5 Trades the Houston Rockets can make to flip Victor Oladipo

The Houston Rockets traded two second-round picks to dump Kevin Porter Jr. and his contract on Tuesday. They received Victor Oladipo and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl in the transaction. Oladipo is a two-time All-Star who is well past his prime and expected to miss a significant chunk of the season recovering from a patellar tendon injury. The Rockets are already exploring what they can turn his $9.4 million expiring contract into.

Houston vastly improved their roster this summer in hopes of jumping into contention. They owe their 2024 first-round pick to the Thunder with just a top-four protection. The Rockets do not want to give OKC another lottery selection, so their goal is to get back to the playoff for the first time since 2020. There are still moves to make to get there.

What can the Rockets turn Oladipo’s contract into? Jake Fischer shared some fresh rumors on Tuesday evening, and it appears Houston plans to act fast. Teams have to trim their rosters to 15 players before opening night, so plenty of talent could be available. Here are five mock trades to land the Rockets an upgrade.

5. Rockets convince Jazz to part with THT

Fischer noted Houston’s interest in Talen Horton-Tucker, and the 22-year-old has an intriguing skill set. He averaged 10.7 points, 3.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game last season.

The 6’4 guard can handle the ball and make plays, but the Jazz want to give Kris Dunn and rookie Keyonte George more chances per Fischer. Utah could look to clear THT’s $11.0 million expiring contract but would want a few seconds in return for taking on Oladipo in a deal that would likely end up something close to this.

The two sides would haggle over the draft picks, but two seconds is fair. The Jazz get some value, and the Rockets avoid heavily damaging their draft capital.

Can Horton-Tucker impact Houston enough to make the deal worth it? He has produced a negative 0.1 value over replacement (VORP) for his career, and the Lakers never trusted him in the playoffs. THT struggles on defense and is a career 28.0 percent 3-point shooter. He is a man without a position in many respects.

The Houston Rockets must target someone more impactful if they plan on making it back to the playoffs this season.

4. Rockets get Alec Burks from the Pistons

Houston added Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks to round out their starting five this summer, but their bench unit is questionable. Rookie Amen Thompson figures to be their sixth man with Reggie Bullock, Jeff Green, Tari Eason, and Cam Whitmore rounding out their top ten. The Rockets would be relying on two rookies to do the ball-handling and playmaking in their second unit.

Thompson was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, so they want him to play. Still, the Rockets would love to take some pressure off him by adding someone who can create offense. The Pistons figure to be back in the lottery next summer, and Burks could fill a role in Houston.

Detroit’s new head coach Monty Williams has more backcourt options than he can play, and it would be wise for the rebuilding Pistons to let their young talent play. Burks is 32 and entering his 13th year in the NBA.

Last season, he averaged 12.8 points, 2.2 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 22.0 minutes per game. Burks is comfortable starting or coming off the bench and would give the Houston Rockets the secondary playmaker they desire in their second unit.

Alec Burks is a below-average defender, and the Houston Rockets struggled mightily on that end of the floor last season. New head coach Ime Udoka will help, but does the front office try to acquire more talent for him to work with over someone like Burks?

3. Rockets and Nets make another deal

Brooklyn has a logjam on the wing. They attempted to clear it this summer, but could not find an agreeable trade. Ben Simmons making a comeback further crowds their rotation. His preseason performance has been encouraging, and Brooklyn is building around Mikal Bridges with Cameron Johnson, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Nicolas Claxton locked in as starters.

That forces Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith to come off the bench. Both have been starters in recent years and are strong 3-and-D wings that every team wants. Brooklyn wanted a first-round pick for O'Neale this summer, but could not find a deal. If the playing time is not there, the Rockets could swoop in and get a key piece at a discount.

O’Neale is a career 38.4 percent 3-point shooter who guards multiple positions and is coming off a career year. He averaged 3.7 assists, and the 30-year-old could be the perfect fit in Houston. Royce O’Neale would likely come off the bench, but more minutes and ball-handling would be available.

He is on a $9.5 million expiring contract and extension extension-eligible. The Houston Rockets would have interest in keeping him multiple years as they attempt to contend. O’Neale would be a significant upgrade who gives the franchise ten trusted rotation players heading into the season, but are the Rockets willing to meet the Nets asking price?

2. Houston Rockets go hard for shooting

Jake Fischer reported that Buddy Hield was unlikely to be traded before the start of the season, despite trade rumors popping up when his extension talks fizzled.

The Pacers hope to take a step forward, but their front office has a crucial decision to make before the deadline. Hield becomes a free agent next summer and the two sides weren’t close on a new deal. It is trade him or risk losing him for nothing in the summer.

This trade might have to wait until deadline day, but the Rockets could look to rent Hield to solve their shooting woes. The 6’4 wing is a career 40.2 percent 3-point shooter who would certainly knock down shots.

Indiana wants a first-round pick, but no team is likely to offer one. Hield struggles on defense and has missed the playoffs in each of his first seven NBA seasons. Still, the Rockets finished 30th in 3-point percentage and 29th in 3-pointers made last year. They need shooting, and Hield is one of the world’s best.

The Houston Rockets would have to offer multiple second-round picks or Indiana will just keep Buddy Hield and try to make the postseason with him on their roster. Three second-rounders might be enough to get the Rockets some shooting and for Indiana to give him up.

Houston may want a bigger upgrade, but that means giving up more draft capital.

1. Rockets convince Blazers to part with Malcolm Brogdon

Jake Fischer mentioned the Rockets were interested in the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, but the Trail Blazers want him to stay in Portland. Brogdon was acquired in the Jrue Holiday trade and would be a fantastic veteran mentor for their young guards. The Blazers do not want to take minutes away from them, which could lead to a trade before the deadline.

Brogdon is the perfect combination of shooting, scoring, playmaking, and ball-handling. He helped the Celtics reach the conference finals last season, but what will Houston offer?

The Trail Blazers are holding out for a larger return, and the Rockets can afford to give them one. Do the two sides link up on a deal? It depends on what Portland decides to do.

The Houston Rockets are motivated to improve, but can they get back to the playoffs? It will take acquiring another significant upgrade like Malcolm Brogdon. He was the best sixth man last season, and would seamlessly fit in running Houston’s second unit.

Can the Rockets trade Victor Oladipo for a meaningful rotation piece? It is all about finding the right deal that fits their roster. Expect Houston to explore the market and do not be surprised to see a few more rumors before the trade goes down.