The Rockets can solve their biggest offensive issues with Michael Porter Jr.

The Houston Rockets are coming off back-to-back 52-win seasons and should challenge for home-court advantage in this year's playoffs. They are a deep team, but they still have two obvious weaknesses: shooting and a lack of players capable of creating their own shot. Michael Porter Jr. of the Brooklyn Nets would immediately help address both.

Porter Jr. has appeared in trade rumors since arriving in Brooklyn last offseason. The 28-year-old is coming off a season in which he averaged career highs of 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.

Why would Brooklyn trade Porter Jr.?

It's fair to wonder why Brooklyn would move on from a player capable of producing those numbers in the middle of his prime. However, the rebuilding Nets do not have a core ready to contend and likely won't be competitive for the next few seasons.

Rather than holding onto Porter Jr. until they're ready to compete, it would make more sense to trade him while his value is at its highest and continue stockpiling assets. If Brooklyn decides to move him, Houston would be their ideal trade partner.

Houston is Brooklyn's ideal trade partner

The Rockets own the right to swap first-round picks with Brooklyn in 2027. For a rebuilding Nets team, that is a major concern. Brooklyn's pick will almost certainly land in the lottery, while Houston's is much more likely to fall in the 20s.

If the Rockets are willing to remove that swap and match salaries to acquire Porter Jr., it should be an enticing offer for Brooklyn.

Houston should not consider including Alperen Sengun or Amen Thompson in any Porter Jr. trade. Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr. should also be off the table. Those five players represent Houston's young core and should only be moved for a bona fide superstar.

As impressive as Porter Jr.'s season was, he is not on that superstar level. On a team competing for home-court advantage, he likely would not average more than 20 points per game. He also has an extensive injury history, which resurfaced last season when he appeared in only 52 games.

Instead of including one of their young cornerstones, Houston should focus on matching salaries and attaching enough draft compensation to get a deal done. Adding Porter Jr. to this roster would give the Rockets a proven scorer while creating a more balanced team capable of contending for years to come.

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