6 trade targets for Rockets' GM Rafael Stone

The Houston Rockets had arguably the most active offseason across the league. This should’ve been expected, as the franchise found themselves in need of a complete makeover.

The Rockets added talented, young players in the NBA Draft, while also adding veterans with championship experience and/or players who have been a part of deep playoff runs.

In many ways, the Rockets accomplished their goals this summer. However, they fell short as it pertains to adding a center, as they struck out on Brook Lopez.

The Houston Rockets could be tempted by several big men who are still available on the trade market.

The Rockets also lost out on Usman Garuba, as a result of the Lopez saga and didn’t land a long-term replacement and/or solution at the center spot. Sure, the Rockets have talented big man Alperen Sengun in the fold, but they didn’t believe in him, as they had already eyed his replacement at the starting center spot.

This means that Sengun has a lot to prove to Rockets coach Ime Udoka and GM Rafael Stone, who played a part in the decision to start Bruno Fernando over him at the start of 2022-23.

Let’s take a look at several trade options for the Rockets at the center position.

6. Jonas Valanciunas

Jonas Valanciunas has been a very reliable player in each of his three stops in the league. In fact, JV has practically averaged a double-double in every destination, with the Toronto Raptors being the lone exception, and he narrowly missed the mark, averaging 11.8 points and 8.4 rebounds for the franchise over seven seasons.

Valanciunas presents offensive efficiency (career 56.1 percent shooter and 61.5 percent true shooting) and terrific rebounding. JV has been a top-six rebounder in each of the last four seasons, as outlined below:

• 2019-20: 11.3 rebounds-5th
• 2020-21: 12.5 rebounds-6th
• 2021-22: 11.4 rebounds- 4th
• 2022-23: 10.2 rebounds- 5th

The Lithuanian big man has also been a bit of an iron man, as he’s missed just 11 games in the last two seasons, which is rare in the load management era that currently exists. JV is in the final year of his contract and is set to make $15.4 million in 2023-24.

The Pels haven’t made it a priority to extend him, in part because of his lack of defensive versatility, coupled with his inability to shoot, which clogs the paint and creates spacing issues.

The Rockets could do much worse than the ol’ reliable center.

5. Jarrett Allen

It's a foregone conclusion that the Cleveland Cavaliers will eventually trade center Jarrett Allen, as he's not quite the best fit alongside Evan Mobley. Having both players in the starting lineup kills any hope of spacing for the Cavs, which should be a significant concern for the team.

Also, Mobley's natural position is center, and Allen being on the roster forces him to play out of position. For the Rockets, a team hoping to add a legitimate defensive presence at center, Allen would be perfect.

He's a defensive anchor and he's still only 25-years-old. Not to mention that he averaged 14.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.2 blocks, 64.4 percent from the field. Allen has averaged 65 percent or better on 2-pointers in each of the last two seasons and made an All-Star team just two years ago, as he averaged 16.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 67.7 percent from the field.

4. Robert Williams

The Boston Celtics’ decision to trade for Kristaps Porzingis this summer could signal the end for Robert Williams, as he was already battling with Al Horford for minutes. Williams is in just the second-year of a four-year $48 million contract extension and is still just 26-years-old.

Williams’ inability to stay healthy is a major drawback, as he injured his knee shortly before the start of the playoffs in 2021-22, and was in and out of the lineup during the Celtics’ postseason run that year.

This past season he missed another 47 games, adding more cause for concern regarding his health. When healthy, however, he’s easily one of the better defenders in the entire league.

In fact, many thought he was en route to nabbing the Defensive Player of the Year award at the time of his injury two seasons ago. In spite of the time missed, Williams still made the All-Defensive team that year.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka knows what Williams is capable of, perhaps better than most, as he was the Celtics’ coach that season.

And much has been made about Udoka’s desire to improve defensively. With that being said, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if the Rockets set their sights on Williams, who makes an average of just $12.4 million over the next three seasons.

3. Daniel Gafford

This offseason the Washington Wizards underwent a fire sale of sorts, as they shipped off franchise cornerstone Bradley Beal and his star running mate Kristaps Porzingis. The Wizards are clearly trying to rebuild and they didn't quite get much value for Beal, due in large part to his no-trade clause.

If the Wizards want to load up on draft picks, they'd be smart to trade Daniel Gafford, who is one of the league's better shot blockers and is only 24-years-old. Gafford would also be able to accept being a reserve, as that's essentially the same role that he played with the Wizards.

Gafford averaged 9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 73.2 percent from the field. In addition, Gafford ranked among the league's elite bigs as a rim protector, although it may have largely gone unnoticed, due to the Wizards' 12th-place finish in the Eastern Conference.

Gafford was inked to a three-year extension just two years ago and is entering the first year of the $40 million deal, which could easily prove to be a hell of a bargain.

2. Clint Capela

Clint Capela has been one of the better role players in the history of the Rockets’ franchise. Capela understood his role and played it well, as he operated as a lob threat for James Harden for several years and was a rim-running big man.

And on the defensive end, Capela was a formidable rim protector. The Rockets dealt Capela to fully adopt the microball strategy and he continued to thrive with the Atlanta Hawks, who even gave him a contract extension.

In three seasons with the Hawks, Capela has averaged 12.6 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks, which have all bested his averages with the Rockets. Not to mention his offensive efficiency, as he’s made 61.7 percent of his shots with the Hawks.

Capela is still only 29-years-old and is owed just $42.8 million over the next two seasons. The Hawks have explored trading him and would surely be open to dealing him back to Houston, so long as the price is right.

Capela could be a worthy add for the Rockets.

1. Nic Claxton

I know what you're thinking.

Why would the Brooklyn Nets trade Nic Claxton, who is just 24-years-old and is fresh off averaging 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and a league-leading 70.5 percent from the field and 70.8 percent on 2-pointers?

Well, it's not so far-fetched of an idea, as they've shopped him before, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe, who is beyond well-respected. 

"I think one thing that happened at the trade deadline that I heard was that they were very close to a deal with Toronto that would have sent Claxton to Toronto for a first round pick and some protections on it,” said Lowe on ESPN’s Lowe Post. “I think their intention was to sort of refit the roster by maybe flipping that pick for another wing, another shooter."

There's also the possibility that the Nets decide to blow it up, realizing that their roster isn't good enough to be legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference. And since their picks belong to the Houston Rockets, as a result of the James Harden trade, they'd need to strip down their roster to regain more draft capital.

Claxton was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and is possesses rare versatility on the defensive end.

Simply put, Claxton is a defensive anchor. 

The Rockets couldn't acquire a better big man than Claxton. Also, Rockets coach Ime Udoka is familiar with Claxton, as he previously served as an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets.