Grading a refreshingly sensible new trade proposal for the Rockets

The NBA is crazy right now. Blockbuster deals seem to be happening constantly. The Houston Rockets don't seem likely to participate in the madness.

Why would they? The Rockets don't have a superstar they're uncertain about committing to ala Luka Doncic. They don't need to take "the next step" ala the Spurs - at 32-16, they've taken that step. It makes sense for the Rockets to stand pat and see how far they can get with their current core.

So, it might be a quiet deadline for Houston. That said, some more marginal moves could make sense for them.

Bleacher Report just suggested a deal for them that would be perfectly reasonable.

Rockets land veteran wing in new proposal

Are you sitting down? That's not relevant. This deal is not going to knock you off your feet. Let's look at the details.

Miami Heat receive: 2026 Second Round Pick (Top 31-55 Protected)

Houston Rockets receive: Josh Richardson, 2026 Second Round Pick (LAL)

This one isn't going to generate the clicks. It won't go viral.

It still makes plenty of sense.

Ostensibly, the Rockets do this deal to improve their 2026 second-round draft capital. They're taking on a "bad" - but ultimately inconsequential - contract to turn a worthless pick into a virtually worthless one. That's fine:

But they might like Richardson too.

Rockets should be open to upgrading rotation

Richardson has been hurt for most of this year. Even when healthy, he's been underperforming. Richardson's 27.3% mark from long-range is the lowest percentage of his career.

His -6.9 Box Plus/Minus (BPM) is outright atrocious. It's also worth interrogating. Richardson has played just 8 games this year. He played 18.8 minutes per game during that stretch. It's concerning that his BPM was as horrible as it was, but it would be unwise to conclude that Richardson's days as a productive NBA player are over.

Last season, Richardson's BPM was -1.3 in 43 games. He hasn't had a positive BPM since his 2021-22 stint with the Celtics. That would be a problem - if the Rockets were acquiring a starter.

They're not. Richardson still has the profile of a useful utility player. At 6'5", he can play the 1-through-3. He's a career 36.3% shooter. This is a player who, if he rounds back into form, could help the Rockets with their floor spacing without compromising their defensive identity. Best of all, they're getting him at virtually zero cost in this proposal.

Isn't that crazy?

Grade: A