Rockets Acquire Arguably the Best Defender in NBA in Latest Projected Trade

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) attempts to control the ball as Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) defends during the first quarter at Toyota Center.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) attempts to control the ball as Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) defends during the first quarter at Toyota Center. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Houston Rockets fans are excitedly awaiting what their front office is going to do this offseason to push them into title contender status. After a 52-win performance that landed them home-court advantage in the playoffs, the Rockets need to upgrade the roster to take another leap in the 2025-26 season.

This upgrade will likely come at the expense of some of their youth, as Houston has too many young players and assets that need consolidating. The Rockets already have talented young players with upside who they can't find enough playing time for. Considering that they have another lottery pick coming in the 2025 NBA Draft, they have to swing big and revamp the roster.

Rockets Acquire OG Anunoby From Knicks in Projected Trade

One way they can shake things up is by trading multiple players for one. In one mock trade scenario, the Rockets do exactly that while adding arguably the best defensive player in the league.

In this projected trade with the New York Knicks, the Rockets land OG Anunoby and second-round picks in exchange for Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., and Aaron Holiday.

This deal allows the Rockets to go all-in on defense around their All-Star center Alperen Şengün. It also lets them move on from Jabari Smith, who lost his starting role to Amen Thompson this season. Smith is extension-eligible, and instead of giving him a lucrative, long-term contract that has the risk of aging into a bad deal, the Rockets add a proven difference-maker in Anunoby.

Brooks has been great for Houston since arriving in free agency, but he is made redundant if Anunoby and Amen Thompson are on the team. An Anunoby-Thompson duo on the wing would immediately be the scariest perimeter defense in the league.

This trade still allows Houston to go after a superstar since it keeps their powder dry in terms of draft picks. By using their draft capital and the salaries of Jalen Green and/or Fred VanVleet, Houston can still pursue stars on the trade block.

For the Knicks, this trade allows them to re-tool around Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, giving them more depth with two quality rotation players. Smith also provides them with another trade chip and a high-upside player if they decide to go a different route later on.

Taking the saying 'defense wins championships' into account, it's hard not to love the idea of Anunoby joining the Rockets.

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