Rockets could surprisingly find the perfect trade target in flailing West Rival

The Houston Rockets pride themselves on their center rotation. They could upgrade it this year by acquiring the King's Precious Achiuwa.

It's not a name on everyone's radar. Achiuwa is no superstar. Moreover, some Rockets fans will argue that they already have enough big men. Shouldn't they acquire a guard?

Fair. That said, it's difficult to identify the right guard. Houston would need an upgrade over Aaron Holiday, who wouldn't impede Reed Sheppard's development. That is a surprisingly narrow list of NBA players.

By contrast, we've seen that the Rockets could stand to upgrade Clint Capela. When Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams are both down, the Rockets struggle. If they're going to lean into size, they'll want three viable rotation bigs. That was the logic behind acquiring Capela:

And it's the same logic being used here.

Rockets could use Kings big man

Granted, Achiuwa isn't the same type of big man. Listed at 6'8" and 243 pounds, he's closer to a combo big.

That could be an advantage. Unlike Adams or Capela, Achiuwa can defend in space. He could allow the Rockets to deploy a wider range of defensive coverages.

That's fine, but it doesn't amount to much if he doesn't have the prerequisite Ime Udoka big man skills. Luckily, he does. Achiuwa's 9.0% Offensive Rebound % isn't impressive, but the Kings' 25.5% ranks 28th in the NBA. This team prioritizes defending transition over offensive rebounding, so Achiuwa isn't often in a position to work on the offensive glass.

By contrast, his 80.0% Contested Offensive Rebound % puts him in elite company. Achiuwa has shown the ability to get offensive rebounds when he has the chance. Otherwise, he's a solid, versatile defender:

And best of all, the Rockets should be able to afford him.

Rockets target should be easily acquired

Let it be said that Achiuwa is a limited offensive player. He's a floor spacer in theory, but in practice, he's hitting just 20.0% of his triples in 2025-26. He's not much of a ball-handler or a playmaker:

Hard sell, right?

Here's the deal: The Rockets shouldn't be looking to send out a plethora of first-round picks. This team is strong and ought to be looking at moderate upgrades. Achiuwa should be gettable at the cost of, say, Jae'Sean Tate and some second-round draft capital.

If so, he's a no-brainer. Achiuwa is a better player than Capela in 2025, and that's all that matters from the Rockets' perspective. Houston should at least inquire about him:

Their center spot would really be solidified with him on the roster.