The Houston Rockets' magical season is over after they suffered a disappointing Game 7 loss at home to the Golden State Warriors. One of the best stories in the NBA, the Rockets took a major step forward in head coach Ime Udoka's second season in charge. Despite being one of the youngest teams in the league, Houston built an elite defensive team that was a nightmare to play against.
Eventually, their weaknesses in the halfcourt offense and lack of experience proved to be too much. Yet, Rockets fans feel nothing but hope and optimism going forward. As long as GM Rafael Stone nails the offseason decisions, Houston will be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference for a long time.
Those offseason decisions will involve being aggressive on the trade market. The Rockets need to pursue high-end shot creators to help them reach another level, and the best way to acquire them is through the trade market.
Jock Landale is the Most Obvious Trade Candidate on the Rockets
One of the most obvious trade candidates on Houston's roster is backup center Jock Landale. The 29-year-old big man has been one of the worst misses of the Rockets' front office as they gave him a four-year, $32 million deal in the 2023 offseason.
Since then, Landale has been in and out of the rotation before completely getting marginalized in the playoffs. Especially with the emergence of Steven Adams in the rotation, there simply wasn't any room for Landale to play a significant role.
The Australian veteran doesn't provide the athleticism and intensity that Ime Udoka looks for. He also doesn't have enough offensive juice to justify him playing over some of the more established defensive-minded players on the roster.
That is why it's hard to see the Rockets wanting to bring him back. What complicates matters, however, is the fact that he is under contract for another season.
At the same time, his $8 million for the 2025-26 season is a good trade chip to include as part of a larger deal that nets the Rockets a true difference maker. Houston has a ton of draft assets and intriguing young players to get involved in any trade for a star. It would be wise to include Landale in such a deal to move off his salary.