Houston Rockets: Should The Team Pursue Paul George?

The mark has been reached.  We’re now LESS than 24 hours before the NBA’s trade deadline and there are tons of rumors floating around in regard to the next big deal for the Houston Rockets.

The mark has been reached.  We’re now LESS than 24 hours before the NBA’s trade deadline and there are tons of rumors floating around in regard to the next big deal for the Houston Rockets.

We’ve seen some heavy action on the trade front thus far with the Serge Ibaka, DeMarcus Cousins and then the Lou Williams deals made so far.

The trade market is far from being squashed as teams are working tremendously to either gain pieces that will help them immediately or prepare them for the future.

What move will the Houston Rockets make next?

As always, Daryl Morey usually makes such moves that are ones we don’t expect but are happy that are made.

Hence the Williams trade.

Even though this team possesses a 40-18 record, good for 3rd place in the West, there’s still PLENTY of room for the Rockets to improve.

Making a trade certainly whets that appetite and you know Morey will be working phones, listening/making offers.

But here’s a new development…

Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical has indicated that Paul George is now up on the block:

This is not surprising as the Indiana Pacers are 29-28 — good for 6th in the East — are about as a good as they’re going to get with the team they have.

They’re going to have to make a partial rebuild to get themselves back in the days where they were playoff regulars.

With all the talent that’s available, it would make complete sense to make a move as far as the perspective from the Pacers.

It has also been reported that Lakers President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson will be contacted his counterpart, Larry Bird, to see what it would take to land him.

Interesting but what if the Houston Rockets threw their name in the hat?

Although not likely, a trade could be made for George on our front.

He’s expensive — he’s on the third year of a five-year, $91.5 million deal that will pay him on average of $18.3 million per season.

That’s going to take some serious finagling to get him here and it won’t be easy.

We’d likely have to trade Eric Gordon, Nene, and Tyler Ennis and our 2018 first-rounder to make that work.

He’d be that second superstar that we so covet to complement James Harden that has the total package.

You probably know all the particulars of his traits, he has been an NBA All-Star for four — including this season — out his six years in the league.

‘Nuff said.

I’m sure Bird would roll his eyes at such a deal but I know he’d be interested in that draft pick.

This is not a likely scenario as we don’t have the assets to cover George’s salary but if you involve another team or two, then things can get quite intriguing.

Although a nice pipe dream, if George does leave, it won’t be for H-Town but it’s fun to think of the possibility.

But I’ll never rule something like this out, despite its outlandish sounding.

We’ll have to see.

George, 26, is averaging 22.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists with a shooting line of .446/.383/.914 through 50 games this season.

Go Rockets.