Rockets need to explore this trade to keep up with newly-improved Lakers

It's trade season in the NBA. Will the Houston Rockets participate?

Sure, the Rockets are frequently linked to star players. They could wind up with De'Aaron Fox, Jimmy Butler, or someone completely out of left field on the roster by the end of the season.

Trading for a star is an option, but it's not a necessity. The Rockets could make a more marginal move for a role player. At 21-11, they're competitive enough to keep their core intact. That said, the league is improving around them, and the Rockets should keep pace.

That improvement started with the Los Angeles Lakers. They just acquired Dorrian Finney-Smith. The Lakers are 18-13 as of this writing, but when a team featuring LeBron James and Anthony Davis upgrades their roster, it's cause for concern.

Here's a deal that could help the Rockets upgrade.

Rockets land sharpshooter in trade proposal

Memphis Grizzlies receive: Cameron Johnson, Jae'Sean Tate, 2025 Second Round Pick (Swap via MEM), 2027 Second-Round Pick (Swap via MEM)

Brooklyn Nets receive: Marcus Smart, 2026 First Round Pick (MEM), 2028 First Round Pick (MEM)

Houston Rockets receive: Luke Kennard

The Rockets have been linked to Smart on multiple occasions. So, there's some humor in proposing a trade involving Smart with him landing elsewhere.

To be sure, Smart is one of the toughest guards in the NBA. The Rockets are one of the toughest teams in the NBA. There's a temptation to double down on strengths, but the more sensible move would be to shore up a critical weakness.

The Rockets are shooting 32.7% from long range. Smart is shooting 33.3% from deep, whereas Kennard hits 44.4% of his triples. That's the difference between a below-average shooter and an elite one.

That's going to count in the playoffs.

Rockets need shooting to compete at highest level

One of Alperen Sengun or Fred VanVleet is the Rockets' most important player this year. Amen Thompson or Dillon Brooks would come next. What do each of those players have in common?

None of them put fear in opponents' hearts from beyond the arch in 2024.

Granted, Brooks is shooting a career-best percentage from deep. VanVleet is having a down year, but he still commands a closeout. The broader point is that the Rockets have a generally poor shooting roster.

In the postseason, teams will pack the paint. The Lakers just became better-equipped to use that strategy. They'll swarm Sengun with Finney-Smith and Rui Hachimura with Anthony Davis as his primary defender.

Sengun needs shooters to swing the ball to in those situations. Kennard is a lethal threat.

Even if he's not the star some fans are clamoring for.