The Rockets missed opportunities during a quiet trade deadline

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and the Houston Rockets didn't make a move.

Unless you count Jaden Springer. SpaceCityScoop won't be dedicating any more words to that deal - the Rockets will likely waive him. If they don't, Rockets fans can get as familiar with their new 12th man as they deem necessary.

Perhaps you're a Cody Zeller enthusiast. Just don't get too excited about seeing him in Rockets red. He's another waiver wire candidate. The Rockets largely acquired him to regain control of their 2028 second-round pick.

Otherwise, the Rockets did zilch. Nada. The deadline passed. Luka Doncic, De'Aaron Fox, and Jimmy Butler all found new homes. The Rockets' opponents got stronger, and the Rockets stagnated.

Is that such a bad thing?

Rockets stand pat during deadline

There was no impetus for the Rockets to make waves.

Yes, this team is on a 4-game losing streak. It's beginning to get worrisome. Making a trade exclusively to end a losing streak would have been a fool's errand.

Rafael Stone is holding an excellent hand. That metaphor is bound to get clunky. Depending on who you ask, making a trade for a superstar would have been going all-in, or folding.

Perhaps it depends on the superstar. If Stone - or anyone else - had known Doncic was available, and he made a move for him, it would have been hard to blame him. By contrast, if he felt that Fox was the league's next albatross contract, it was best to avoid adding his contract to the books.

The bottom line is that if Stone didn't think there was an opportunity worth burning a first-round pick for, it was smart to hold first-round picks.

That's not to say he couldn't have done anything...

Rockets missed on solid opportunities

Malcolm Brogdon was conspicuously absent from the deadline chaos. He was not moved.

Now, he seems destined for the buyout market. Perhaps the Rockets will pursue him.

Why not go ahead and give up a second-round pick and some expiring deals for him to ensure they land him?

Brogdon himself hits free agency this summer. The Rockets could have turned Jock Landale and Jeff Green into a half-year rental of his services. That would seem to have more value to the Rockets than a second-round pick or even two second-round picks.

After all, the Rockets are playoff-bound. Make no mistake - this is still a big-picture team. The Rockets are focused on maximizing their championship odds for the next half-decade or more. Still, wouldn't it be nice to win a playoff series this year? More broadly, if getting the young guys postseason experience is the objective, shouldn't a marginal upgrade be in order?

Brogdon is just one example. The Rockets should have upgraded Aaron Holiday's rotation spot. They could justify giving his minutes to Reed Sheppard under the guise of development, but when the postseason comes, Udoka is likely to call Holiday's number. If he could turn to Brogdon instead, the Rockets would have better postseason odds.

Barring a buyout acquisition, they'll have to move forward with the pieces they have.