Despite their Saturday night loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the Houston Rockets still look like one of the top teams out West. However, now that their bizarre schedule is finally evening out, they’ve dropped to the fourth seed. This happens to coincide with a couple of big names becoming potentially available in the NBA. Should the Rockets do some star hunting on the trade market?
The Rockets Go Star Hunting Via Trade?
Houston lost to Dallas 109-122 on the second night of a back-to-back on Saturday. That’s the Dallas team that’s 9-16 and was without Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving. Notably, they did have Anthony Davis available for once, putting up 29 on 73.7% shooting and still just reminding Dallas fans of what they’ve lost.
Houston will have been more concerned with their own absences, though. Star center Alperen Sengun missed his second game with an illness, and backup/occasional double bigs starter Steven Adams doesn’t play in back-to-backs. Also, perhaps partially because of Adams, but also due to a myriad other factors, the Rockets just don’t play very well on the second night of back-to-backs. It’s a trend that goes back to last season. It’s no real surprise that they would drop the first two such games of their season.
All of that is to say, Houston isn’t assuming the panic stations just yet – “we” actually do not have a problem. But there may be some urgency originating from outside circumstances. There are a couple of big names who may or may not be up for grabs. If Houston doesn’t decide quickly, someone else might grab them first.
The Point God
The first big but kinda not so big name to consider is Chris Paul. Paul’s retirement tour isn’t turning out quite as expected. However, there is something very quintessentially CP3 about being kicked off your own retirement tour for being a pain in the ass. The Los Angeles Clippers showing absolutely zero appreciation for their franchise GOAT is also pretty much par for the course. Who knows if Paul ever considered a retirement tour with Houston instead? Or if the Houston front office wanted him. In theory, though, it’s still not too late to jump ship.
But it’s unclear if Houston would be interested. Paul is still a big name in the NBA but not a big star. This season, he’s averaging just 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes per game. Even in 27.3 minutes per game over the two seasons before that, he was averaging just 9.0 points and 7.1 assists. The Rockets’ point guard situation is certainly a little unorthodox right now. Still, the biggest difference Paul would make for the team would probably be in the locker room. They already have out-for-the-season Fred VanVleet filling that role, though. And anyway, as we’ve seen, Paul’s locker-room presence, coupled with a smaller on-court role, isn’t always well-received.
The Greek Freak
The much more dramatic addition would be two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak hasn’t publicly requested a trade out of Milwaukee, but the media is certainly running with the idea that it’s imminent. Then again, they’ve been running with that narrative off and on for the past… half a decade? However, things certainly do look bleak in Wisconsin this time around. The team has a 10-15 record, and Antetokounmpo has no clear second option. The expectation is that a bidding war won’t determine Antetokounmpo’s next destination. Rather, much like how Durant got to Houston… and Phoenix before that, Antetokounmpo will get to cherry-pick his next team.
A Complication for any Rockets Trade
Milwaukee would surely be hoping that Antetokounmpo considers Houston. The Rockets certainly have the picks and young players to build an attractive return. It’s worth noting, though, that any such return wouldn’t include VanVleet’s $25 million salary. That’s because of his “implied no-trade clause”. While the word “implied” implies some wiggle room, it really just means automatic. VanVleet would have to consent to any deal that would result in him losing his bird rights, which, with the way his contract is structured, would be any trade at all.
Some Rockets fans would undoubtedly feel uneasy about trading away their promising young core for a 31-year-old, often (and indeed currently) injured bully-ball specialist. The reality is that NBA teams only get so many bites at the apple. As long as you can keep the doctors away, a Giannis and Kevin Durant duo would surely devour the whole thing. This season, Giannis is averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists. He’s second in the NBA in player efficiency rating and third in box plus/minus and winshares per 48 minutes. Starting last year, Giannis has also been settling into a much more streamlined and efficient post-game, indicating he may age better than expected. There’s no doubt that getting Giannis would cost the Rockets a lot, but there’s little doubt that it would be the right move if they can pull it off.
The Beard
Finally, there’s one other name plenty of Rockets fans are holding out hope for. James Harden has been playing some of his best basketball in years in 2025-26. Unfortunately, he’s been doing so for a Clippers squad that’s otherwise finally looking its age. The Clippers don’t own their own pick this year, hilariously and tragically owing it to OKC of all teams instead. For that reason, they have no incentive to fully tear down their roster. Still, Harden has practice with finagling his way out of undesirable situations. If he and the Rockets had mutual interest in a reunion, there’s a good chance they could make it happen.
But there might be mutual disinterest in a Rockets, Harden reunion anyway. Harden famously views himself as “the system”. Meanwhile, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka already passed on adding Harden in the 2023 offseason, presumably for that very reason. Fans would love another shot at a ring with their favourite folk hero, and Harden will almost assuredly retire a Rocket one day. But for now, the styles might just not be a match.
The Last Word
The Rockets’ style this year might not be a match with any big-name player they could trade for while star hunting. Even Durant just sort of blends in with what the Rockets were already doing. Maybe Antetokounmpo would enjoy an Amen Thompson role of dominating in transition and then mostly just cutting and lurking in the half-court. Maybe Paul wouldn’t incessantly bug the coaching staff and get himself kicked off his second retirement tour in a season. But maybe the Rockets would sooner just see where their current roster can take them. Rockets fans are over the moon with the team right now, and stars are overrated anyway.
Featured Image: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
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