4 Players the Rockets should move in a consolidation trade

The Houston Rockets have a "core seven". That's seven recent first-round picks they can choose to build around. If they use both of their picks in next year's draft, it'll be a core nine.

If you're even loosely familiar with the mechanisms of the NBA's salary cap, you know that isn't sustainable.

It's over half of the roster. In time, the Rockets will likely need to nail down a core three and surround those stars with complimentary role players. A consolidation trade is inevitable.

Here are four players we think they should include in that inevitable deal.

1. Jock Landale

The 2023-24 season was a confusing one for Landale. For much of the season, he looked unplayable. It wasn't clear whether Landale was an NBA-caliber player.

As the year progressed, we gained some clarity. It became obvious that Landale had been impacted by an ankle injury. As he rounded into form, he established himself as a productive NBA player. Does that mean he belongs on the Rockets?

We're not sure. We'll say this much - if Steven Adams is healthy, Landale doesn't belong ahead of him in the rotation. So, the Rockets have a third-string big man who could serve as a primary backup on some teams. A squad like the Nuggets or Sixers who intend on keeping their starting big on the floor as often as possible could be interested in Landale.