4 Under-the-radar targets for the Rockets as the deadline approaches

The Houston Rockets will not make a blockbuster trade leading up to the deadline.

Fine - I'm not nearly qualified to make that claim. Only Rafael Stone knows what the Rockets will do. Still, he's on record saying he doesn't want to break up this young core. Given that the Rockets are exceeding expectations, without a clear hierarchy and untested in the playoffs, that makes sense.

Let's take him at his word. The Rockets could still stand to make some upgrades. This team has needs if they're concerned about their win-now window.

Here are 4 players who could meet some of those needs.

1. Malcolm Brogdon (Wizards)

It's been a rough year for Brogdon. He's shooting a clean 30.0% from long distance:

Clean in the sense that it's a round number. It's an otherwise disgusting figure.

Moreover, he's injury-prone. If the Rockets acquired Brogdon, they'd run the risk of relying on him to pilot the second unit only to lose him when the postseason came. This is not a can't-miss acquisition.

All of those factors also explain why Brogdon should be affordable. That 30.0% mark is far off his career 38.8% three-point shooting. Brogdon has enough size to play either guard spot. He can work off the ball, and run your offense for a spell. If the Rockets can get him for expiring money and some second-round draft assets, they should strongly consider it.

2. Lonzo Ball

Much of what was said about Brogdon could apply to Ball. He's having a down year, and he's injury-prone.

The calculus is different. Ball isn't shooting nearly as poorly as Brogdon this year. His 34.8% shooting from deep is uninspiring, but it's not downright scary like Brogdon's percentage. Like Brogdon, it's a bit of a slump for Ball. During the last season he participated in, he shot 42.3% on 7.4 threes per contest.

The problem? That was two years ago. Ball got hurt during the 2021-22 season and had to take two years off. That could explain the rust, but it's also concerning from a reliability standpoint. Is Ball ready for a playoff run?

Time will tell. It's a relatively moot point when we're talking about a player who may be poised to hit the buyout market.

Why let him get there? The Rockets could send the Bulls a pair of expiring contracts and one second-round pick. Chicago would be getting - well, literally more than nothing - while the Rockets would be getting a Lonzo Ball who's almost certainly more valuable than a second-round pick.

3. Eric Gordon

Stop. Don't read ahead. The next target on the list is also a Sixer. Can you guess who it is?

For now, let's talk about Gordon. He's a former Rocket. Gordon is comfortable with the organization. He already played with several of the Rockets' young stars.

Oh, and he's still shooting a stone-cold 42.6% from three-point range.

Gordon isn't the defender that he used to. He can't be as frequently relied on for from-scratch offense. Still, if the floundering Sixers entertain a firesale, the Rockets should inquire about Gordon:

Oh, and this guy too.

4. Adem Bona

Did you guess right? If so, you've got an encyclopedic knowledge of NBA rosters. Bona is not a household name.

This 18-year-old second-round pick's numbers are too modest to type. His Box Plus/Minus (BPM) of -4.7. is poor. That's fine:

As a rookie picked in the second-round, Bona is surpassing expectations simply by getting on the floor.

He also happens to be Turkish, and friends with Alperen Sengun. That's a secondary point, but it's relevant. The Rockets should know that chemistry matters - their continuity has served them well in 2024-25.

The more prudent argument is that Bona has impressive upside. He's exactly the type of athletic, mobile big man the team is lacking. The Rockets could look to acquire him now and start grooming him as Sengun's long-term backup. This is less about the upcoming stretch run, and more of a longer-term move:

Even if it isn't a blockbuster move.