Proposed Suns Ja Morant blockbuster could be mixed blessing for Rockets

The Houston Rockets own first-round picks from the Suns in 2027 and 2029. So if the Suns acquire Ja Morant, it'll make the outlook of those picks a bit murky.

A couple of years ago, it would have been a nightmare for the Rockets. Morant was a superstar.

Then again, a couple of years ago, the Suns wouldn't have been able to afford him.

There's a reason Morant is frequently in trade rumors. He's highly injury-prone, and he seems volatile as a personality. So, Rockets fans should be praying that Bleacher Report's new proposal that sends Morant to Phoenix comes to fruition.

Right?

Morant to the Suns could complicate life for the Rockets

Let's look at the proposal :

Rockets fans are well-acquainted with one of these guys. Jalen Green hasn't even suited up for the Suns yet - every NBA game he's played has been with the Rockets.

Let's be honest. Green hasn't sniffed Morant's peak. In 2021-22, the Grizzlies guard averaged 27.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game with a 6.1 Box Plus/Minus.

Let's not bother with the stats from Green's best season - it's not close to that. So, if the Suns can get Morant at the cost of Green and a first-round pick, they stand to potentially make a radical upgrade.

On the other hand...

Rockets could benefit from a Suns' blockbuster

Give Green this - he's durable. The former Rockets guard has played in 82 straight games for two consecutive seasons. He hasn't missed more than 15 games through four NBA seasons in a single year.

Durability only counts for so much if you can't impact winning. That's been a problem for Green. Still, his potential is enduring. If he can start to play winning basketball, his ability to stay on the floor will be critical.

The same can't be said for Morant. That's part of why his trade value is so low. He seems to miss a slate of games every year. There's no reason to expect that to change.

So sure, Morant could make the Suns better when he's healthy. He'd also put them at higher risk of a disaster season. If that happened in either 2027 or 2029, the Rockets could land another high lottery pick.

Ultimately, it's a win/win situation for the Rockets. As the Suns are constructed, they seem likely to send them some solid picks. If they did flip Green for Morant, they'd raise their ceiling while lowering their floor.

Either way, the Rockets are glad to own some of their first-round draft capital.