My Houston Rockets Trade Deadline Prediction

It’s the morning of today’s NBA trade deadline and you better believe that the Houston Rockets are feverishly trying to beat the clock.

I’m sure Daryl Morey’s bat phone has been lighting up immensely over the past 48 hours with a line of teams trying to make a deal with him.

You know, it makes me feel at ease that every time a trade deadline comes around, the Rockets are usually at the top of the discussions at the water cooler.

Rockets’ fans, do you remember when that was not always the case?

We had been bamboozled to say “nah, we’re good” during a lot of the era when Carroll Dawson was the general manager of the Rockets.

Not now.

Morey’s amazing wit, his hunger to excel and with his keen ability to put together a competitive product out on the basketball court on a strict budget has been one of his chief attributes.

Sir Charles, analytics do work and that would explain why this team has never had a down year since he has been at the helm.

Even with those tough few seasons post-Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, we were competitive but just not good enough to get over the hump.

Not now.

Things have changed and now we are regarded as a top contender in the NBA but with Dwight Howard likely to miss some extensive time, Morey’s got to make a deal and fast.

Feb 6, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard

Goran Dragic

(1) dribbles against the Utah Jazz at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

We know Goran Dragic is at the top of the talks, we know that Ty Lawson is available, we also know that Reggie Jackson is being shopped around by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

There’s word that we’re looking to bring Kevin Martin back! What?!?

If we get that ball-hogging, shot-happy, overpaid hack again, I’m jumping from the Chase Tower!

Yes, I’m exaggerating but I’d be disappointed if that were to happen! He was one of those players I’m glad we gave the boot!

But here’s what’s going to happen.

We get none of those guys.

The deal Morey makes is the one is nobody usually talks about.

He’s like a master magician fooling all of Rockets’ fans eyes alike thinking the obvious but pulls off a deal that surprises us and it eventually makes our team better.

Here’s what we get.

Morey WILL make that deal for Enes Kanter.

I know having a point guard is important but having another big takes higher precedence.

You cannot, let me reiterate, CANNOT win at the higher levels without a post presence.

We NEED that presence because we’re getting chewed up and spit out by our competition that do have a plethora of paint-bangers.

Even if/when D12 comes back, he’ll be mighty rusty and we’ll have to slowly work him back into the rotation.

Dragic is on our own wish list but dealing for Kanter makes the most sense.

Oct 29, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center

Enes Kanter

(0) shoots over Houston Rockets forward

Tarik Black

(10) during the second half at EnergySolutions Arena. The Rockets won 104-93. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

He can score (13.8 PPG), rebound (7.8 RPG), shoot (49% FG, 79% FT) and he averaging close to one block per 100 possessions.

What more can you ask for?

It’s hard to find a quality big man out there and here’s our chance to pounce!

But as we’ve talked about here, this deal should only involve Kostas Papanikolaou and a future 2nd-rounder to get the Underkanter!

If not, we’ve got quality resources to deal to whet the Utah Jazz’s appetite.

It’s no secret that Kanter wants out of Salt Lake and it’s time the Rockets go out and rescue him!

And you know what?

I bet Morey incorporates another team so that maybe we can land a solid guard without the star power of the aforementioned ones and possibly get a chance to stock up on some draft picks.

We won’t get what we want but we will get what we need.