Rockets should avoid this popular trade target at all costs

The Houston Rockets are lacking guard depth after Fred VanVleet's injury. They shouldn't rush to fill that depth out with Anfernee Simons.

Some fans will beg to differ. Simons is a star-level producer. He's only 26. He's a high-end scorer who can handle the ball - what's not to love?

There are a couple of immediate answers to that question.

Popular Rockets trade target wouldn't be the right call

CBS Sports' Brad Botkin seems to disagree.

"Houston can afford to throw in a draft pick and get a...(very) good offensive player without compromising any defensive parts".

- Brad Botkin

Botkin is partially correct. Simons is a potent offensive player. His best NBA season to date came in 2023-24, when he averaged 22.6 points per game with a True Shooting % (TS%) of 56.8%. Simons is good on that end:

But Botkin gets it wrong on the other end of the floor.

With all due respect, one wonders whether he has watched Simons very often. He's a below-average defender by any measure. The Rockets would be compromising their identity by acquiring him.

There's also the matter of cost. The Celtics traded Jrue Holiday for Simons. They're counting on getting a strong return for him. Simons would likely cost the Rockets Fred VanVleet and a valuable unprotected first.

Could he be worth that to the organization?

Rockets shouldn't rush to replace VanVleet

Let's put it this way: If the Rockets like Simons, they can justify acquiring him. Perhaps they feel they can mold him as a defender. If this is someone they've had an eye on, they can make the move.

By contrast, rushing to replace VanVleet with him would be a fool's errand. Simons isn't even the same player. He's a ball-dominant volume scorer with less natural ability to involve his teammates. He's a defensive minus where VanVleet is a positrive.

There are other options. Taking an opportunity to let Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard get more reps has its own benefit. Botkin himself identifies lower-cost targets - Jose Alvarado would be a great addition. Even if the Rockets are willing to spend big, they should look at someone who fits their defense-first culture.

Simons does not do that. So, he's not someone the Rockets should be blowing their assets on. The need to replace VanVleet in the short-term is not so pressing that they should add a player that they otherwise wouldn't.

No matter how badly they're lacking in guard depth.