Houston Rockets Rumors: Team Has An Eagle Eye On Trade Market

The Houston Rockets have been able to muster up a 22-8 record without much effect on the injury front.

Yes, we know Patrick Beverley missed some considerable time while he was tending to his knee but he’s right back on track, looking like the Bev of old on a consistent basis.

But now here’s an interesting wrinkle in regard to the latest Rockets’ malady — Clint Capela‘s.

He has been incredibly valuable to the Rockets offensive and defensive scheme of things as the pick-and-roll between he and James Harden has been extremely hard to stop.

But after last Saturday’s bone-crunching — literally — injury to his fibula after colliding into Karl-Anthony Towns, the Rockets have an interesting dilemma to solve.

Here’s what Adrian Wojnarowksi of Yahoo Sports had to say about the whole situation:

Sources: With loss of Capela, Rockets probing trade market on available bigs. Most likely scenario: Turning minutes to Nene and Harrell.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 20, 2016

This would be a clearly obvious decision to make because of the uncertainty of how the primary backups in Nene and Montrezl Harrell will perform in his stead.

There hasn’t been a deal that Daryl Morey wouldn’t at least consider — you know it and I know it as well.

Morey continues to drive to home the fact — it’s on his Twitter profile — that opportunity is not a lengthy visitor and he has always seemed to do what he can when that window seems quite tight to squeeze in.

Now the likelihood that both Nene and Harrell will be more than competent replacements while Capela is out for the next four to six weeks is extremely likely.

But what if he’s out longer or for the rest of the season?

Then the latest wrinkle that the Rockets have been trying to iron would be bigger.

Go get the heavy artillery — STA-FLO!

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But with my personal laundry preferences aside, it could be serious issue for Rockets down the line and they must be prepared for all scenarios.

So who’d be available?

There have been whispers of Nerlens Noel, Greg Monroe, Kosta Koufos, Andrew Bogut and Kenneth Faried as their place on their respective seems quite redundant and possibly unnecessary.

These would be more than serviceable candidates but are the respective teams that these players represent would be willing to deal before the deadline?

That depends on who the Rockets offer to whet their appetites.

Draft picks? Harrell? Who knows?

Next: Eric Gordon's Campaign For 6th Man

This possibly wouldn’t have been an issue had they had come to terms with Donatas Motiejunas, to whom they’ve renounced their rights to and is now an unrestricted free agent.

But if you think that he’ll be coming back — think again — those divorce papers have been signed, sealed and delivered.

He ain’t walking through that door and if you think he will, you’ve got a serious case of blind faith.

But it’s intriguing to think about the scenarios if a deal needed to get done.

We’ll have to keep an eye on things but the Rockets will likely do what a rational Black Jack player does — opt to stay with the hand they’ve got and hope that what they have is a winning hand.

It’s quite possible — go Rockets.

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