Grading an explosive trade proposal that has Rockets bringing Ja Morant home

The Houston Rockets often find themselves linked to two stars: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant. There are good reasons to acquire either, and good reasons to avoid both. The pros are obvious, so let's focus on the cons.

Antetokounmpo is a poor shooter. The Rockets have a poor shooting roster. It's hard to imagine how he'd seamlessly fit into this team, and overhauling a young, 52-win squad feels rash.

Durant is a perfect fit with this group. If he were a decade younger, it'd be worth packing every pick under the sun for him. Unfortunately, Durant is 37. He may begin a steep decline as early as next season.

So, there's trepidation around both. That said, the Rockets could look at other targets.

What about the Grizzlies' Ja Morant?

Rockets linked to Morant in new proposal

Bleacher Report thinks Morant could be a viable target for the Rockets. Let's look at the package they think Houston would send out to acquire the star guard.

That's less than some might expect. Perhaps it's a buy-low opportunity. Morant is coming off a down year by his standards. Still, when 23.2 points and 7.3 assists per game are a down year, you know you're talking about a superstar.

Advanced stats do a better job of painting Morant's 2024-25 struggle. His 2.4 Box Plus/Minus (BPM) is a far cry from the 6.1 mark he hit in 2021-22, or his 5.7 from 2022-23.

It's worth noting that Morant is coming off a major injury. That's a double-edged sword. It does partially explain his subpar year, but it's also part of what makes Morant volatile. He is distinctly injury-prone at this stage of his career.

That's not the only reason for the Rockets to avoid him.

Rockets should tread lightly when it comes to Morant

Here's the most important stat when it comes to Morant and the Rockets: he's a 31.6% career three-point shooter.

At some point, the Rockets need players who can connect on long-range shots. Morant is a questionable fit with Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. Given Morant's injury history, potential decline, and questionable off-court decision-making, prioritizing Sengun and Thompson over him would be sensible.

That's not to say this is an awful trade. Acquiring a player who's had seasons like Morant's best at this cost is tantalizing. The Rockets have a chance to get tremendous value from this deal, but it comes with too much risk for my blood. Still, braver Rockets fans may be salivating over what could be an excellent deal for Houston.

Grade: B