Rockets: 5 realistic trades involving Kevin Porter Jr.

4. Rockets land shooter from the Big Apple

The 2022-23 season was easily Evan Fournier's worst all-around season since being drafted in 2012. It was the 30-year-old's first season coming off the bench since 2013-14, as New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau fell out of favor with the French shooter and turned to former University of Houston standout Quentin Grimes (who the Rockets passed on to draft Josh Christopher, who is no longer on the roster).

Fournier averaged just 6.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, a measly 33.7 percent from the field and 30.7 percent from deep. The 3-point shooting regression is most concerning, as he's always been an extraordinaire from long-range. 

In fact, just the season before he averaged 14.1 points on 38.9 percent from three (on 7.7 attempts).

As Fournier is in Thibodeau's doghouse, the Knicks were rumored to be willing to attach draft capital to offload Fournier's $18.9 million in 2023-24.

For the Rockets, it would be worth it to assume that Fournier will revert back to his career 3-point clip of 38 percent, and especially if it allows them to rid themselves of Porter's situation. Fournier's contract includes a team option of $19 million in 2024-25, which the Rockets could decline if they find themselves dissatisfied with his productivity this season.

And Fournier tanked his trade value after a recent interview with French media outlet L'Equipe, in which he expressed his desire to be traded away from the Knicks. Fournier would provide shooting to a Rockets team that ranked dead last in 3-point shooting percentage (32.7 percent) and would get away from the team that didn't play him at all during the postseason.

Since the Knicks are desperately seeking to part with Fournier, it wouldn't be far-fetched if they were willing to take Porter for a future second-round pick several years down the road just to get rid of him.

In which case the Rockets should be interested in Fournier's formidable long-range shooting ability off the bench.