Latest report all but ensures Rockets won't be trading for rumored target

The Sacramento Kings were expected to be buyers at the trade deadline, as they hoped to reel in Pascal Siakam to help form a Big Three of De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Siakam. The Kings missed out of the star forward, with rumors suggesting that he was disinterested in being in Sacramento long-term.

The Kings have made it clear that they're willing to part with Kevin Huerter and Harrison Barnes, so long as they fetch the right deal. The Houston Rockets are rumored to be interested in the latter, who is averaging 10.6 points, 47.4 percent from the field, and 39.4 percent from long-range as a starter for the 23-18 Kings this season.

However, the Kings' rumored asking price might be a bit too steep for the Rockets. At least it should be.

On Thursday night, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto joined a Spaces on X (formerly Twitter) and shared inside information regarding the Kings' expectations in a Barnes and/or Huerter trade.

Hopefully the Rockets are no longer interested.

"From what I'm hearing from teams, they want, if possible, two first-round picks that could become potential lottery picks down the line, far out. 

That's something they're looking at. They're not necessarily trying to get a pick in the 2024 draft, ideally. They are so down and sour on this draft that it's like they bit into a box of lemons."

The Rockets should definitely not be willing to give up a first-rounder to the Kings for Barnes, who is owed $37 million over the next two years and would be joining a crowded room of wing forwards in Houston. And especially if the Kings are hoping for a first-round pick that could become a lottery pick down the road.

Barnes isn't worth that. And especially for the Rockets.

Hopefullly they'll pivot away from Barnes, based on Scotto's report.