It took one preseason game for perfect Rockets trade target to emerge

The Houston Rockets are lacking guard depth, but the perfect midseason trade target may have already emerged. The Lakers' Gabe Vincent looked exactly like the player this team needs in his preseason debut.

It won't happen tomorrow. It won't happen easily. Realistically, it probably won't happen at all.

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Jokes aside, trade speculation is exactly that - speculation. The Rockets seem happy with their roster. Time will tell whether their lack of traditional guard play is a problem.

If it is, Vincent could be the perfect deadline target.

Rockets should keep an eye on conference rivals

Last night, Vincent hung 16 points and 5 assists on the Warriors. He was an efficient 4/9 from the field and 3/7 from long range. Granted, a one-game sample doesn't tell us much. Here's the rub: Vincent was more or less the guy he's always been.

Gabe Vincent is not going to win you games, but he isn't going to lose you games either. He's a solid point of attack defender, a reliable ball-handler, and an acceptable shooter. He's fine.

Sounds a lot like Aaron Holiday, right? Absolutely. Vincent wouldn't necessarily replace Holiday in the rotation, but he could. More broadly, he'd give the Rockets another option in the backcourt. Ime Udoka could lean into whoever is playing better between Vincent and Holiday on a given night.

It makes sense - from the Rockets' perspective. It takes two to tango. The Rockets would have to have something the Lakers needed.

Luckily, that won't be a problem.

Rockets have big men to spare

The Lakers may find themselves needing a big man throughout 2025-26.

Sure, Deandre Ayton is a former number-one pick. By now, that's a future trick question in a trivia contest. Ayton is rotation-caliber, but his low-effort brand of basketball is sure to frustrate the Lakers.

Jaxson Hayes is also rotation-worthy, but barely. The Lakers may have a big man problem in 2025-26:

And one of Steven Adams or Clint Capela could be the answer.

An Adams-for-Vincent swap would be outrageous from the Rockets' perspective. They'd need to be receiving assets. That said, if the Lakers were willing to do something like Vincent and 3 second-round picks for Adams, it's something the Rockets could consider.

That said, Capela is likely the more attractive route for the Rockets. Something built around him, Jae'Sean Tate and Jeff Green for Vincent could be feasible without picks going either way.

Will the Rockets be interested? Who knows? If it's going well enough with Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard by the deadline, they may not like Vincent. If they find that their backcourt depth is hurting them, he's someone to keep an eye on:

He could be the perfect mid season trade acquisition.