House of Houston
Fansided

Houston Rockets: Two crucial players needed to deal for Kent Bazemore

By Brian K. Patterson

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 22: Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks celebrates at the end of the third quarter against the Washington Wizards in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on April 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 22: Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks celebrates at the end of the third quarter against the Washington Wizards in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on April 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Houston Rockets are still not done with the off season as training camp will start in another month.  The team needs one more reliable defender and the latest is that the team is targeting Kent Bazemore.  What trade would push it over the top?  Let’s look.

The Houston Rockets still have a terrific team to compete for the title as things meander into the 2018-19 season.  They’ve re-signed Chris Paul, Clint Capela and Gerald Green while bringing in bruisers such as James Ennis and Michael Carter-Williams into the fold.

A nice piece to add to the Houston Rockets is, of course, Carmelo Anthony who was recently waived by the Atlanta Hawks — he was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder — and the team will be buying out the rest of his contract, likely with the stretch provision.  The Houston Rockets will get the courtesy of being able to sign him for the expected veteran’s minimum of $2.4 million on a one-year deal for the upcoming season.

Now that those pieces have been put together, what’s next?  As you know, the Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is never done and according to Kelly Iko of Rockets Wire, the team is targeting Kent Bazemore.

He’d be a delectable add to a team that is lacking a defender on the wing since the departure of Trevor Ariza.  I don’t think Ariza’s departure to collect his $15 million check for 2018-19 will be a devastating loss but it will sting a bit.

Bringing Bazemore into the fold will ease some of burden off P.J. Tucker and Anthony so it would pay handsome dividends to the interior defense of the team.

He’s the guy that you’d want because of the immense amount of energy that he provides on that end of the court.  Jeff Bzdelik and Roy Rogers will kissing his forehead just like a christened baby if he were able to somehow get into a Houston Rockets uniform because that’s what he provides.

Offensively — Bazemore can be quite streaky but in this offense ran by Mike D’Antoni, he can thrive because he won’t be one of the main options as he is now with the Hawks.  He’ll be able to pick his spots, find a way to get open and crush defenders along the way.

But how much is it going to cost us?  Dana Gauruder of Hoops Rumors thinks that a package

More from House of Houston

including Ryan Anderson, Chinanu Onuaku and a 2019 first-rounder should get the job done.  But you know what will put it over the top?

Package Zhou Qi in the deal.  I know he had a good summer league performance but I think he’d perfect replacement for Onuaku in the deal.  Onuaku’s development has been disappointing at best and with as good as our player development staff is — especially with the quick progression of Capela — I’m flabbergasted as to why he’s still not quite there yet.

Although it’s fun watching him shoot free throws granny-style like how I used to do before practicing my form as a kid, I just don’t think Onuaku is the type of guy to push a deal across the finish line.  But if we’re giving up Zhou, I want them to send us a lower-level prospect for a future second-round pick because the man has plenty of upside moving forward.

Ryno has about $41.7 million left on his deal for the next two seasons while Bazemore has a workable $33.7 million left on his.  Ryno has no options on his deal while Bazemore has a player option at the back-end of his pact.

Would the Hawks take on Ryno?  I think with the package I’m presenting with Zhou, these are TWO PLAYERS that will push it over the top.  Mark my words — so it’s time for Morey get Travis Schlenk on Line 1!

Let’s keep our eyes peeled for this one as you never know what can surface but Bazemore would be perfect complement to this already burgeoning roster.

Next. Rockets: Three defenders that the team can add to the fold. dark

Bazemore, 29, averaged 12.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists with a shooting line of .420/.394/.796 through 65 games in 2017-18, an impressive rebound from the season previous.

Home/Houston Rockets