Grade the Trade: Rockets land star Knicks forward in blockbuster proposal

Portability is a frequently discussed topic around the NBA.

Can this player co-exist with a wide range of teammates? Do they need the ball, or, can they complement players who do?

The Houston Rockets' Jabari Smith Jr. will be extremely portable if he hits his ceiling. In theory, he's a skeleton key. Smith Jr. projects to be a player who spaces the floor and guards multiple positions - that's a player who can play next to anyone.

Should the Rockets trade him for an on-ball star?

Houston Rockets land star forward in new proposal

Bleacher Report thinks so. They've got Smith Jr. heading to the Knicks in a deal that would send Julius Randle to the Rockets.

Randle is a player with a complicated reputation. His ability to contribute to winning has been questioned. Still, nobody can question his productivity.

In 2023-24, Randle averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. His Box Plus/Minus (BPM) of 1.9 was mediocre, but his 3.7 mark from 2022-23 is more reflective of his potential. Randle is a recent All-NBA player.

So, on a surface level, this is a fair-value trade. Randle is productive enough to garner a young player like Smith Jr., a protected first, and some contract filler.

We still wouldn't make this deal.

Houston Rockets should pass on Randle

Let's return to the concept of portability.

Randle is a subpar defender. Most of the questions about his value start there. By pairing him with Alperen Sengun, the Rockets would roll out the red carpet for opposing guards to get to the rim.

Moreover, Randle is ball-dominant. It's hard to envision a meaningful role for Sengun when he's hijacking the offense. Adding Randle would also make it more difficult for Amen Thompson and Jalen Green to get on-ball reps.

Finally - what's the end goal here? Sure, adding Randle could push the Rockets back into the playoffs. It won't make them title contenders and will come at the expense of roster-wide development. Adding Randle also comes at the expense of having Smith Jr. on the roster to complement the rest of their young core:

In time, he should be able to play with anyone.

Grade: C+