Grade the Mock Trade: Rockets make massive Celtics gamble in new proposal

A trade was recently pitched for the Houston Rockets in an article claiming to name a trade "every team would make" if the deadline were today. Spoiler alert:

The Rockets wouldn't make their trade.

Trade proposals can be difficult to write. This is a fact. One person's understanding of the market is different from another's. Sometimes, a trade gets made that shows we were both wrong.

That said, it's pretty clear that Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley is dead wrong in this instance.

Rockets give up too much for unnecessary addition

Here are the details:

Oh boy. Let's get into it.

Is Pritchard even better than Eason? Last year, Eason's Box Plus/Minus (BPM) of 3.6 narrowly edged Pritchard's 3.5 mark. They were both among the best reserves in the NBA. Even if they're roughly equal, here's the real question:

Is Pritchard a whole unprotected first-round pick better?

Granted, there's context. Eason is injury-prone, and his contract negotiations stand to get complicated. Still, the pick that Buckley has the Rockets moving is one of their most valuable assets. Why sell it off piecemeal when they could hang onto it for a larger trade, or alternatively, hope it lands in the high lottery so they can select another cornerstone in 2029?

That's not to say the asset is untouchable. It's just not worth flipping for Pritchard:

Particularly given who else is on the Rockets' roster.

Rockets have a Pritchard upgrade in waiting

Here's another relevant question:

Is Pritchard better than Reed Sheppard?

In 2025-26, Sheppard is averaging 12.9 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, compared to Pritchard's 16.7 points, 5.0 assists, and 0.7 steals. The basic counting stats favor Pritchard, but Sheppard is shooting 43.7% from deep with a 4.9 BPM to Pritchard's 33.3% and 0.9 BPM.

It's not strictly about this season. Sheppard has been (unfavorably, on lottery standards) compared to Pritchard before. If he hasn't eclipsed him yet, he's well on his way:

So why acquire Pritchard to muck up his place in the Rockets' rotation?

If the Rockets are going to acquire a point guard, it ought to be someone different from Sheppard. They could justify adding a tall guard to maximize their defensive portability, but this deal makes no sense. It has the Rockets giving up far too much for a player who's ultimately redundant on their roster.

Luckily, it's not a deal the Rockets would make.

Grade: D