3 Rockets who won't last all of 2025 in Houston

The Houston Rockets had a sensational 2024. That doesn't mean they don't have room to improve in 2025.

This team has holes. The Rockets are in dire need of three-point shooting. They could use a better backup point guard, and their center rotation behind Alperen Sengun is shaky.

Will the Rockets acquire a superstar? That's been a prevailing storyline this season. If they don't, they could still look to make some marginal moves near the trade deadline.

Here are three players they'd be likely to move in pursuit of those modest upgrades.

1. Jeff Green

Uncle Jeff has certainly endeared himself to Rockets fans. His veteran leadership has been apparent since the organization signed him two summers ago.

Last year, he was a surprisingly useful rotation player. Green gave the Rockets 16.8 minutes per contest.

This year, he's down to 6.1 per game - across 9 games. There's no sense in digging deeper into Green's statistical profile. At 38, his career is effectively over. If the Rockets can flip his expiring contract for an upgrade in an area of need, they should not hesitate.

2. Jock Landale

It's difficult to pin down Landale's place in this league. Is he the best third-string big in the league? The worst primary backup? Who knows?

Landale has a unique skillset. He can knock down threes (42.9% this year, admittedly on just 0.4 attempts per game) and he's a crafty passer. Landale is a passable stationary rim protector, but he can't defend in space at all.

Let's shift the focus away from Landale's production. His contract is incredibly well-structured. Landale makes $8 million a year - easy money to move if need be, but more importantly, each season of his deal is non-guaranteed at the beginning of the offseason.

Teams covet that type of flexibility. The Rockets could package Landale's contract with some second-round draft capital and bring in an impactful reserve.

3. Jae'Sean Tate

Out of all of these guys, Tate would be the hardest to say goodbye to. As it stands, he's the longest-tenured Rocket.

He's also the most productive player of the bunch. Tate is a versatile defender with strong passing instincts. He can handle the ball and make plays by driving in a pinch. Why move him at all?

Well, Tate is also a 6'4" wing who's shooting 25% from deep this year. The Rockets' wing rotation is the envy of many teams around the league. Tate could be a valuable rotation piece on a team that needs forwards, but the Rockets have outgrown him.

There's a logical framework for a deal here. The Rockets should move Tate - and draft capital if needed - to a team who needs defense at the expense of shooting.

That seems like a surefire way to improve the team.