Houston Rockets hold sixth-best chance to advance Utah Jazz Star

Could the Houston Rockets be on the trade market this offseason?

The No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft – which the Rockets own – will provide some trade value. They also have a unique roster with a mix of winning talent and young assets, both of whom need playing time.

Clearly, the Rockets could move on from picking and some talent at a time while working to build a contending team. But the first point is the playoffs. The team jumped by 19 wins, winning 41 games last season.

Because of their desire to compete soon, could the Rockets attempt to trade for a star player? One option expected to be available this offseason is Utah Jazz star forward Lauri Markkanen. According to Bovada, the Rockets have the sixth-best trade odds for the Jazz star.

The Rockets are behind the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors in odds to win the 7-footer. Markkanen averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season, making it no surprise that he’s highly coveted this offseason.

Additionally, Markkanen’s performance this season will have his trade value this offseason to a point that the Rockets may not want to reach. With the No. 3 overall pick, young players and comparable salaries, it’s no surprise that the Rockets are in the running to trade for available stars this offseason.

Unless this gives the Rockets a big step toward competing, it’s hard to imagine Rockets general manager Rafael Stone taking any real action. The team has young pieces like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson – all of whom are far from end products. They also have winning talents like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks.

Following the lead of the young core, letting them develop and eventually take over seems like the best option for the team, but the Rockets have already struggled with patience. The No. 3 pick also gives them the opportunity to acquire a star, so it will be interesting to see whether or not the Rockets bite, even though it would likely hurt them in the long run.

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