Ranking 4 superstars the Houston Rockets have been linked to recently

It feels like the Houston Rockets are the talk of the town. 

They're constantly rumored to be in the market for a top-tier star. At the same time, the Rockets seem willing to exercise patience. They're always rumored to be considering a blockbuster, and somehow, they always end up making moves on the margins instead. 

Does that mean the Rockets won't eventually trade for a superstar? We wouldn't go that far. If this core group doesn't look Finals-bound in the next few years, the Rockets could pivot. NBA general managers are notoriously opportunistic, and we wouldn't expect Rafael Stone to pass on an opportunity. 

Yet, any old superstar won't do - emphasis on the "old". The Rockets need to target the right guy. 

Here's our ranking of 4 superstar players they've been linked to recently. 

4. Kevin Durant 

Kevin Durant is 35. If you like, you can move onto the next slide. 

Is he one of the greatest players of all-time? Sure. Durant's legacy isn't on trial here. Realistically, he was even as good (or better) than anyone on this list in 2023-24. Durant averaged 27.1 points per game with a 62.6 True Shooting % (TS%) last season.

He's also - in case you missed it - 35. It may take Durant two or three seasons to noticeably decline, but make no mistake - the decline is coming. 

The Rockets may want to pivot soon, but this pivot would be too sharp. If they traded for Durant, they'd be wise to move everyone else on their roster. Otherwise, they risk sinking assets into a player who won't be useful for them shortly after the acquisition. 

That risk is too rich for our blood. 

3. Zion Williamson

Last season, Williamson was healthier than he's been in some time. He suited up for 70 games for the New Orleans Pelicans. Unfortunately, he wasn't as dominant as we've come to expect him to be. 

Sure, Williamson's 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists were solid. They're also unremarkable figures for a player who needs to be hidden on the defensive end. Any team that rosters Williamson is expecting to make a trade-off on defense, so they're looking for offensive dominance. 

His Box Plus/Minus (BPM) of 3.8 was decidedly non-dominant. Williamson was drafted to be a superstar, and last year, he looked closer to a fringe All-Star. 

Granted, Williamson is 23. There's no guarantee that he won't return to his former statistical peaks. That's true, but there are also no guarantees that he'll be able to play in 70 games in any given season either. 

Williamson has one of the most prolific injury histories in the NBA. As a non-shooter, he's also a poor fit alongside Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. Perhaps the Rockets would move one (or both) for Williamson, but the broader point is that he's a difficult player to build around. The Rockets should look elsewhere if they're brokering a blockbuster. 

2. Devin Booker 

In some respects, it feels like the Rockets made their recent trade with the Nets with Booker in mind. They flipped some Nets picks for a larger volume of Suns picks. If the Suns blow it up, the Rockets will have unique leverage over them.

Initially, it felt like they were targeting Durant. Those rumors have recently been dismissed. That makes intuitive sense - did we mention that Durant is 35? 

Booker is still just 27. This season, he averaged 27.8 points per game on 61.1 TS%. In his inaugural season as a point guard, Booker also contributed 6.9 assists per game. 

Booker is a star in his prime. If you're reading between the lines, you'll pick up on the fact that he's our favorite target we've named in this piece so far. 

What more could the Rockets want? 

1. Donovan Mitchell 

We know. We said that Mitchell was a poor fit with the Rockets before. 

He is a poor fit - with this current roster. As the Rockets continue adding young talent, they're likely to have to consolidate eventually. If they trade for Mitchell, the roster is likely to look a lot different once they do. 

It’s worth noting that Mitchell just signed an extension with the Cavaliers. He won’t be available this year. That’s fine - if the Rockets make a move for a superstar any time soon, it’s more likely to be next summer. 

In any event, acquiring either Booker or Mitchell would likely lead to comparable results. Last year, Mitchell outpaced Booker statistically. He averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. Mitchell also lapped Booker in BPM (5.8 vs 3.0) and Value Over Replacement Player (3.9 vs 3.1). 

It's just one season, right? Well, Mitchell similarly outperformed Booker in 2022-23. Mitchell averaged 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists with a BPM of 6.3 and a VORP of 5.0. Booker averaged 27.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists with a BPM of 4.2 and a VORP of 2.9. 

You could make a case for Booker. He's listed as 6'6", whereas Mitchell is a modest 6'3". Booker has made a trip to the NBA Finals, and Mitchell has struggled to make a deep playoff run. 

We reject each argument. Neither player is a plus defender - their height is inconsequential. Basketball is a team game, and Booker has been in more advantageous situations than Mitchell. 

Perhaps some day, Mitchell will be in a position to win with the Rockets.