Houston Rockets ‘maintained’ interest in All-Star Donovan Mitchell

Could the Houston Rockets be ready to make more winning moves this offseason? A year ago, the team signed Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet to bolster the team’s chances of making the playoffs. They won 41 games, an improvement of 19 wins. They also have a strong young core in Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.

Overall, the Rockets will eventually have to choose a direction. Houston general manager Rafael Stone may soon be forced to make a decision. The team holds the third overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft. They can either rely more on their youth, using the draft to attract more high-potential talent, or trade the selection and other assets futures to acquire a star player.

According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the franchise maintains interest in a Cleveland Cavaliers star. Donovan Mitchell, with rumors of a possible departure, has sparked interest from the Rockets.

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“The Houston Rockets have maintained interest in Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell for months and continue to monitor his situation in Cleveland,” Iko reported.

It’s no secret the Rockets don’t want to be patient. They are ready to compete now, even though they have a very, very strong young core. This could harm them in the future, if it hinders the growth of their young talents. Still, if the opportunity presents itself to sign a player like Mitchell, it’s hard to look away.

It’s also clear that Mitchell wants to play in a larger market. The Rockets can provide that, as Houston is a much better sports market than Salt Lake City or Cleveland. They can also put the ball in his hands.

The on-field fit would be interesting and the team would have to make adjustments to accommodate Mitchell. Players like Smith Jr. would thrive in his presence, although Green would likely take a hit to his development and current production.

Of course, one would assume that Green would be moved in the trade, as he is a sought-after young player who can help transform a franchise in the long term. They would also lose the No. 3 pick, meaning they are willing to turn to building a rival team and abandoning the youth movement.

In this scenario, the Rockets would also like a long-term commitment from Mitchell, signing him to a long-term contract extension.

It will be worth monitoring if anything of Houston’s reported interest materializes or if any conversation around the move takes place.

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