could not be fixed.

If it is, the Rockets should spare a lot more than their newly minted lottery pick to get him.