4. Dillon Brooks
Call this one wishful thinking.
Sure, the Rockets "should" include Brooks in a consolidation trade. With Fred VanVleet's team option in mind, Brooks' deal is the only one on Houston's ledger that could be seen as a negative asset in an open market.
That said, in this economy, it's not a prohibitively expensive asset either. Brooks' deal has an average annual value of $21.5 million. It also descends in cost every year. This isn't a great deal, but it shouldn't be impossible to move.
Think about it. If a team is trading a superstar, they know they're rebuilding. Taking on bad contracts for additional assets is an attractive option in that scenario. An offer built around Brooks, Landale, Tate, Whitmore, and all of the draft capital that's necessary should be compelling for a team moving a star.
It'll help the Rockets whittle down their core in the process.