Rockets fans hoping for another trade will have to wait

The Houston Rockets made a lot of major moves this summer. If you want them to make more, you'll have to wait: They have 7 players who can't be traded until December 15th.

That's almost half the active roster. Granted, that leaves plenty of guys who can be traded. Unless you've got Houston moving one of the "core five" or Kevin Durant, that's a moot point.

Those guys are untouchable. The Rockets are unlikely to move any of those guys at all this year, but even if they ship off one of the youngsters, they'll give them half a season.

Otherwise, there are no options available to make a move with.

Rockets all out of moves - for now

Let's look at who can't be traded.

Rockets who aren't eligible for trade

Clint Capela
Dorian Finney-Smith
Jeff Green
Aaron Holiday
Josh Okogie
Jae’Sean Tate
Fred VanVleet

Would you look at that? The five Rockets who are most likely to be moved this year, Fred VanVleet and Dorian Finney-Smith.

Disregard the technicalities. Even if everyone was eligible for transactions, the Rockets would be unlikely to make a move. They already shook up the roster. Presumably, this is the group they wanted to assemble heading into 2025-26. Here's the more salient question:

Will they make any trades in 2025-26?

Rockets primed for quiet transactional season

If they don't, nobody should be shocked. That said, if the Rockets aren't satisfied with their record heading into the trade deadline, they could tinker.

If this roster has a glaring need, it's a ball handler. The Rockets opted to triple down on big men by reuniting with Clint Capela. If it appears that they need a ball handler more than they want the luxury of a third rotation big, he could be a candidate to be moved.

Otherwise, guys like Green, Holiday, Okogie and Tate are largely expendible. That doesn't mean they'll be moved. Green and Tate are locker room guys. Holiday is a ball handler, and Okogie's contract is too marginal to move for a significant piece.

That said, any of them could be traded for the right price. If somebody who would improve the Rockets shakes loose, the team may pounce. For now, any Rockets fan who's thirsty for a trade is going to have to wait. It's just not feasible at the moment.

At least they got their fill to kick off the summer.