Houston Rockets: Expectations For Trade Deadline Week

The NBA Trade Deadline is this Thursday, February 18th at 2:00 PM CT.

If you’re a Houston Rockets fan, you know GM Daryl Morey will be active. He’s never not participated in a trade on deadline day and there’s no reason to believe that will change this week.

Your Houston Rockets are broken. A season after losing to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, the Rockets have already passed their loss total from last year and are currently NOT in the playoffs.

The thing is, the talent largely remained from last season and seemingly only increased following the addition of Ty Lawson. The Rockets retained Patrick Beverley and Corey Brewer, and added Lawson and Marcus Thornton. After letting Josh Smith walk, Morey brought him back a few weeks ago hoping to change the mojo in the lockerroom.

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The Rockets have also been more healthy than last year. Donatas Motiejunas has been unavailable most of the season, but Howard, Terrence Jones and Beverley are on pace to play more than they did last season.

So what’s wrong with this team? I have no freaking idea. And I’m not sure anyone knows exactly.

But one thing is certain; Daryl Morey will make a move or two to mix things up. I guarantee it. What I have yet to figure out is what move to expect.

The elephant in the room is Dwight Howard. The star big man can opt out at the end of this season and the Rockets could net nothing in return. Or, the Rockets could trade Howard this season and try to receive some value for the veteran. There’s also a chance the Rockets stand pat on Howard and hope he opts in to another year on his contract. (Though the Rockets could also hope he opts out so they can make a run for Kevin Durant.)

Howard is the biggest trade chip, but the Rockets also have Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas that would intrigue many clubs. The Rockets are only likely to keep one following this offseason and Jones is the favorite to be traded of the two.