Houston Rockets sign New York Knicks star forward

It’s no secret that the Houston Rockets are ready to win now. The quickest way for them to significantly improve their roster would be to add a star, solid forward.

This is where things start to get dicey. How long are the Rockets willing to wait? Will they take a less talented player to speed up the process of winning? They had 41 wins last season and a small change could help catapult them into the playoffs, but does that stop them from making other big moves?

The way Houston has set things up would allow them to go after a name like Kevin Durant or Devin Booker when the Phoenix Suns inevitably have to blow things up. However, they have the young players and draft capital to make a move for a star forward now, even if that name is something like Brandon Ingram, a fringe All-Star.

The NBA offseason is entering its dog days between Summer League and training camp, a period when the league doesn’t move much. Basketball fans will have a field day with the Olympics coming this year, but it’s more than likely that the NBA debate will be filled with predictions and fake trades.

Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz looked at five “blockbuster” trades that are still happening ahead of the upcoming NBA season. In those mock trades, the Rockets got New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, sending Jabari Smith Jr., Jock Landale, Jeff Green and a top-five protected first-round pick in 2027 to New York.

“If the Rockets want to make a big jump in the West standings next season, adding an All-Star power forward in the prime of his career could help,” Swartz wrote. “Randle, 28, is from Texas and would bring some balance to this young Rockets team. He averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game last season and would fit into a Houston starting five that also includes Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Alperen Şengün.”

Randle is not a bad player by any means, but trading for him would be a mistake for the Rockets. They can wait to land a talent and name like Durant if they sit back for a while. If not? They have a young core of developmental players who, at this point, will have had continuity of play together for years, which could help the team make a strong run at the playoffs and possibly even contend for the title.

Smith Jr. is an incredibly sharp defensive player and his shooting is improving in the NBA. He has incredible potential as a strong role player and key starter for the Rockets. He even has All-Star potential under his belt, though Houston will just have to be patient.

It makes a lot of sense for the Knicks, though, as they add a starter-caliber player in Smith Jr., adding him to a potential roster with Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson while adding future financial flexibility.

Landale and Green would both add short-term depth before their contracts expire and open things up for New York.

If this trade goes through, the Rockets would easily be considered the losers of the trade, handing the Knicks a big offseason win while providing future flexibility for a move that doesn’t propel them into contention, but rather a mid-table playoff team.

READ MORE: Houston Rockets’ Reed Sheppard’s Summer League award proves first-year player’s potential

Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Rockets on Facebook and Follow us on twitter to stay up to date with all the latest Rockets news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.